Bringing everything she needed with her, Maggie made her way to Midlothian where she found a vacant corner outside of the church to stop and rest. As the clouds overhead began to open the rain began to softy fall to the ground. It wasn’t long before Sunny and her two girls approached Maggie and invited her inside. Not wanting to leave her cart behind, the four made their way into the main entrance of the church. All eyes were on the unusual foursome as they entered and made their way through the people and into the children’s wing. Unbeknown to Sunny and her two girls, Maggie was part of the children’s service.
I had been invited to Midlothian Assembly of God to help the kids make a connection between the needs throughout the world and how they can help meet those needs through missions. Playing Maggie was my way to make missions real in the minds of the kids.
Bringing about an awareness of missions took many turns that morning. The story of Jake and Sauly (Jacob and Esau) where a bowl of gumbo and instant gratification robbed him and his descendants of God’s blessings was followed by a lesson where the kids were so self absorbed that they were unable to see others. 
An illusion helped the kids see that time flies and we must make a decision to allow it to their fingers with nothing to show or if they will take some of that time to help others. Using Galatians 6:10, the kids could see that God wants them to help others. “Whenever we have opportunity we should do go to everyone”.
It is my desire to recondition the hearts of our kids to recognize and have compassion for those that need a helping hand.
With cart in tow, Maggie entered the building with all of her belongings neatly tucked into compartments in her wire mesh cart. To get a little relief from the cold, she found shelter in an alley accompanied by some of her fellow homeless who were huddled around a barrel burning with scrap lumber and paper.  As she settled in a spot atop a palette covered with newspaper she covered herself with the only blanket she had, pulled out her hand made sign and cup and began to beg for money from all those who passed by.
and homeless shelter. As people stood in line, patiently waiting their turn, a meal was being served consisting of chicken rice soup, mixed vegetables, cheese, fruit cup and yellow sheet cake. Each person picked up a lunch tray, their foam plate and plastic utensils and walked through the line as volunteers served the food.
It was my privilege to help the children of the church seek out opportunities and ways that they could also be part of giving hope to those in need. I was able to share Galatians 6:10, “Whenever we have opportunity, we should do good to everyone.” Esau was our example of a person that missed his opportunity by giving away his birthright. He could have helped an entire nation but gave it away for a bowl of gumbo. We talked about how difficult it is to see the needs around us when we are constantly looking at ourselves. We need to see through Jesus’s eyes. He never saw himself because He was always looking at the needs of others.
Rushing into the tent, wearing blue scrubs and carrying a cooler, the surgeon frantically searched for her patient. Only minutes later she was in the middle of heart surgery to replace a heart that had been damaged by the effects of sin. It had become ugly and withered and could no longer pump the life giving blood that brings joy and happiness. With a new and pure heart ready for transplant the surgeon needed to act swiftly if she was going to provide the patient with a second chance.
into an orientation meeting the kids were escorted to the field house where all 230 would commence playing a myriad of games in hopes of burning off some of that pinned up energy before their all camp orientation.
As God was blessing the kids, God was also blessing me with a very special gift. I had the opportunity to pray with two girls in particular that received the baptism in the Holy Spirit for the very first time. As I prayed for and with them, God’s Holy Spirit fell on both of them. What an exciting moment for each of them. As I moved away to allow them intimate time alone with God I couldn’t help but think about the gift God had just given me. We spend hours preparing and planning for the kid’s arrival at camp for the few moments at the altar when a child meets God face to face. All the time and energy exerted throughout the week seems minuscule in comparison to what God does through a child at the altar.