Why Childcare?

From the number of confused/disappointed faces I’ve run into after saying I’m planning to stay in my current ministry until further notice- I’m guessing there’s a lot of you wondering- “Why Childcare?” Well- I am so glad you asked J But be warned- this is going to be a VERY long post.

First off, let me tell you something. Did you know that you have brothers and sisters that live over in the Pacific Islands? Yes you do! (well- the believers do anyway). There are lots of them- learning and loving Jesus and spreading the good word of Him around them. But what if no women got saved, or no women got disciple because the lady missionaries hadn’t been able to get the training they need to learn a language and culture? What would happen to that church? Women do the majority of teaching the children. If the women (the ones who teach the children) still worship spirits, what do you think those kids will worship? And what will become of the church? There must be godly ladies to disciple the new lady believers. Without godly wives and mothers there will be no next generation of believers, and the church among those people fizzles out.

Learning a language and culture- especially super isolated ones like NTM works with- is a demanding task! NTM has training that is specifically geared toward working with these least people reached groups- how to learn how they think about the supernatural and the afterlife and how those things intersect with life now, and of course, how to learn their language so that when the Gospel is presented it will actually be understandable. They cram all this (and a whole lot more) into three semesters of training. Can you imagine trying to learn the difference between two sounds you’ve never heard before with a baby screaming next to you? Or being presented with a complex moral issue from one of the tribal churches to work through and instead of being able to discuss it with your group, you have to spend the time allotted corralling an active one year old? Well I can- because during my first semester They didn’t have enough personnel to keep all the childcare rooms open. So the infants-1year olds came to class with their parents. It made it harder for me to concentrate – and I was used to kid noises at this point from working in a preschool in Philly. For the others who weren’t used to kid noises everywhere- they really struggled to pay attention. Can you imagine how hard it must have been for the moms? Trying to learn, and take notes and at the same time having to keep a child unnaturally quiet? It’s really hard. I can't tell you what a relief it was to everybody when the next semester they had enough staff to re-open the baby room! (Incidentally- that closing the baby room thing? They're going to have to do it again if they don't get enough staff for childcare-PLEASE SEND ME BACK!!!) Childcare helps parents get the training they need to BOTH be active members of a church planting team. 

There are other people God wants to use to plant His church in these dark, dark places: the kids. Yes the kids. After all, God gave the parents a choice- but He had made absolutely sure those kids would be there, so He must really really want them there! These kids are in for some crazy, terrible, amazing and wonderful adventures. Trust me, I was a missionary kid- I remember. But God is just amazing! And these kids will get to see that like few others ever get to if only they are not so overwhelmed by everything coming at them that they miss it. So in childcare, instead of just babysitting, I want to train these littlest missionaries, and do what I can to help get them ready for what's ahead. "They're four" you say, "what can you possibly teach them?" Ah. So glad you asked.

First and foremost, they need to know God. So we tell the story of God, we memorize Bible verses, and songs full of truth, and spend time in prayer. We talk about how God is good and God is big. God's sovereignty and love- the foundation to hold any life!

They need to know that things and people are different around the world. So each month we study a different continent. We see pictures of people and houses and animals and rainforests or deserts or mountains or the ocean from that continent. We learn greetings in at least one of the trade languages from the region. We study the map and learn about where we are, and where the different continents are. 

They need to know that God loves everyone no matter where they are: He loves us all the same. And we love people because God loves them.

They need to know how to interact well with other children without a grown up standing over them pointing their finger. So we created opportunities through free play times, and through small group activities for them to interact with a wide variety of kids, and in a lot of different settings. Sometimes there's an adult a few feet away. We encourage the kids to "talk to your friend about it first". 

They need to learn to sit. Trust me. I was an MK. They will sit a lot. In the car, at churches, at people's houses.... lots of sitting. 

They need to learn to entertain themselves with minimal supplies. So as an activity, we regularly give them a small pile of random objects and have them entertain themselves for twenty minutes, gradually working down to fewer and fewer items necessary to entertain themselves.

They need to know prayer makes a difference, that it is God's work to go and tell people about Jesus. We pray regularly for the people who have not gotten to hear about Jesus, and for the missionaries God is sending them. (And about two thirds of the class have now volunteered to go be missionaries)

See? I warned you this would be a long one! Those are just a few of the reasons that I am SO excited to be involved in the childcare ministry. I could keep going- but I think I better stop writing now.  I really couldn't be happier about this ministry God has set before me!  Some day I will take the time to type out the incredible way He laid things out to get me there. But you just read an episitle, so I won't do it today :)