Service Learning Reflection
I chose to go to my home town to work with Kid’s Klub for my service learning project. Kid’s Klub is a ministry of Wesley United Methodist Church offering quality before and after school care and summer camp programs for children ages five to fourteen. The reason I chose to go to my home town for this project is because I regularly participate in this program when I am home for breaks. While I am there I assist the children in any area in which they may need extra help, as well as helping with preparations that need to be made for activities and field trips. This project relates to the passage of Matthew 25:31-40.
This passage talks about children in reference to helping each other out when one is in need and doing the right thing. Another passage that I would like to mention is Proverbs 22:6. This states that a child should be raised in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it. Kid’s Klub is a program that offers care to children before and after school. Being that it acts similarly to a daycare it gives children the opportunity to work on homework or projects they might need to finish, or just to have time to interact with other children and enjoy games and activities.
In addition, they are taught scripture in fun ways that they will enjoy. Being able to do such activities in this environment gives the children numerous opportunities to help one another. It is also great that the children are able to associate with different age groups; they are always able to teach each other new things and be able to ask advice from someone that they might feel more comfortable talking to since they are closer to their own age. While I was there, I acted as a teacher, or mentor, as well as a friend.
It was my job to assist them with their homework, projects and to clarify what they were going over in bible classes. I also helped prepare dinner for them and played games with them until their parents were able to pick them up. I was also there to mediate and help the kids make the right decision when there were conflicts or arguments. By doing so, they are learning how they should deal with situations and what is the right or wrong way to handle them. It is really amazing to see this first hand when I see the kids oluntarily helping one another with assignments and resolving issues on their own in ways that benefit everyone involved positively.
I chose to mention Proverbs 22:6 because it acts as a precursor to the main passage of relation to this service. This passage states that a child should be raised in the way that he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it. I think it is important to include when dealing with children because it is a top priority to teach them. Children must be taught right and wrong in the first place before they will be able to employ those tactics in their lives.
It is important that they know what it means to help one another and how much it could mean for one in need as well as the one providing the service. This is why it is important that children receive help when they are in need. The probability that one might help another is much greater when they have been shown the same sort of assistance when they were in need. Once they are shown this, it will stick with them through their lives and they will always know what is right and wrong no matter what. It is not as simple to teach what is right and wrong in this day and age, which is another reason why it is so important.
Because of today’s society, it has become a standard to disregard morals that we should learn as children and keep with us through our lives. “In today’s tumultuous society, morality often gets brushed aside as just another part of the fairy tale, and those learning moments of our youth become just another ‘happily ever after’ tale that seems unbelievable by today’s standards” (Lebeau). I think it is equally important to teach values so that children are sure to be able to employ them in their lives by helping others.
The main passage that I chose is Matthew 25:31-41. This passage talks about treating one another right. Ultimately how we treat one another will determine whether we are saved. It’s purpose is to decide whether or not one will be permitted to the eternal kingdom or will be consigned to eternal punishment (NIV, 25:41). The King will separate the children according to whether or not they have helped others when they were in need.
This, in turn, makes the obvious point that we need to be taught and to teach others hat is right or wrong and that we need to help each other, regardless of who we are; we do not discriminate. This is shown in one of the verses as follows: “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me’” (25:40). When we do good to others, we are doing good to god. Even though we do not have to opportunity to show this directly, it is seen and is important. Both of these passages are of equal importance when addressing what is right and helping others.
Children are the future of humanity, therefore it is essential that this is stressed during the early years of their lives. These situations are presented everyday in life, young and old, and it remains important through all of our years. That is why I enjoyed working with the kids and the fact that I was an influence on them. There is nothing I love more than helping children understand why we are to do what is expected. This was certainly a beneficial experience for me as well as the children and we can all take valuable information and learn from our time together.
