~~REFORMATION CELEBRATION~~

(Karen M.)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(Devonne & her family)
This past tuesday we finished up our Reformation Enrichment Classes where, over the past seven weeks we were studying several Reformers from Germany, Switzerland, England, and France: John Wycliffe, John Hus, Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, John Calvin, and William Tyndale; we also studied the Anabaptists. We met once a week at the library where we (Karen M. & myself) took turns giving some background on the individual, then we would watch a short 25-30 min. clip from a movie made about the Reformer, spent about 15 min. in Q&A, and spent the remaining time brainstorming on what the children would do to present what they've learned at our Reformation Celebration...We had about 20 kids participate, ranging in age from 7 - 16, all were very well-behaved, but somewhat shy and quiet...until, of course, the party!

Just about everyone who attended the class had a 'booth' at the party! We had two "Stained Glass" booths; one booth had you color a picture and rub oil on the back to make it transparent, the other had black outline cutouts of construction paper that you would put on clear contact paper (that you would line your kitchen shelves with) and then place different colored pieces of tissue paper within the lines (to represent colored glass) and cover with another piece of contact paper (neat idea - and the kids loved it!). We had another booth where you could make a satchel (potpourri tied up in toile with a ribbon). There was a 'game' table - the game being played was apparently a game the monks used to play, similar to chess/checkers, but fewer "marbles" in place of kings/queens, etc. Another game station, where you threw hackey sacks to knock the knight off the horse, and 'shooting practice' complete with a bullseye and (suction cup) arrows. Three of the kids did tri-fold posters (including s*) and one girl who loves to sew, MADE her own 'medieval era' purple gown!! For a light snack we had cheese, crackers, and fruit snacks, and handed out certificates

(I made on the computer) to recognize them for the completion of class!

Overall, it was a wonderful time and I think the kids had a lot of fun!

But!

My most favorite part...

Towards the end of the evening (our event was to end at 8:30pm) around 8:25 I saw Karen make her way up to the 'podium' to say some closing remarks, I noticed S* standing near her, but I didn't really think anything of it, as everyone was kinda milling around and what not...Then Karen said thank you to everyone for coming and our shared thoughts on the success of the class and the celebration...and then....she introduced S* and said that she had a few words to share as well!!

To say I was surprised would be an absolute Understatement!

((we had talked for the last few days remaining, before the party about her doing a brief monologue from the perspective of Queen Jeanne, of whom her poster was about -- she himmhawwed around about it, and then flatly refused because she claimed she was too nervous to get up **in front of the boys** i tried to encourage her because she doesn't get many opportunities to do "public speaking" and she could just maybe share a few facts rather than the monologue -- she still wasn't going for it, ugh -- so, i decided to let it go and NOT NAG, Lord only knows i have bigger fish to fry!)) Well, lo and behold, there she was, next to the podium, no notes, no props, just her beautiful little self and her sweet youthful words~ She expressed to the crowd of maybe 40 people that she wanted to study one of the women of the Reformation for her project since all we had really studied during the class was men, and she thought it important that 'we know' women were involved and made great contribution as well! She shared how she was greatly encouraged by the sacrifices that all of these individuals made for God - even tho' they did not SEE Him, TALK to Him, WALK with Him, or TOUCH Him like the Disciples in the Bible! (she repeated that thought a few times -- getting a little nervous) Then she went on to quote Queen Jeanne who said to a woman (Catherine de Medici-who was trying to cajole Jeanne to turn from the Reformed faith back to the Catholic faith...)

"Madame, if I at this very moment held my son and all the kingdoms of the world together, I would hurl them to the bottom of the sea rather than peril the salvation of my soul."

S* was VERY moved by the study of this woman and she shared some more of Queen Jeanne's life and how she used her influence to aid the Reformers & the Reformed faith. S*, feeling more comfortable toward the end of her presentation asked the audience (kids) "Who really didn't want to attend the class to begin with?" 1 or 2 kids raised their hands... Then she said "Come on, be honest" and quite a few more hands went up, they all laughed! Then she asked...

"But, how many are glad they did and really learned something?"

EVERY HAND WENT UP!

She said "Me, too! And I'm glad you did, too!

It really inspired me to learn how God gave these people courage and I can have courage, too!"

**That was the mission of putting the class/party together! God used it for good, and He also taught me a lot as well! I am humbled by how He uses the weak to further His purpose for His glory! I am so grateful that God has blessed me with this child! Even as we struggle (as we did over these last 7 weeks)...her statements at the end made the entire thing well worth it!

She got it, despite my efforts! ha ha ha

His Will -- Not Mine

~good times~

Certificates -