If you were to walk into my home on any given day and go upstairs to my kids’ rooms, you would find one room overflowing with art supplies…at times, the walls AND furniture are covered in drawings carefully created by my youngest daughter. She’s into creating aliens these days. In my son’s room, you would find video games going on either the XBox or computer. Club Penguin seems to be the website of choice. In the corner of his room sits an electric guitar waiting to be strummed…even if just for a moment…but the pull of the video game is a little stronger right now, much to his father’s chagrin!
I love watching my kids grow up. I love everything about being a mom (and now a mother-in-law, too)…the good and the bad! I guess you could say my whole life thus far, has been about kids…my own kids…others’ kids…your kids! When I’m not busy being a mom and all that goes with that, I’m busy leading an amazing team of staff and volunteers that serve the families of Central Christian Church each weekend in the Birth – First Grade environments. I love it when a kid passes by and says, “Hey mom, that’s my teacher!” I love watching kids as they learn to worship an awesome God. I love hearing them say their memory verses as seeds of faith are being planted in their hearts…seeds that one day will sprout as their faith in God grows. I will always cherish the moment that each of my own children asked Jesus into their heart. My heart leaps when I see kids getting baptized that were once in our nursery, knowing that in some small way, our team here at Central, played a part in creating the path that led them to Jesus.
Time passes by so quickly these days. Sometimes I wish I could stop the clock from marching on…day to day…week to week…month to month…year to year…always marching on. Children grow up and their childhood is over before we know it. I don’t want to miss any of it! I don’t want to miss the creation of the three-eyed, green and purple alien just lurking at the edge of my daughter’s marker waiting to be born in her imagination. I don’t want to miss out on seeing my son defeat the level that saves all of humanity in the latest video game. Nor do I want to miss the day that he actually picks the guitar up and rocks out. I don’t want to miss out on my oldest daughter finding her way around now as a married woman, and I certainly don’t want to miss out when grandkids eventually come roaring into my world.
Is time passing too quickly for you, too? Are your kids growing up right before your eyes? Are you watching?
Laura Murphy
Area Director of Central Kidz/Birth – 1st Grade
Parents-
As the new Intern I wanted to introduce myself!
My name is Naomi Koenig! I am finishing my youth ministry degree from Lincoln Christian College (Lincoln, IL some of you may know of the branch my college has here on Centrals Campus) here at Central in the High School ministries department. I have been here a Grand Total of 45 days (minus the 5 spent at IGNITE). I am 22, From the Midwest (shout outs to my fellow Mid-westerners!!) I am the youngest of four! I grew up in Ohio and Wisconsin, all my immediate family lives in the Milwaukee Wisconsin area.
Meanwhile, Its been an amazing time to seeing Gods motivation and direction come to a point. Being in College for four years, having great peace and affirmation about pursuing Full time youth ministry has been affirmed in ways that have been needed and mystifying! God’s pursuit of my heart, mind, soul and Life has brought me to Vegas and its been a grand Adventure that is purely Gods direction!
Hope to get to know all of you soon!
Feel free to come introduce yourselves during our Sunday seriveces!
-Naomi Koenig
It was time for the boys annual kayak trip while on a recent trip to the East coast to see my family. I was going along for the drop off when I decided that it was time for me to get my picture taken in one of the kayak’s. I sat in it while it was on the comfort of dry land when my sister said, “Just get in the water with it. You’ll be fine.” My palms began to sweat right away; I am not into the whole river and kayak adventures like my family. But she was right, how silly to take a picture sitting on dry land and the river didn’t look too fast. (Plus, I’m the middle child and a sucker for peer pressure.) I took the kayak to the river and watched as my brother and sister helped “get me in the water”. I would love to say that it was awesome but as the kayak moved in the water, I realized I had no idea what to do. As my siblings yelled out directions on how to turn the kayak around, I felt myself moving further and further down the river. I grabbed onto a rock and yelled for someone to come help me. I could hear the loud laughter as my siblings and husband watched me get more nervous. Then I saw him. My dad had come through some trees and with a calm voice he helped tell me how to turn the right way. The picture was taken, I touched dry land and I was embarrassed. On the ride home, my dad blew it off that it wasn’t a big deal. Then he said these words, Kimmy, you had nothing to worry about, I would have come in and got you if you needed me to.” It was a silly moment but a moment that made me know that even at my age, my dad will do anything for me, including jumping into a river!
Do you have a “parent moment” to share that you will never forget? Are you taking time out this summer to create lasting memories with your own kids?
Kim Trethewey
Central Kidz Team
Good Morning Parents,
I woke up this morning and I felt like something was missing…it was the past week! Where did it go? How could today be the last day already? Yet, sadly it is. The kids are in their last chapel service right now singing and worshiping together one last time. Then it’s just clean up and lunch and then the phat lady will be singing too (notice I said “phat,” as in cool-cause that lady must be cool if she sings in so many closing ceremonies).
That’s right, very soon an endless stream of tears will be flowing (from the girls) and many fierce bear hugs will be given (from the boys) and then we will be on our way! Our ETD (estimated time of departure) from camp is around 1:30 pm. Our ETA for the church is probably between 5:30 and 6:15 pm. I am leaving first in the van to prepare everything for the kids before they get there. I will call the 4402 ext. and leave a message when I get close to the church. Any parents who want to come early to see the camp video and get a “Talking Points” camp discussion sheet are more than welcome to head for the church when I call.
When the buses hit Jean, Nevada, Daniel will update the 4402 ext. and let everyone know they are about 45 minutes from the church. That will be the time to head out. Once again, thanks for entrusting your kids to us and we will see you soon!
Kurt Pflegl
Well your wonderful kids are off to get their things packed and their cabins cleaned. Everybody is both sad to leave and very excited to come home. Last night the cabins had some pretty amazing small group times. While one cabin was writing in their journals, one girl wrote an amazing thing. We would like to share it with all of you. (Don’t worry she knows we are doing this)
“I’ve come a long way with my family, but not only them but God. I started out (raised) Catholic, but now am a Christian. I’m growing a lot in my spiritual journey, but to me this camp helped me know God is there. He will never leave you hanging, waiting for a high five. It’s hard to leave your family, but when you are here, you just have a new one and you have God. Everyone in my cabin has a different idea in their mind or a different personality, but we all fit in like a puzzle piece, but in the middle there is God. Everyday we come closer to Him. In my life God is just one way of saying my forgiver and saviour. I know God is there looking down at us saying I forgive you, whether he is in the stars or the sky or whatever, I know He is there.”
Written by Madison Johnson
I thought it might touch all of you to know that your kids have had an amazing experience while here at camp, they are learning and growing and changing. We have had such an amazing time at camp with your kids, thanks for letting them come.
God Bless,
Rebekah Zaborek
I have just come back to my cabin after a great game of underground church. The goal of the game was for the kids to get the Bibles (aka toothpicks) to the churches, and for the guards (aka leaders) to stop them. It was great fun with the kids getting over 70 Bibles to their destination. However, the greatest part of the game for me, was when I was walking a wonderful girl back to her cabin and we were talking about the week. I asked her, “what has been your favourite part of this week at camp?” Her answer almost made me cry. Despite great food, fun games, swimming, and even cooler activities, like mountain boarding, she said her favourite part was learning about Jesus. How wonderful that these kids are growing up with a heart to learn about Jesus. It made me realize that no matter what happens at camp, kids ARE being reached.
In chapel tonight Daniel, our wise and wonderful teacher, taught that following the race and sticking the course starts with following Jesus and making him your forgiver, leader, friend. At Central we have an amazing class called starting point for kids. If your child is interested, please contact us and have them go through this class. I promise you won’t regret it.
Well I am going to sign off now, got to get up early to be in line for breakfast. Please keep us in your prayers as we take off tomorrow. Everybody is very excited about coming home, we will see you all then.
Signing off
Rebekah Zaborek
Southwest Children’s Pastor
Hello Parents,
Welcome to Thursday morning at Kidz Kamp! We’ve had a good start to the day so far…pancakes, sausage, and the Cartoon song, everything you need for a well balanced morning. Here’s a great experiment for you: When you see your child on Friday, say “Yabbadabbaduia” and watch the reaction you get. We also received our key word today in our chapel time, and it is LOOK. We are learning how to LOOK around and see all of life through God’s eyes instead of our own. To do that, we have to LOOK to God each day and ask Him to open our eyes. I call that “Keeping our EYES on the PRIZE!”
Now, I would not say I’m the smartest guy around, but I think our great start today was propelled by the great finish we had yesterday. Take a LOOK (pun totally intended).
The very best thing about this morning, however, is that it has just begun! Come back after lunch and we will post some more pictures for you to LOOK through. See you then!
Kurt Pflegl
Hey Parents,
There are a lot of different kids with us here at camp and they definitely all have different opinions on many things, but I’m sure they would all agree on one thing…camp is never boring! Some of the kids went to shoot paint balls at targets today while others went mountain boarding. Still others went to the bb gun and archery station.
When they weren’t doing that, they were praising their guts out to God. No one can say they have had a full camp experience if their guts weren’t out by the time worship was over. Chapel might not seem that exciting just from hearing about it, but the actual chapel experience this week has been unforgettable. Here’s living proof. I was curious to know what the kids liked best about camp this far, so I asked them at lunch. More than once, the answer was chapel. Here’s an actual quote from one boy, “My two favorite things so far were chapel and this hamburger.” That’s a boy for ya!
Well, that’s going to wrap the Wednesday night rewind so I can drag my tired (but happy) self to bed in preparation for tomorrow’s adventure. One last thing, my apologies for not showing any pictures in this blog. Our camera’s batteries are recharging as we speak. The poor thing took so many pictures of happy campers it just done wore out, as people would say in the South. Tomorrow is a new day, however, and we will have some for you then. Have a great night!
Kurt Pflegl
Can it really be the hal-way point of camp? The time is flying by and things are going great. We enjoyed some fun activities this morning, one of which was a huge mud pit. Check it out.
I just left the kids competing in another one of their Olympic events. They are playing human ping pong right now and then it is off to free time for the rest of the afternoon.
The high yesterday, today, and tomorrow is right at 90 degrees, which is just about perfect. We get nice and warm in the afternoon during free time, but then it cools off nicely each night. I think I am heading off to the pool now. Try to stay cool in Vegas.
Daniel Carnahan
Central Kidz
Hello parents and welcome to Wednesday morning at Kidz Kamp! After their first full day of activities, you probably won’t be surprised to learn that most everyone went to sleep fairly quickly. One surprise we did have yesterday afternoon was a wet material falling from the sky. The kids seemed a little confused by it, but we quickly explained it was a very natural event some people like to call rain. They were fine after that and it only lasted about ten minutes.
As for today: The kids just got through with breakfast (eggs and hash browns) and chapel. In chapel, they learned the key word for today, which is ENDURE. Daniel, our very wise wizard of the Word, our sultan of Scripture, our teacher of the text, rocked our world with some great examples of how to endure and the good God can bring into our lives through that endurance. One very powerful illustration he used was the story of Kerri Strug from the 1996 Olympics. That story put me on the verge of tears. Luckily the boy next to me had a hanky and was willing to share. What a great kid! Speaking of chapel, here’s a group eagerly awaiting chapel time.
Here’s one of some girls worshipping during chapel time.
At this point in the morning, the kids are enjoying their activity rotations. Each group is at a different activity. They rotate activities each day so every group gets a chance to experience each one. Here’s one such activity they will get to participate in…the rock climbing wall!
One fun activity everyone got to enjoy yesterday was the giant slip and slide. Words can’t describe it, you just have to see it…so here it is!
As we continue through this second full day of camp, our leaders will need to remember the word ENDURE that Daniel talked to them about this morning. Wrangling a group of 9 or 10 kids all day long is exhausting, for lack of a more descriptive word. I would ask you as parents to pray hard for all the leaders today. Please pray that they ENDURE in showing the kids God’s love and wisdom, by His supernatural power. Thanks for entrusting us with your kids and praying for us! Come back later and we will have another blog up after lunch.
Until then, have a great morning!
Kurt Pflegl
Central Kidz
