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Up, Up Away to Paraguay

Today Momentum Kids wound up the last trip of the Up, Up and Away series as we visited Paraguay.  As a special treat, Julia Hall was our guest speaker.  She shared her experiences from her trip to Paraguay and showed some awesome items from the markets there.  Everyone was surprised at how soft the deerskin purse was that she had.  And the bracelet and money were interesting to see, too!  She shared how little the people there had, but how Jesus gave them eternal hope.

And we enjoyed to pictures that Sam sent us from his trip, as well.  Some of the schools in Paraguay use a Spanish version of the Abeka Book curriculum, which shares a lot of God's Word as it teaches.  The kids love school, but many are too poor to afford the uniforms and supplies needed to attend.

We talked today about how most of our parents go to work to earn money for our food, homes, and cars.  But missionaries spend their days helping the people around them, and usually don't have full time jobs to pay their bills.  That's why we send missions offerings to let the missionaries spend their time helping people all over the world learn the most important thing you can ever know:

Jesus loves us SOOOOOOO  (said very loud and very long) much....

that He died so we can be in His family forever.

Our entire back to school series has been about this most important fact.  It has been fun, and we have been around the world, but next Sunday, we will be back in Woodstock and doing something we have NEVER done in Momentum Kids before.  It will be fun.  Be early!!!

 

Up, Up & Away to Ghana

As we continued our Up, Up, and Away series, Momentum Kids visited Ghana today to see how kids there go back to school.  Sam, the puppet, is still traveling the world and reporting back to us each week the things he is finding at schools around the world.  Today, we discovered that the kids that live in villages there spend their days very differently than we do here in Georgia.  Children who live in villages start their day around 4am to do chores before school,  walk to school for classes, enjoy some soccer and end school at 2pm to go home and do more chores.   They don't eat lunch at school either, just a snack.  Sam forgot to pack a snack, and he was really hungry by the time school was out!

We also learned of the true story of a missionary to Ghana named Murray Brown who was hospitalized after a terrible explosion.  While in the hospital, African army ants crawled into his room and onto his bed.  You can ask any Momentum Kid to tell you how God protected Murray.  One girls said, "That was a miracle!"  And it was!  What a great way to be reminded that God still performs miracles today.  And special thanks to Dr. Atticus and Megain Brown for reenacting the hospital scene for us!

As we continue our travels each week, we are trying to see how all these people are going to learn that most important thing you can ever learn: "Jesus loves us so much, that He died so we can be in His family."  We can tell the people we know; at home, at school, at soccer, or wherever we go.  And we can help send missionaries to tell those we don't know!

Up, Up & Away to Japan!

Momentum Kids flew up and away to Japan this morning to see how kids go back to school there.  We learned some cool things from Sam, the puppet, who is traveling the world and sending back pictures from each country that he visits.  His update from Japan shared some unusual facts; like how the kids take turns serving lunch to their classmates and lunch is eaten in the classroom.  Also, that each class is identified by a certain color.  Everyone in that class has the same color backpack, and often wear the same color hat as part of their uniform.  Japanese students also clean the school as part of their class work.  We decided that Momentum Kids are glad they don't have to sweep the hallways at their schools!

We also talked about whether these kids would ever learn the most important lesson you could ever learn.  Of course, that is that Jesus loves us so much that He died so we can be part of His family forever!  In Japan, religion plays very little part in the day to day life of it's people.  We want the kids, and adults, of Japan to come to know Jesus and have His love and joy in their lives everyday!  We talked about how some missionaries are helping children their learn about Jesus, with VBS's, songs, stories, crafts and games; all that share that very  important fact: Jesus loves us so much!!

Just for fun, we had some eggrolls to snack on today; and then played a "Eat a Gummy Worm Buried in Blue Jello with Chopsticks" game.  It was quite a trip.  Next Sunday, we will be off to the continent of Africa!  You don't want to miss that one.  Who knows what we may have for a snack, maybe some fried rhinoceros!

Up, Up & Away To School!

Even though it seems impossible to believe, summer is over and school is ready to begin!  Momentum Kids kicked off a new series this morning that we're calling, Up, Up & Away To School.  We "borrowed" the idea from the movie, "Up", and will be setting off each week in search of back to school adventures around the world.  While on these adventures, we intend to find out how some kids in other countries go back to school; what is similar to school in Woodstock and what is very different.  

Today we started with the question:

 What is the most important thing you will ever learn?"

Not just in elementary school, high school, or college; but in your entire life.  What is the most important thing to know?  That Jesus loves us so much, that He gave His life so we can be in His family forever.  And, wow, but can those Momentum Kids tell you that ever so loudly!

So as we travel the world, we will see how kids everywhere go back to school, and we will see how they are learning this most important fact.  Each week will feature a new country and some music, games, and food that children there enjoy.  Next Sunday will be setting off to Japan.  Don't miss it!

Today was the day we promoted our preschoolers, as well.  Momentum Kids is so excited to have our new members!  Mr. Terry and Mrs. Monica will miss them, but they can come and visit sometimes and see what adventures we are taking!  

Listening to the Lifeguard

Summer vacation is winding down and school is just around the corner!  Today we blew the whistle at Momentum Beach, gathered our towels and sand shovels, and ended this series.  And as we are leaving, we took the whistle as our last lesson from the shore.  When the lifeguard sees danger, or something that shouldn't be happening, he blows the whistle.  And in our lives, when Jesus sees something that's not suppose to happen, a little whistle may go off in our minds and hearts. That's the little voice that says, "Don't do that."  We used the example of when a brother or sister may cause us to get mad, and we really want to hit them, the "whistle" in our hearts says, "Stop, don't do that."  And when we listen to the lifeguard, things are always better.  So this week, we are listening for our Lifeguard's whistle, and we will STOP and follow his instructions.

We looked at Matt 7:24 when Jesus explained the person who hears His teachings and follows them is wise.  And we re-enacted a house on the sand that washed out in the flood, while the house on the rock (really a brick) had a firm foundation no matter how much water poured down.  And, of course, everyone had to take a whistle home with them to remind them to listen for the whistle in their heart this week. (my apologies to the parents who had to listen to the whistles in the car on the way home from church)  

And finally, we went back to the lesson from Jonah about everyone having a purpose, and did our "Whipped Cream Eating with A Sand Shovel" contest.  Check out those pictures below.

Thanks, yet again, to Todd & Celeste Hall who faithfully serve our kids each month.  They wore the lifeguard whistles today, and ran our games and visuals.  Love you guys!!!  

Watch your mail this week for a Sneak-Peek at what's coming in August!  You'll love it!

Moses & The Portraits from the Past

We got a special delivery today from "Portraits from the Past"!  It's a photo of Moses, who visited Momentum Kids last Sunday.  The parchment paper note included with the photo from Moses said that he had a great time in Woodstock and can't wait for the opportunity to visit again.

Thanks, Moses!  And we can't wait for you to come back!

Hope to see you soon!