Kyla and Rosie’s Story

The definition of impact is to “have a strong effect on someone or something.” We have all been impacted by other people, our circumstances, and major events, but one of the biggest impacts on our lives is God. While we often see considerable hardship in the city, at ICI, we are time and time again in a position to see God impacting our students’ lives in big ways.

This summer, while we were at camp, the camp nurse gave us three boxes of Bibles for the students we work with. We have been using them in our clubs, and the K-5th staff planned a scavenger hunt in the Bible for the kids with the mission to find 3 words showing what God wants them to do. Kyla looked through one of the children’s Bibles with pictures, and she really liked it. Previously Kyla has not shown any interest in spiritual things or even the Bible, but this day, she asked if she could have a Bible. The staff gave her one, and Kyla is excited about her Bible, reading it on her own, and asking questions.

They used to have considerable trouble with Kyla in club. She didn’t really want to listen and often got in fights with other kids, especially one boy. Since she has begun to show more interest in God, they have seen changes happening in her, and it seems like even the conflict with the specific boy is diminishing. She seems less inclined to fight or show disrespect.

Kyla has five siblings. Her younger sister Rosie was looking at the Bible Kyla had asked for, and the leader could tell she kind of wanted one, too. Rosie had also not shown substantial interest before, but since Kyla has been getting more excited, Rosie is also showing increased interest. They both have been more engaged at ICI.

Kyla and Rosie have even started attending church with staff regularly and checking each week to make sure they will get picked up. Every week after church, they ask, “When do we come back again?” Every Thursday at club, they ask, “When are we going to church?” They made sure staff had their dad’s phone number so they were sure to pick them up. Each week, they are waiting and ready for the van to pick them up. “It is refreshing to see kids so excited about church,” our staff report.