Despite the fact that I haven’t written anything over the summer, there’s been a lot going on.
We had a wrap up barbecue for our great volunteers and I had a chance to get to know them on a more personal level. We’re so busy all season, there’s very little time to just sit and shoot the breeze and the barbecue offered me a great opportunity to do just that.
I was also engaged in some very good training by Skype provided by Todd Bender and team as we prepare to move out of the provisional branch stage to an independent branch. It was in these meetings that I had a chance to connect with children’s ministers in Halifax, Welland, Hamilton and Regina. All of them participating in a City Kidz type of ministry. Ahh the age of technology where people can gather in one place from all across the country! It was nice meeting other like-minded people who live scattered across Canada.
We also had a volunteer training day in August, at which time I was privileged to pour as much into our passionate and eager volunteers as they could muster. They learned about what it means to be a volunteer at City Kidz and had a crash course in how to talk to kids, the meaning of resilience from a City Kidz perspective and how to deal with all kinds of kids behaviorally. They now “get” what City Kidz is all about and why they’re doing what they do. They’re even more anxious now to make a difference in Ottawa. I am so proud of my team!
And just when you think that’s quite a bit, City Kidz is growing so quickly that we’ve officially moved to another location with a bigger hall. The good folks at City Church in Vanier, have kindly offered their hall free of charge to City Kidz Ottawa. Despite the similarity in our names, City Kidz is still an independent ministry, hoping to gather churches from all denominations to join in the fun, and all people within the greater Ottawa community who love children, as well. Our new digs are pretty special! Not only do we have more room, in which we can potentially fit 300 kids into, we now have two washrooms, a kitchen, and an installed lights and sound system. We’re in heaven!! Thanks Rob and Heather at City Church, and your congregation too! The new Playhouse address is 221 Baribeau Street, around the corner on Ethel Street, Door C.
In addition to holding down jobs, we’ve also been carrying on with home visits and staying connected with the kids over the summer. Just because the program is over, we’re not! Relationship building is what City Kidz is all about and this never takes a break! Phew! I’m getting tired reading that! But there’s more….
Now we’re into start up mode. The curriculum has been picked and distributed around my team, the supplies have been purchased, the photocopying is done and the prizes are ready to go. City Kidz Ottawa begins its fall season Saturday September 17th and the countdown is on. The kids in the neighbourhood were so excited to hear this during home visits last night. When I got out of my car, I was immediately swarmed by these children 
eager to know when we would be picking them up again! They were very happy to know it was this Saturday!! And SO AM I!!
…And ONE for all!!!
eager to know when we would be picking them up again! They were very happy to know it was this Saturday!! And SO AM I!!
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