Work Days

How did we ever get a crew of kids to show up after school excited about work? There's an easy three-letter answer: KAA!

This summer, we're again taking twenty-five Granny's House kids to what some call “Paradise” - Kids Across America Kamps (KAA) on Table Rock Lake in southern Missouri. This experience is truly an eight-day immersion into the very heart of God!

We sponsor KAA Work Days to give the kids an opportunity to earn Kamp Points to spend at the Kamp Store we set up the weekend before leaving for kamp. And this week, the kids enjoyed one of their favorite Work Day jobs: spreading a truckload of mulch over our front yard.

One summer, as a curious student counselor helped unload our bus at KAA, he commented, “Nice bags… did someone donate them?” assuming they were gifts from a generous donor. I quickly responded, “Oh no… the children purchased them!”

In public housing, we often see children carrying their belongings back and forth in big, black plastic trash bags; we want our kids, however, to have a safer way to transport and store their things at kamp. Every summer, we purchase almost every item on their Kamper List: everything from towels to toothbrushes, from journals to t-shirt and, of course, those “nice bags.” However, this is not just one more handout…

This week's KAA Work Day provided another opportunity for Granny's House kids to KNOW that work is good and that their Heavenly Father gives great grace to work to provide what they need for kamp, rather waiting for a hand-out. We see it as one more step in a life-long journey of providing for themselves and others.

-Granny Pam

It's Raining, It's Pouring...

For the past few days in Columbia, we’ve heard a one-word forecast: “Rainy!” At Granny’s House, another word describes our front yard: “Flooded!” And in winter, we often call our yard the “Ice Rink.”

Everytime rain hits Columbia, our front yard turns into a lake, making it almost impossible to walk from one of our apartments to the next. Although we’ve gotten creative this week (jumping from stone-to-stone, and hopping across benches) it’s almost impossible to keep your feet dry!

Another obstacle occurs when a program is going on in the 302 Trinity apartment; the only children allowed inside after the evening meal are those participating in the program for the day. The other kids have to (a.) play outside with volunteers or (b.) head home for the day. Obviously option (a). isn’t possible with a flooded front yard! Please join us in prayer as we ask God to provide us with a new Granny’s House--one where we can all come in out of the rain.

Easter Celebration!

Spring Break hits Granny's House in less than a week, but before the kids have a vacation from school and Granny's House, we participated in one last big event as 30 kids enjoyed an early Easter Celebration with The Crossing church. The night was filled with music, crafts, and of course (the kids favorite part) dessert! Everyone had a great time as they were paired up with families from The Crossing who made the kids feel special and showed them what Easter is all about. After decorating flower pots and eating
tons of sweets, the kids were ready to head home (some even falling asleep on the car ride back to Granny's House!). It was a successful evening and the kids really enjoyed their time with friends celebrating Easter!

Presenting… Miss Bianca

Three years ago, Miss Bianca, a Mizzou student from Dallas, Texas, came sailing into Granny's House with about a dozen other members of IMPACT. That first semester, they simply helped facilitate our weekly Precious Jewels (“PJs”) meetings, a group for first through fourth grade Granny's House girls. Last year, however, Miss Bianca took over the leadership role of the “PJs,” developing and implementing each week's lesson for these twelve precocious little girls.

Whether she's leading them in a round of “freeze dance” before the start of their meeting, or teaching them how to make “Gak” to illustrate the nature of faith, she pours in so much passion, helping these young girls become well-acquainted with and experience the many facets of God's love. What a blessing to have such an excellent role model for these “Precious Jewels.” -Granny Pam

The Friendship Wall

“Sweetheart, our friendship is like a great big wall and every time you tell me something that's not true, a brick is slipped out… first, a brick from the bottom, and then one from the top; the next time, one on the right side, followed by one on the left.… Please tell me, Sweetheart… what's going to happen to our friendship wall?” I so love this precious child and was desperately clinging to the Lord as I tried to illustrate the consequences of dishonesty and stir up a hunger for God's grace.

“Well… it's probably gonna fall down, Granny Pam,” I was told. At that moment, the first missing brick was replaced, followed by another, and then another as this repentant child freely admitted to repeated acts of dishonesty in word and deed.

At Granny's House, we want to major on building strong, authentic relationships with the children, and the most effective ministry all-too-often happens on the heels of conflict: a fight, a lie, stealing.

I used to think that sweet little lessons paired with clever hands-on craft illustrations would carve God's ways into the heart of a child. Sometimes God does use those means, but more and more, we're learning the power and importance of building and strengthening our “friendship walls” as a vehicle for sharing God's Truth. Granny's House kids greatly benefit from being encircled by walls of protection, encouragement, and Truth, providing a really safe place to explore and experience His kindness, mercy, and restoration.
-Granny Pam

CALEB the Science Club heads to St. Louis

Members of Caleb the Science Club took a trip to St. Louis on March 1st to view the “Body Worlds 3” exhibit and to explore the St. Louis Science Center. It was an amazing experience that I’m sure the kids will never forget. Several moments throughout the day I caught a glimpse of kids looking at science stations and I could almost see the wheels in their head turning as they tried to solve science mysteries and understand how certain exhibits worked. Who knows...maybe the worlds next leading scientist was among our group!

MIZ-ZOU

On February 28th, Mizzou Football Quarterbacks made their way to Granny’s House to visit with the kids! Each child had their own football ready for the guys to sign, and had plenty of questions to ask their favorite players. From “Who do you admire most” to “How many girls are on the team?”, the questions could have gone on for hours! After all the questions were answered, plenty of pictures were taken, and the kids were able to throw their footballs around with the players. The kids loved having the guys visit, and we can’t thank the team enough for taking time out of their busy schedules to encourage our kids!