Crosspoint Kids Rocked out on Christmas Eve!

ARRRGGGHHH

We have the best volunteers...I'm just sayin'. :)

Every week you're not there - you're missing out! :)

Bite Back

The kids have been learning all about life in Africa and how children there can not go to sleep at night without worrying about being bitten by a mosquito and risking getting Malaria. I had to be very intentional in explaining that US mosquitos are not a risk to your life here in the states. :)

I heard about 50 stories of each child getting eaten by the dreadful bugs! :)

The cool part of this is that we as a class decided to buy some nets for kids in Africa! We told the parents that they weren't allowed to just hand over the money - but that the kids had to earn it! We gave ideas such as raking leaves, helping with dishes, making their beds, having a hot chocolate stand etc.

It was a huge blessing to hear how the kids really got behind this! Each child that brought in money was interviewed in front of the whole class as to how they got their money. Stories of lots and lots of chores, sacrificing birthday and surgery money, baking goods and selling them in their neighborhoods were told. :)

One child in particular, Brianna, graduated out of our class this fall. She heard about what we were doing - and couldn't NOT be involved! So, she worked SO hard doing chores and so forth because she couldn't stand the thought of kids in Africa having this issue! It was so sweet - last Sunday, Brianna brought me a baggie - FULL of money that she herself had raised little by little over the course of the month!

That's what it's about! Church isn't about what YOU can get out of a service or a particular event. It's about how you can GIVE BACK! We are so blessed! You know the coolest part about serving is not the blessing you are to others - but how full your heart is as you leave. Each and every week, I am reminded why I do what I do....my heart gets filled up after every class - after every service - and after every activity or service project! I am HONORED to be serving alongside the best volunteers in Charlotte and I am honored to be serving the BEST group of kids in Charlotte!

Operation Christmas Child

For the month of October we challenged the kids in Xpressway to collect supplies and bring them in so that we could assemble them as a service project for our small groups. Typically we run about 25-30 kids each week - so our goal was 75 boxes. I thought this was aiming high - but it's a cause I genuinely believe in! Operation Christmas Child distributes boxes all over the world to children who might not otherwise receive a Christmas Present. Things like hygiene items, small toys and hard candy are examples of some of the things brought in. It was such a great day at the Drive-In! We piled and sorted all of the supplies that our church family collected - and then each child had the opportunity to assemble 2-3 boxes. It was such a neat thing to see the kids carefully picking out toys that they would love, or candy that was their favorite to put into these boxes for other kids. They had so much fun doing it as well! I'm happy to report that we not only met our goal - but exceeded it by assembling 85 boxes! That's 85 kids that will have a Merrier Christmas because of their service! WAY TO GO KIDS!