Rec Room Reality

by Sarah Miller

A great deal of fun has been had in the rec room in the last couple of weeks. Each group began with a game designed for us to get to know a little bit about each other. We threw a ball around a circle and answered a series of questions that the kids formed. Even though many of these kids know each other quite well from Bible Club, there were still some answers that the group found surprising. One of the students even referred to someone’s answer to a question during our team time a couple of days later. During the rest of our time together we have played a variety of games from basketball to soccer to a variation of ultimate Frisbee that involves a giant inflatable basketball.

As weeks continue, I’m looking forward to continuing with a couple of workshop ideas. One set of workshops will be centered around basketball and different games that you can play with a basketball. I was surprised to find that there are many different games that you can play with a basketball without regard for your talent for playing the sport itself. The other set of workshops will be centered around teamwork. We will be playing a variety of different games including old favorites with slightly different rules as well as brand new ones. The goal for these workshops will be to encourage them to work together, encourage each other, and capitalize on each others’ strengths.

In reality, most of us will never be a sports super star. We will never play for a professional team. We won’t make millions by shooting a basketball or catching a football. So, the reality of the Rec Room is that it isn’t going to be about who’s the best or biggest or strongest, but about having fun, being encouraging, and working together. I think it will be a wonderful year.

Meet Miss Sarah

My name is Sarah Miller. I grew up in Hickman, Nebraska, and graduated from Norris High School. From there, I went on to attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln where I graduated with a degree in secondary math education. During my time at UNL, I was involved in Christian Student Fellowship, one of the campus ministry groups there. I grew so much during those years through activities and friendships with the people there. I had the opportunity to go on mission trips to Mexico over spring break and even went to Romania for a summer and worked with the children there. After graduation I took a bit of an unusual turn and accepted an internship in children's ministry in Grand Island, Nebraska. I knew that I wanted to work with kids and that God had really given me a desire and a talent for doing that, which is what led me to pursue the degree that I did in the first place, I just wasn't sure what setting I wanted to do that in. It was a wonderful experience working with the kids in the church there as well as in their after school program. I learned a great deal during my time there about working with kids and planning events and activities for them. I moved back here in September with plans of moving again.

As with so many things though, God's plans are very different than mine and it appears that I will be in Lincoln a bit longer than I had thought. I'm very excited about the work that He has given me to do at City Impact and with the Impact Learning Center. I love working with children and teens and am excited to see what new adventures and lessons this brings for me as well as the students involved. I have no doubt that God is working here and that we will see and experience wonderful and challenging things in the weeks to come.