Kids Small Groups

It is hard to believe, but we are already gearing up for a TWO week break from Kids Small Groups.  Next week (11/15 & 11/16) our KSG Leaders will be equipped and challenged at Leader Training.  Please pray for their time to be refreshing, renewing and uplifting.  Then the following week (11/22 & 11/23) we will all give THANKS as we celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends.

We are SO thankful for the opportunity to disciple your Kids Small Group child.  THANK YOU!  As you get ready for Thanksgkving, what are you thankful for?

We are up and running on "The Journey" for Kids Small Groups 2011-2012.  It is hard to believe we have already celebrated Kick-Off and are moving into Lesson #3 this next week.

But before that, please PRAY for our KSG Personal PEACE Project

Many of our KSG students have donated candy and invited friends to this HUGE block party at Saddleback Church.  May this community outreach be a safe, fun-filled evening in which families throughout Orange County begin their own journey into knowing God!

We are LITERALLY in the final 48 hours of KSG 2011-2012 registration.  Don't miss out on getting your Pre-K to Grade 6 student plugged into "The Journey".  Register in one of two ways:
1) Register online NOW
2) Visit the tables outside the Children's Building or the Worship Center to fill out a paper form.
Any forms received after the September 18th deadline will be automatically placed on a waitlist and will not be notified until mid-October at the earliest.
Can't wait to kick-off Kids Small Groups 2011-2012 on October 11th & 12th!

It is hard to believe, but the Road to Rwanda is now officially on its "downhill."  In fact, right this moment the SK 2011 Rwanda PEACE Team is no longer in the Land of a Thousand Hills.  Let's catch the highlights though of their last few days in Rwanda:

Tuesday was primarily a travel day as the team departed Kibuye to head back to the capital city - Kigali.  They arrived safely and enjoyed time bonding as a team...honestly, in all the years of Saddleback Kids PEACE Trips this is truly one of the most bonded teams ever.  Every student and parent gels well together in small talk to getting ministry done.  It has been an incredible process to watch.  After a refreshing lunch and settling back into Kigali, the team was able to spend time with some key members of Christ Gospel Fellowship.  The highlight was getting to spend time with Dorothy Mutabazi.  She is Pastor Francis' wife and our lady of PEACE when it comes to Children's Ministry.  She just returned from several weeks of training/teaching in Indiana and was blessed to be able to spend a little time with the team. 

Wednesday brought about the FINAL farewells and slowly but surely began the reentry process.  As I mentioned last time it was a mix of emotions.  Some are ready to begin the journey homeward.  Others could not believe it was over.  Overall, everyone expressed heartfelt change because of what they saw and did in Rwanda.  Prayerfully this spark will ignite a fire of passion and action as they return to the US.

The team has safely arrived in Nairobi, Kenya where they are fast asleep as we speak.  This also signals the end of blogging and updates as the team goes "dark."  Basically, this is an invaluable time for the team to be fully separated from communications to take in all they experienced in Rwanda.  It is not an easy process, but so valuable and vital.  So, please continue to uplift the team in prayer as they fully engage in the debrief process.  There will be many tears and many laughs as they reflect upon this LONG Road to Rwanda that began back in September 2010 and is now coming to an end.  Pray for safe travels as they return home to LAX Sunday evening.  If you are a support member picking up a team member at LAX and don't have the flight information, please feel free to email me directly at lizag@saddleback.com so I can get it to you.  Otherwise, we'll update everyone upon the team's return home regarding the SK 2011 Rwanda PEACE Team Reunion in which you are ALL invited to hear the stories and see the pictures for yourselves.

It is official, the SK 2011 Rwanda PEACE team wrapped up their final full day of ministry.  Right now, they are awakening to the Rwandan sun on Wednesday morning.  They are packing their bags and preparing to make the 3-hour plus bus ride back to Kigali.  But before we depart...

Tuesday was a true demonstration of what it means to be a PEACE Team.  The team demonstrated great adaptablity and teamwork as they were asked to teach basic and advanced English classes to the Anglican school.  Dividing up into two teams, the children really stepped up in major ways.  They taught through songs, lessons and more being creative and fun with the students.  Who knew English was such a tough language?!?!

After that, the team visited a clinic run by the Presbyterian church.  Again the team divided up into smaller teams in order to visit specific sections of the clinic to share stories and pray.  It was a deeply impactful time.  One team even got to see a brand new precious baby boy - one whole day old.  We are sure that the power of prayer will go far in this tiny clinic in Rubengera.

Finally, there's no better way to wrap up ministry than with a good old-fashioned game of football (soccer).  And boy did the Rwandans show up to play.  The teen street boys showed up in uniform (received from last year's PEACE trips focusing on the PEACE Football Club).  And they even brought uniforms for the SK 2011 Rwanda PEACE Team to don on the field.  After much running around, laughing and more the outcome was a draw...I have a feeling that the Rwandans went a little easy on us...just a hunch. :)

So that once again brings us back to this long day of travel and farewells.  It will be filled with an array of feelings.  Some are eager to once again spend time with their newfound friends at Christ Gospel Fellowship.  A few are even already anticipating the first meal or shower at home.  Others are disappointed that they could not stay another day or two (or 365) to minister to the people of Rwanda.  And yes there will even be some heartbroken at having to say goodbye.  This is where the power of prayer from the SK 2011 Rwanda Prayer Support team is KEY.  Please pray:
* For each of these mixed feelings of farewell.
* That this is not goodbye, but truly a "See you later" as many team members will return to Rwanda on a future PEACE trip.
* No one leaves unchanged or impacted by what they saw and experienced this past week and a half.