31st July 2006

Scripture Union holiday club

Today is the start of a much looked forward to couple of weeks in Minnis Bay for the summer. Its the time when the SU holiday club beach mission starts at my home village. I always look forward to it and I think I probably enjoy it as much (if not more) than the kids do! This organisation provides entertainment for local children for 2 weeks every summer and has gradually increased in popularity year on year. There were over 450 kids registered last year. The whole event is free. Many mainly young people give up 2 weeks of their summer to entertain the children. I have great respect for these folk. Not only do they give up their time (12+ hours per day) they do it for free, and more's the point, they PAY for the privilage (I think its around £50 per week). This is how the club is funded. Local folk put these people up and food is cooked for them by local church volunteers. The clubs main emphasis is on fun and games with some spiritual input (never heavy and always respectful). This, for me, is an example of true giving and sacrifice. The leaders of this club suffer no end of humiliation in the name of making the kids laugh and enjoy themselves...... Messy games.... getting soaked... covered with things like flour, egg, jam, chocolate spread are just of the things that happen.

The club provides events for kids of all ages from toddlers up to young adults up to the age of 21. I know this happens at other seaside towns in Great Britain and, I believe, throught the world. I know my kids have enjoyed going to this, and they still do. I shall be taking Kara (my 8yr old) down there in about 5 mins for the evening event.

I did my other job today - working with the Youth Offending Team supervising reparation work. Today, we went to help out a an animal rescue centre in West Hougham near Dover. The day involved painting some sheds and shoveling horse poo! I managed to get outwitted by 2 goats and half a dozen sheep that escaped from the back field whilst manning the gate. Being a townie, seeing farm animals this close up is a bit scary... getting bumped by the goats whilst the sheep, other goat and pony slipped past me.... ooer. Still, it made the other leaders and the young people laugh.