Vacation

By Wanda Parker

I am looking forward to a week and a half of travel and leisure.  We are taking off in the morning to just drive, enjoy the scenery and relax.

This to say – I won’t be writing, probably for the next two weeks. 

If you are new to “Why Missionaries To America” take this time to read through the Archives.

God bless!

After School Programs – Discipline 2

By Wanda Parker                                                     KidTrek Training
                                                                               February 3-11,2009

There are so many tools that can be used to ensure a well run, orderly, fun after school program.  Kids are kids and down deep they have a desire for orderliness.

However, once in a while you will have a kid that is so disruptive and not a single one of your tools is going to work.

Tomas was an angry 6 year old. If you told him to stand he would sit, if you told him to sit he would stand.  He knew how to push adult buttons so he felt like he was in control.  He was the child you would find yourself praying, “Lord it would be so much easier today if Tomas didn’t come.”

But then you would catch yourself and ask forgiveness – because isn’t that the very type of child with whom you wanted to work?  BUT, it looked so much easier from the outside looking in.

One day Tomas was especially horrid.  He had disrupted everything the director was trying to do and then it led to his hitting other children.  He refused to sit in time out.  Finally I went to him, picked him up and put him in my lap.

I wrapped my arms around him and over and over whispered in his ear, “Tomas I love you.  Tomas you are special. Tomas Jesus loves you.  Tomas I am so glad you are here.”

All the while his little legs were kicking me as hard as he could – leaving gouges in my legs.

While I whispered in his ear I was crying out to the Triune God asking for direction and intervention.

Suddenly a thought came into my mind and so I asked, “Tomas, do you sometimes want to sit still but your body just goes and goes and goes?  Do you feel like you can’t stop your body from moving?  It may even feel painful at times because your body won’t stop moving. Does that make you feel angry?”

Tomas suddenly fell limp in my arms and started sobbing.  Instead of me holding him tight he wrapped his arms around my arms and clung to me while he sobbed.  The remainder of the day he stayed close to me, never letting me get so far away he couldn’t touch me. 

Without saying it in words he was shouting at me, “Finally someone understands!”

Having a well ordered after school program demands that you know the kids beyond name, family, school, age.  You must know the inner child.  That doesn’t happen unless you are intentional in learning all you can about each child.

Talk to parents, to teachers, to social service providers – know what is going on in the child’s life.  Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what is happening within the child – as He did for me that day with Tomas.   

What ever you do don’t give up on that child who is acting out.

If you want to read more on After School Programs Discipline click here

Cutting Edge Conference – Was It Cutting Edge?

By Wanda Parker                                                                        KidTrek Training
                                                                                                  February 3 – 11, 2009

Last week was the international Cutting Edge Conference for those working with at-risk kids around the world.  What a joy to meet those on the Cutting Edge of reaching children who are hurting.

It is the faces I remember, the stories from those in attendance who were from Nepal, Pakistan, Lebanon, Brazil, Kenya, South Africa and the list goes on.  God is at work through these individuals around the world.

What saddened me was that it seemed as though the suffering at-risk children of America were forgotten.

Again, even amongst those who have a passion for children – the INVISIBLE at-risk children of America are forgotten. 

For me – for this to truly be a Cutting Edge conference no at-risk children would have been forgotten.

What do you think?  Do you think American children are important too?  Do you think they hurt just like other children from other countries?  Whose fault is it that American at-risk children are invisible?

A Stumbling Block – Over protection leads to NO HOPE

By Wanda Parker      

KidTrek’s 880 Boot Camp
July 14-22, 2009 and October 6-14,2009

I was reading Matthew 16 this morning and saw how easy it is to be a stumbling block for Jesus.  Yes a stumbling block for Jesus – that means getting in the way of His work.  In doing so others are injured.

• Have you ever over protected a child by trying to make his/her life easier?
  • For instance doing your child’s science project for him/her.
• Have you tried to ease the pain of poverty for someone by just supplying money and not walking through life with the individual so she could learn from you?
  • Giving money to someone when you came off the freeway – it made you feel so good.  But what do they really need?

These are just two possibilities – the list is endless. 

Jesus said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”

God allows difficult times for many different reasons – when we circumvent what God is doing we can become a stumbling block.  Peter was reacting from his own feelings, his own wants; he wasn’t thinking of what was best for all of mankind.  We read in previous scripture that he knew who Jesus was.

What if Jesus hadn’t paid the price for our sins?  There would be no hope.

When we get involved in someone’s life to make ourselves feel better, when our faulty reasoning causes us to give to someone their felt want rather than their real need, we end up stealing all hope of their having a productive, hope-filled life. 

All too often we do what is easy rather than what is right.

If you want to read more about overprotection of children click here

How To Start An After School Program part 3

By Wanda Parker                                                                          

         KidTrek Training
 July 14-22 and October 6-14 2009

Okay, are you ready to get started?  This is assuming you’ve done your homework from the previous two posts: 

After School Program

After School Program Part 2

I am going to tell you how to start a ministry that will give the highest results if you want a kid when he is 40 to be similar to the kid I described in How To Start An After School Program part 2. (Note in the previous sentence I switched from using the term program to the term ministry.  To see the results I want to see I believe all involved must see it as a ministry, something God has called them to do – not just another program.)

Begin with PRAYER – lots of prayer.  If you want to see the results I described yesterday it is going to take an immense amount of prayer.  Find others who have your vision to join you in praying. 

• Set regular times to gather for prayer,
• Get a list of individuals who are willing to be on a prayer e-mail list
  • E-mail them at least once a week with specific prayer requests
• Ask the staff and lay leadership at your church to pray and give them regular specific updates

BUDGET

What type of budget do you have with which to work?

STAFFING

Kids need committed adults in their lives.  They need adults who are willing and able to be there for the long haul.  They need individuals who have perseverance and won’t give up at the first set-back.  Click here for a link to a description of this adult.

• Will your staff be paid or must you rely on volunteers?
• Things to think about working with volunteers
  • What time of day are they available?
  • How many days are they able to give?
  • How many hours each day are they able to come?
  • Do you have a commitment from anyone today?  What are their parameters?
  • How long of a commitment are you going to ask for?
• Things to think about when working with paid staff?
  • Is it a part time or full time position?
  • Is the pay enough so they can stay for several years?
• How will your staff be trained?  Are you trained?
  • Dr. David DuBois, an expert in the field of mentoring, says faith-based after school programs often fail because those running them don’t understand child development.  Do you and your staff understand child development?  Most parents don’t know or understand child development.
• Staff must be vetted – how will you do that?

THE MINISTRY COMPONENTS

What the ministry components look like depends on how you have answered the above questions.  Things to think about:

• How many days will you be open?
• What hours will you be open?
• Will kids be required to attend everyday you are open or will it be a drop-in center?
  • If you want the same results I want, a drop-in center won’t get you there.
• How old will the kids be?
• How many kids will you work with?
  • 5 kids per adult if you want lasting results.  If your staff are all volunteers 5 is too many.
• What will you do?
  • Homework/Tutoring
  • Bible
  • Life skills
  • Recreation
  • Crafts/The Arts
  • Snacks
  • Family time
• How much time will you allot for each component?
• What about discipline issues?
• Be sure you are set for all potential emergencies.

Know that it takes so much more than what you do with the kids within the set hours you are all together.  For lasting results you must be involved with the primary nurturers, the school and social service providers.

The final question is – do you just want to keep them “safe” for a few hours or do you want them to be “safe” for ever?

From here it becomes really individual – each center will be different with different needs.  Please feel free to ask any questions you might have pertaining to your particular situation.  KidTrek’s passion is to see at-risk kids, America’s Invisible Children, receive the nurturing they deserve – which demands excellence.

How To Start An After School Program part 2

By Wanda Parker

 KidTrek Training
 July 14-22 2009 and October 6-14, 2009

As I mentioned on Monday, to have an effective after school program you must know what you want the end result to be.  You must take the time to brainstorm what you want a six year old today to look like when he is 40.  We have our trainees consider this throughout the week of training.

My 40 year old - a whole-istic view.

Spiritual

Is a fully committed follower of the Triune God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Is rooted in the Word of God
Is known as a prayer warrior
Actively involved in a Bible teaching church
Has a Biblical worldview
Fruit of the Spirit evidenced in his life
Is actively living out Matthew 28:19-20

Emotional

God confidence
Knows how to identify and express emotions in healthy ways
Joy and peace
Perseverance

Mental

Has critical thinking and problem-solving skills
Discernment
Still learning – inquisitive
A lover of books

Social

Healthy relationships
Solid peer group of believers
Friendships with non-believers
Known as an individual who can be trusted
Respects authority
Leadership skills
Interpersonal and communication skills
Treats those with whom he disagrees with respect without compromise
A Biblical compassion for those in need

Physical

Treats the body as the temple of God
Makes good choices to keep body healthy – knows what those choices should be
Good hygiene

Tomorrow I will think through the first steps to start an after school program to nurture kids to raise them up to be Christ-changed, hope filled, productive adults.