We separated the kids into two groups, the first was ages 5-11 and the second was ages 12-18. Within each of these bigger groups we had small groups for the times we set aside for devotionals and other certain activities. I got to work the older age bracket, and more specifically I led the small group for the 12-15 year olds, the Teal Group. Each small group was assigned a color, teal and orange were the older kids colors, and green and purple were the younger. There was an average of 8-10 students each day for the older bracket, which also happened to be the smaller bracket. There was an average of about 20-25 students for the younger bracket.
One of my favorite parts of each day was arriving before all of the students and praying with the team in preparation for the day. We would pray for the day, the activities planned, strength for the team, and mostly the students, that they would be blessed by the day and that God would touch each of them in a unique and impactful way. After prayer, I would head to my post, which was at a table with markers, nametags, and the attendance sheet. I would welcome each of the students in, give them a nametag, and mark them as present, this process normally lasted about 30 minutes before I would head into the main area to join everyone else. Each day we would open up with welcoming announcement and a time of worship. Something that I love about PWI and PWI Flash is it always encourages a large amount of participation from the students. Josh led out in these times and would ask each of the students to do something specific, whether it was play the guitar, keep a beat on the drums, or sing, each student had something to do, and each was important. This process led me to discover truth #1: Sometimes feeling insecure about things keeps us from discovering something amazing. Sometimes when we are afraid or embarrassed about something, all it takes is someone giving you a job and encouraging you through it to make you realize that your insecurity was not worth it in the end.
Because each day looked different, it allowed for a large variety of activities. One of these activities was a game time, that lead to the next truth. The game we played was a team game, so we broke up into two teams of 4, this was on the first day and so several of the students were not there, which meant the teachers got to play as well. The game was to build something out of toothpicks and gumdrops. But there was a catch. Each of the four members had a restriction. The first player was allowed to use both hands but could not talk (ironically this was Josh, my boss). The second member could talk, but could not use their hands. The third member (me) was allowed to talk but could only use their left hand. And the fourth player could talk but could only use their right hand. We had to come up with an idea, and so I randomly was like the Eiffel tower? Maybe Big Ben? And then one of the girls on our team, the second, said she liked the Eiffel Tower, so that’s what we did. We built the Eiffel Tower out of gumdrops and toothpicks. So what did this make me realize? Truth #2: Although we are limited in ability and supplies, and even though we have restrictions, God can use us to do amazing things. We often are afraid to do something for fear of failure, and often that fear is more controlling than the encouragement for success. When there are only obstacles and limitations in our view the only option we see is failure, but if we change our perspective, and allow God to do what He wants, than the only option we see is success. So basically God built the Eiffel Tower out of gumdrops and toothpicks.
The last truth that I discovered, came out through an activity I led with my small group. I led 5 teenagers into a room and sat each of them down in front of their own mirror. Immediately the level of awkward and uncomfortable rose to an incredible high. Each of the teens immediately started fidgeting, straightening their clothes, and taming their hair. I told them that they were going to sit in front of these mirrors in silence for about 10 minutes. Immediately a look of sheer horror swept their faces. I prayed for them, that they would be able to observe and hear what God had to tell them during this time. After what I am sure was an infinite amount of time for them, I told them time was up. A sigh of relief came from all across the room, and no one had a problem turning around for question time. I asked them what they saw? And how they felt about it? The general opinion was they it was uncomfortable and awkward to look at themselves for that long and that intentionally. This led me to discover something, most of us will look at ourselves and think we can find a flaw, whether it is a zit or a hair that won't stay in the right place, we will find it, and we are never really content with how we look, we either weigh too much or have too many wrinkles, we can name all these "imperfections". But. God is our Creator. We are made in His image. He makes no mistakes. So while we should strive to be healthy, we shouldn't spend all of our time focusing on how much we do or do not weigh. While it isn't wrong to want to look "beautiful" we should know that God looks at us and thinks that every time. Try explaining that to a room of 14 and 15 year olds.
So that was my week at pwi flash, it was an amazing time of working with some amazing kids.
Fun facts:
1) I worked the first PWI, and have attended the last 4 as students.
2) We did the mirror activity at a previous PWI, but had to do it for 30 minutes.
3) Teal is one of my favorite colors, and I am currently wearing a teal shirt.
MUSIC:
This song was introduced to me during PWI, and I have loved it for years now. I have seen it performed live by the original artists at a big concert, but my favorite way to hear this song is in a smaller room full of believers just worshiping God. PWI is one of my favorite places to sing it, and PWI flash is also another. To hear eight 16 year olds sing that God made them beautiful is just amazing.
Beautiful Things by Gungor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR7VOKQ0xJY