After such a busy summer, filled with camps for the community to mission work from other Friends Meetings, school began and so did our after school program. We opened our after school services and have been very successful in assisting the children with homework, projects and extracurricular activities during the afternoon such as music theory, art and organized activities from touch-football to some free time on the play set.
This program gives an opportunity for those to get the help they need with work from school that they may not receive at home or school but also in a christian environment where we begin each day with a devotion, worship and prayer.
We have begun an intern program with junior high students that will hopefully turn into an opportunity for youth to gain leadership, understand the value of volunteerism, and give them opportunities to work with other children and in turn, help with their own education.
We had the opportunity to invite the parents of the students in the program to a parent night where we held snacks and a time of fellowship with one another. During this time the children played sports outside while the parents spoke with tutors and the directors of the program about their child's efforts, success, improvements and opportunities while in the program. It was a great time of fellowship with fun, food, and friendship.
In mid-September we had a community dinner where we had deliscious brisket, hashbrown casserole, green beans, and dessert that the community had brought ranging from banana pudding to honey-bun cake to brownies. It gave us the opportunity to use our new porch that groups had built over the summer and introduce the great weather this fall has already brought in. It was an amazing time of fellowship and those arrived appeared to have a great time.
Last night we had a community cookout which was composed mainly of our junior and senior youth with younger siblings as well. We began early with a game of football and when others arrived began a game of softball, We had 21 in total and had a very competitive game that was lots of fun. As the Kendall's opened up there back yard for a hot dog roast with their new fire pit, we had the time to have fun and get away from school and busy schedules. As the night air came in, we began to make smores and listen to music.
Beginning after Labor Day, MOWA restarted youth programming for those in 4th grade through 12th. We have had a great turn out and a wonderful time of bible study and topical studies with the youth of the community. With snacks and games we introduce and welcome youth as they arrive and follow it with a time of personal insight of how we should live as Christians and allow our lives to portray so. The children have great responses and questions and we can not wait to see what God will pull through this year!
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