"A systematic attempt to provide services beyond conventional limits, as to particular segments of a community". I've been thinking about this because I have been involved in so many activities here that are called "outreach". This past week I participated in two new outreaches.
Last Friday, I got to help facilitate a Youth Program Outreach. There is a Vineyard Church here in Butuan who set up a campus right across the street from the local high school. Every Friday from 4:00-5:00, teenagers (or "youth" as they are called here) are invited to hang out in a place that is welcoming, comfortable and does not look "churchy". We had 16 students show up and we went from games to music to study. I was pleasantly surprised with how much sharing happened; almost everyone participated. For me personally, it was a nice change to spend time with a different group of people than I've been living with the past 2 months - to see groups of teenagers who are not street kids. It gave me another new perspective on things here.
Sunday, we made a 2 hour drive to a place called Del Monte. I was told we would be leading a Tribal Outreach. Unfortunately there was signficant flooding due to several days in a row of rain so we were not able to go into their community. The alternative was to set up our program at the church that many of them attend. The downside to this was that the number of kids who attended was much lower than we expected. The kids who live here at PDK (former street kids) had put together a 90 minute program complete with puppets, skit, dance, testimony. They did a great job. I'm always amazed with the effect puppet shows have on kids. The children in the audience did not understand english, but when the puppets popped up over the sheet, all the kids were shrieking with delight.
Beautiful people, Beautiful place, wonderful day.
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