Five interns spend summer misinstering to kids
Published 12:00 am Saturday, June 15, 2002
The summer interns at Youth for Christ-The Rock come from different backgrounds, but they are united by their love of children and a hope to incorporate their Christian faith in future careers.
Ashley Olson, Janett Jung, Becky Kelly, Jeremy Aasness and Teresa Wauters will spend the next three months planning and supervising the YFC’s 12 Kids Clubs and junior high and senior high nights, and visiting nursing homes once a month. Supervising the program is Jill Skogen.
Olson, Kelly and Aasness all attended Albert Lea high school; Teresa Wauters and Janett Jung both had to travel a bit further.
Jung comes to Minnesota from Hartmannsdorf, Germany where she was involved in Youth For Christ’s sister program for a year. She had a good experience and jumped at the opportunity to spend the summer ministering to American youth. Jung is staying with Scott and Jennifer Hitchcock of Albert Lea.
This is the second year the Albert Lea YFC group has been chosen to host a German exchange intern.
From Marshalltown, Iowa, Wauters heard of the internship from a friend who is a full time employee at The Rock. Because she wanted to get away from home and work with kids for the summer, working at The Rock was an easy decision. Her host parents are Stan and Lois Hankins of Albert Lea.
&uot;We look for applicants who have a strong Christian faith, who love children, and are dependable,&uot; said Skogen. &uot;YFC also wants them to get positive experience for future career use.&uot;
Both Aasness and Olson hope to work as youth pastors in the future. Aasness is returning to Albert Lea after his first year of college. He is staying with relatives Owen and Bonnie Aasness because his parents moved to the Twin Cities. Becky Kelly enjoyed volunteering at The Rock last year and will use her experiences working with children this summer as background for a career in music education.
The interns hold three hour-and-a-half kids clubs Monday through Thursday in area parks and daycares. The clubs involve anywhere from five to 15 children and focus on a daily Bible lesson where kids ask questions and get involved.
&uot;A big part of it is being flexible,&uot; said Wauters. &uot;We changed the characters in one lesson from sheep to dogs because the kids thought sheep were dumb animals.&uot;
Also part of the activities are games and snacks.
Skogen estimates about 150 children will be involved in the camps by the end of the summer.
&uot;Some of the kids are so hungry for someone to listen to them and be a friend,&uot; Skogen said. &uot;They really look forward to the clubs each week.&uot;
The summer interns receive two weeks of training in tools and actions for ministry, evangelism and teamwork. They say the biggest challenge is adjusting to the children in each setting.
&uot;Each park has a different personality,&uot; Olson said.
The Rock has held summer Kids Clubs for the last seven years. Open each day from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., the Rock also sponsors Tuesday Nights Together for junior high students and a senior high night every Thursday. Many trips and activities are planned for this summer, including two Canada trips and the annual Colorado Caravan to Estes Park and Colorado Springs. Local events like pool parties and Valleyfair trips are also scheduled.
For Kids Club locations and times or more information on summer activities contact the Rock at 373-1015.