Students for International Mission Service (SIMS)

by Ryan W. Carroll, International health student, School of Public Health

Loma Linda University students and faculty lead a sing-along during Community Kids Connection at the SAC-Norton facility in San Bernardino.

"These are my hands·You see my hands?·God made my hands·These are my hands·" The children of the SAC-Norton area in central San Bernardino, California, sing these words at all times of the day. The stanza comes from their favorite song from Community Kids Connection (CKC), the local outreach ministry run by SIMS. CKC takes place in a small white building at SAC-Norton.

On the walls of the CKC room hangs brightly colored construction papers with the words: "Love," "Joy," "Peace," and the rest of the fruits of the Spirit.

In one corner of the room stands a black backdrop with the silver letters C-K-C shining against their dark background.

Ryan W. Carroll, coordinator for Community Kids Connection, points out the different parts of the body and reminds the children that "we're all different and all wonderfully made."

In front of the backdrop is a six-foot tall silhouette of a human being, cut out in thick pink poster board.

The man, in the anatomical daVinci-esque position, is adorned with multi-colored paper organs-lungs, heart, brain, tongue, kidneys, pancreas, and more-the children cut out and placed on the splayed-open man during the first CKC this quarter.

He now stands vigil every week to remind the kids of the big picture: that we're all different, all wonderfully made, and can work together to help others for God.

During Community Kids Connection's short two-quarter life, we have seen local firemen, llamas, dogs, and boa constrictors; we've made watercolor fish windsocks, fuzzy koala bear cut-outs, sock puppets, plaster hand molds and hand casts, finger-painted posters, multi-colored kaleidoscopic kangaroos, and pin-on ribbons to remind the kids of their uniqueness.

We've talked about the virtues of helping people in need; we've talked about the fruits of the Spirit, and how "fearfully and wonderfully" God made each child. We've also talked about good health.

As a student of the sciences I am trained to be an empiricist--I must see it to believe it. I need to see the effects of my time with these kids. I must be able to document their improvement for me to claim I'm making an impact! But God works beyond the rational facet of my science-grounded mind and calls me to action, even if I will never know the outcomes. I have to remember what it says in Hebrew 11: 34: "Out of weakness we're made strong." -Ryan W. Carroll

In addition to the stories and the lessons, the kids enjoy songs, games, and healthy snacks.

The parents come as well, perform the motions of the interactive songs, and help the kids participate in the games and crafts.

Overall, the parents have begun to relax and trust the group of Loma Linda students who come to the clinic every Saturday, which is very important to every outreach ministry. I have had the privilege of coordinating this activity for the second semester of CKC's life.

Following the dedication and creativity of Lory Giddings, CKC's charter coordinator, I have learned much-I've also been blessed much.

Working with them is something I've done since high school. While working with kids is fun, I often walk away from my few hours of interaction feeling dissatisfied with my input. I spend only two hours with these kids each week; how can I be making an impact?

As a student of the sciences I am trained to be an empiricist-I must see it to believe it. I need to see the effects of my time with these kids. I must be able to document their improvement for me to claim I'm making an impact!

But God works beyond the rational facet of my science-grounded mind and calls me to action, even if I will never know the outcomes. I have to remember what it says in Hebrew 11:34: "Out of weakness we're made strong."

My attempts to better the lives of the children with whom I come in contact are weak and feeble. Nevertheless, as I've had the opportunity to work with the children of San Bernardino through SIMS, I have learned that my efforts, no matter how weak I perceive them to be, will be made strong through the work of the Lord.

So, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on Saturdays, I will continue to cut, glue, play, sing, laugh, and learn with the kids that my body can be used to better His creation.

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