Invited In

So today we were eating lunch at our normal tables. 8th grade girls, 8th/7th grade guys, two 6th grade girl tables and 7th grade girls. As you know there are not many 7th grade girls in that class and I happened to glance over at the table, and I saw just one girl sitting there by herself because the other girls were busy at the moment. I thought about how I would feel if I was sitting by myself, all alone, and I know how that feels at times. I also thought about our blog and how I have been asking God to show me the times he wants me to show his love and kindness. In that first moment I thought about me, and how it might be awkward for me, not knowing what to say but than I thought of how God wants us to make the initiative and he will help us with the rest. So I asked a friend if we should go and sit over there, and than I asked the whole 8th grade girls table so we all headed over there for the last bit of lunch. One thing I learned was to think more of others and not about myself!

At recess a friend and I were playing volleyball with a basketball because we couldn't find an actual volleyball. We noticed a girl from another grade standing in the corner looking over at us. She was just standing there and she wasn't playing with anyone else. We invited her to play with us and we were all laughing. It's really hard to play with a basketball so we had a ton of hilarious fails and adding a third player just made it even better!

Dear LORD, thank you for opening our eyes to those around us and giving us the push to act upon what we see. It is a privilege to reach out with your love!

Continuing Faithfulness

Last year, Calvin students opened their hands and hearts to children in Uganda. Here is an update from Mrs. O'Reilly, who inspired the effort:

The students at CCS collected money for books for me to take to Uganda, Africa. When I got there, I visited several schools. I gave books to two of the schools. One of them had many children and no supplies or books. The director of the school told me she wanted to have books so the children could see God's world and better their lives. She took me to a patch of ground and said, here is where God would give her the building. I asked what she needed. She said $2000 and more books. God laid it on my heart that my students and I could do this.

The biggest problem is that it is almost impossible to send money to Uganda, and the cost of sending books would be outrageous. But nothing is impossible with God! I didn't know how I could get the children what they needed, but God did.

I came back and told students and teachers about the library. They brought in money and books. Then I waited and prayed. In the next 6 months God brought several people to me who were going right to Kampala, Uganda and said they would take money and books that I had gathered! One person ended up visiting about a block away from the school!

                                          

Opening Hearts, Opening a Home

We are cheering on a Calvin family who is taking in a foster child who needs a warm home. She is coming on Monday. We are praying that this little girl will fit in with the family, and that the family will be blessed through this act of kindness!

Sharing the Joy!

from an 8th Grader...

My church group that meets on Wednesdays sang carols at a senior living center tonight. We also did a Christmas activity with them while giving out cookies and lemonade, along with a pair of socks to wear for the winter to remember tonight. It was so much fun to see their faces light up when you would give them a cookie or say Merry Christmas to them. By giving up up a little of our night we made their day.

Mostly About.....Cans!

Can you be full of grace and the spirit of competition at the same time?! We are collecting nonperishable food items and toiletries for STEP food shelf in Minneapolis. This is a great way we are trying to help others in need. This is friendly challenge between Advisory groups in our Middle School. But one of the Advisors is making crafty moves offering prizes (bribes, Mrs. T?!?!) to people who bring in items for her group! So the 8th graders are reaching out to the rest of the community to even the score. We invite anyone reading this blog to bring items to the school office, marked "8th Grade Food Drive Challenge." We really just want to fill the food shelf (but we also really like to win!!!).

Dear Lord,
 We pray for those who are hungry and thank you for the opportunity to help serve them!

Opening Doors

You hold the door for someone you know and a mass of people come flooding through. I held the door at Grace Church and it was so hard. People flooded out saying "thank you," and I was like, "you're welcome-you're welcome-you're welcome..." I was there for at least 10 minutes!

Doors have been opened for...

• a man in a wheelchair
• 6th graders with their Geography Fair stuff
• people carrying hot lunch trays
• teachers!

Thank you, Lord, for giving us the opportunity to welcome, to open doors, to open our hearts to small needs. Thank you for opening doors for us!

Day 2

A big opportunity showed up today in the form of...garbage. Our custodian/bus driver/general miracle worker was a little stressed. He had a lot of driving to do on top of taking care of the whole building. So we took this as an opportunity to serve. After a lunch and recess of vacuuming and emptying garbage and recycling, our building was clean and Mr. Lamfers could spend his time on other things.


LORD,
Thank you for those people who do so much for us. We are blessed by Mr. Lamfers, our teachers, the office staff, our parents, and all the people that work hard for our education.

On Shifting Your Expectations

from the girls on the basketball court...

So this year, our school can't have 2 separate girls basketball teams. Lucky me, I wound up playing basketball with the 4th graders. Yep, you read that right, 4TH GRADERS. Most of them have never played basketball before, and have no idea what their parents signed them up for. Some of them can barely dribble (like me)! I took this opportunity to try to teach them some things, and frankly, I still have a lot to learn. All of us middle schoolers are teaching the 4th graders tricks of the trade, and helping them with simple stuff like passing and shooting. This is a great leadership opportunity, and I am excited about the rest of the season! 

Stories from Day 1

It's Day 1 and we are up to the Kindness Challenge! Here are the first two stories:

     It was the first time we had off-season volleyball practice. I noticed a girl who was super shy, and she was doing this nervous laugh. So I went over to talk to her and asked her if she wanted to be my partner for the warmups. She is actually super nice! Last year, I didn't know anyone on my team, and I felt the same way, so I knew what she was going through.

Hey! 

So tonight I had piano lessons. I was the last lesson of the night for my teacher. She had just told me a story about how she slipped about this time last year walking to her car and broke her arm and lost a couple teeth! I rly wanted to get how and do my homework but I thought of the Acts of Kindness project and offered to walk her to her car. She was very grateful and I felt good that I had helped her walk across the icy sidewalk. 

LORD,

Thank you for opportunities to keep others from falling-in body or in spirit. These chances remind us that you always hold us up and you never fail us. It is awesome to feel your strength when you allow us to work with you in reaching out to others!

Our Purpose

Sometimes, just the smallest acts of kindness can make someone's day. This blog is about spreading the love and joy of Christ through the simple, everyday things we can do or say. Our blog will record the opportunities God gives us to do good here in our school and in our community, because we want to show the kindness to others that God shows to us. We, as 8th Graders at Calvin Christian School, hope to glorify God by helping the people around us, and we want to encourage you to join us!

Follow us by email to get updates, or comment about an act of kindness you've done or witnessed. Spread the word to your family and friends!

Never pass up the opportunity to do good...

                                                                                                            -S.J.