The ministry had its first Educational Tour last March 27, 2010. It was a whole day activity attended by thirty three kids and five volunteers to watch over the kids. Twenty waivers were distributed among TCM kids who regularly attend Saturday Bible classes a week before the Field Trip. The PM Class (9-15 years old) was scheduled to visit Crocolandia in the morning while AM Class (3-8 years old) was scheduled in the afternoon. It was their first time to visit the place and we were overwhelmed to see their happy faces as they jumped off the van, all excited for the ride.
Crocolandia Mania:
As early as seven o’clock, the kids were all ready to go. They brought along their bags and hankies. They have been anticipating to see animals and other species particularly, crocodiles. They all lined up as they hop off the van at the entrance gate. Dawn, the tour guide, welcomed us and gave a brief talk about what’s inside Crocolandia. The kids were all amazed to see the railed cages of humongous crocodiles hiding themselves in the swamp. Dawn introduced each of the crocodiles, talked about how they live, what they eat and everything about them. It’s interesting to know that crocodiles do have their own life stories. Aside from crocodiles, ostrich, deers, iguanas, turtles, parrots, tarsier, bobcat, squirrels, eagles, hawk, mynas, fish, wild hogs and snakes of different kinds are other attractions in Crocolandia. The kids were able to know about varied animal species and see what they genuinely look like since most of them have only seen these animals in books. As they come close to each animal, they all look with amazement. They share about what they observe and shout with glee every time they come across a peculiar animal. A short lecture on caring for animals was discussed at the Nature Center where the kids saw different eggs (from the smallest to the biggest) displayed. It was an opportune time for them to ask questions as well.
Right after that, the kids were able to see one of the crocodiles being fed with chicken meat. They were startled to see the crocodile with its sharp, big teeth as it leaped from the water to have its breakfast. It was an amazing yet scary site. After the tour, the kids had some fun at Crocolandia’s playground. They all slid, jumped, swung and had all the fun for a few minutes. When it was time to go, one kid asked if he can stay longer. He wanted to explore and see the animals again. The tour at Crocolandia not only allowed them to see the wonders of God’s creation but also, it gave them understanding and appreciation on the importance of becoming good stewards of the earth.
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.” Psalm 24:1-2
Afternoon fun at Funland:
It was time for the little kids to have their ride in the van. TCM kids brought their letters, signed by their guardians, bottled water, extra shirts and cute knapsacks tagged at their backs. I believe they all prepared for the two-hour enjoyment at Funland. They couldn’t wait to get to our destination. They kept asking as to how far we have to go. As the van came nearer, they all shouted with glee. They’re all eager to ride the mini train and play all they want under the cloudy sky. They paired themselves up (buddy system) and were behave enough to line up towards the entrance. After checking on all the kids, they ran towards the playground and started swinging, jumping, sliding, shouting and running around. From then on, the fun just didn’t stop. The ride on the mini train was pretty much exciting. They closely held their orange tickets and sat still inside the train. They wave their hands each time they’d get to see other kids playing. It seemed as if, it was their very first ride of their childhood lives. The kids definitely enjoyed their afternoon, interacting and just doing one thing in common- play, play and play.
In just a couple of minutes, their shirts were all drenched but they still continued running, shouting and enjoying the ride. It was during snack time that everyone sat calmly. One can get so starved after moving around too much. They opened their bags and got their extra shirts. Their faces were filled with so much happiness as they nibble hot pineapple bread. After the short break, they went back to swinging and jumping around again. They even wanted to stay until six o’clock. An afternoon at Funland was a time to have a break and just enjoying the moment. It was something that TCM kids looked forward to this summer break.
Making a child happy requires less effort. You don’t really have to do something too extravagant to make a child smile. It is by showing them love by simple means that they are able to see the beauty of life and God’s magnificence in all things that they see.
“Kids go where there is excitement. They stay where there is love.” Zig Ziglar
Thank you to our volunteers: Rosemarie Gonzales, Loliegirl Licanda, Ma. Isabel Ceballos, Vincent Gamboa and Mayumi Usami for sharing their time, watching over the kids. I believe you all had fun too and became children again even for just a few hours.
Posted in Giving Back