We spent an overwhelming afternoon with the children in celebration of Train a Child Ministry’s first year anniversary on August 8, 2010. Seventy kids dressed up neatly and wore their best shoes on that day. It was an event that the kids have been looking forward to celebrate with. They were all delighted to receive a balloon and a loot bag filled with candies and sweet treats. For just an hour and a half, we’ve shared their joy and excitement as they all sat in their colorful dresses.
The activity was supposed to start at 4:00 o’clock but as early as 2:30, the kids already arrived and there’s no stopping! An opening prayer kept them still for a few seconds and right after that, everyone did not stop from talking. Containing their happiness was explicitly impossible to realize since everybody’s eager to start the celebration. After a few words of welcome from Ms. Zenith Diaz, we took a few poses as recollection of this remarkable day. They all stood up in front and wore their best smiles as the camera clicked.
As we looked at them, we just couldn’t stop from thinking as to how these kids have grown spiritually and emotionally. It was only a year ago when we started opening and we never expected that Train a Child Ministry would come this far. What we had was faith, and faith still. We started with twelve kids, became forty in five months, seventy in a year and we’re still growing in number. With God, all things are possible. His steadfast love and unreserved grace gave us more than what we could ask for. It’s amazingly wonderful how God works in each of our lives.
They held tightly their balloons as they ate cupcakes and delicious fruity-flavored ice buko. Seeing their small faces covered with chocolate grime makes me think about how time flies so fast. It has been a year since we’ve sang songs of worship, viewed animated Bible films and memorized Bible verses. Fifty weeks has gone since the children spent bible story sharing. Three hundred sixty-five days has passed since we’ve shared fun moments and formed friendships. A year may seem short, but what we have imparted and taught to these kids will last until they get old.
Little acts of kindness have definitely changed the lives of these kids. Their training at TCM has greatly transformed their personalities in some way and the Ministry’s programs have drawn them closer to God. A year has passed and we look forward to 3, 5, 10 and more years with Train a Child Ministry.
“We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near; men tell of your wonderful deeds.” Psalm75:1
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