Today, we officially started our week of children's ministry at the Point of Hope.
We had preschoolers for two hours in the morning, and middle school children in the afternoon. Each of us was eager to meet these children we've been thinking, talking and praying about for several months, and they certainly didn't disappoint!
The little ones came in giggling and smiling, and were simply delighted for any bit of attention we were willing to give them. We played ball outside, sang fun songs, did crafts and read them a Bible story. Many of them were anxious to jump into any empty lap they could find, and several gave hugs and smiles freely.
The older ones came in like typical teenagers, too cool to sing silly songs at first, but unable to resist when things got rolling. As for me, I was surprised to learn just how very alike these children were to the ones I work with back home.
But to Jan, this behavior is a significant testament to the great work being done at the Point of Hope. She shared with me just how much things have changed since her first trip to the Point of Hope in 2010.
At that time, the center was still new enough that many of the children who attended their week of summer Bible school were not regular attendees at the center. And even among those who were, there was the general absence of confidence, trust and hope - things she believes the Point of Hope has been able to give it's participants over the past several years.
"Things have changed in the community since I came in 2010," Jan said. "The children were incredibly dirty, and they didn't have the social skills they have now. Point of Hope has really improved their standard of living."
That's because Point of Hope takes a holistic approach to child development, as we have been learning by talking with the staff there. Children aren't just put through an academic curriculum, but they are given showers, made to change into clean clothes and shoes upon arrival at the center, examined by a nurse for general wellness daily, given medical care when needed, and fed breakfast and lunch every day.
Jan is convinced of the difference those things make in their overall attitude and outlook on life. She observed that the children today seemed more alert. "Just thinking about the name - Point of Hope," she recalled, "in 2010, I didn't see a lot of hope in their eyes. I didn't see a lot of joy or confidence. They seemed very distrustful and they wouldn't engage in conversations with the team. They were hesitant to participate in everything - games, music, crafts."
"Now I see that they have visions of their future. They have hopes and dreams. They have success. They are more trusting. I see that they are more focused and able to follow directions."
Another thing she noticed is that they are proud of their appearance - which enables them to feel proud of their work. She believes that because they feel worthy, they want to give their best and do their best.
She recalled one young girl she had met in 2010 who wore very dirty and worn out clothes and had very poor hygiene. None of the other kids would sit by her, and she mostly sat off to herself in the back of the room, completely disengaged. To make her feel included, Jan selected her to play the part of Esther during Bible story time. She put a clean robe on her to cover up her ugly clothes, and talked of Esther's inner and outer beauty. By the end of the story, she was standing a little straighter - smiling a little more.
And an amazing thing happened - she came back the next day, having showered and put on clean clothes. She sat at the front of the class and participated in everything.
That's a big part of what the Point of Hope is doing for these children. By creating an environment where everyone is clean, decently dressed, well-fed and given the appropriate medical care - and THEN put through an academic curriculum - they are removing the barriers to education that have plagued this community for so long. In the classrooms, everyone is on a level playing field and they all have the confidence they need to work hard and learn - freeing them up to have dreams and aspirations for their future.
Being able to look 6 years later from her first trip to this current one, I asked Jan what are the three biggest changes she sees in this community of children.
She replied, "They are confident. They have a more trusting nature. They show signs of having hope for the future."
Written by Monica Barrett of Chattanooga, TN with thoughts from Jan Larson of Geneseo, IL.
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