14 • GCU TODAY
Lord and who are Christ-centered
and instill Biblical truths into the
kids,” said Yvanna Rodriguez, a
student leader.
Already, parents and children are
flocking to the fledgling Cielito Park
program, which started this year.
From 15 children the first week, the
number sprang to 45 by week four
and is still growing, Rodriguez said.
Street outreach
After the hip hop, the volunteers
split into two groups. Rodriguez
and others knock on doors as they
make their way, Pied Piper style, to
Cielito Park.
To build a critical mass of
children for the new arm of the
ministry, volunteers went door to
door to every house near the park,
brochures and permission slips in
hand, to invite children to Canyon
Kids.
“At first, everyone was kind of
shy, reserved,” Rodriguez said of the
children.
But many — such as the three
Vazquez sisters, Romina, 6,
Mariana, 8, and Brianda, 11 — are
waiting outside their homes for the
weekly visit. Ponytails bouncing,
they rush to hug their GCU friends.
Their mother, Alma, waves
goodbye. That parents like Alma
are content to watch their children
walk down the street with GCU
students is a testament to the level
of trust the Canyon Kids program
instills.
Laughter, chatter and shouts of
joy fill the air as kids arrive at the
park. Some kick a soccer ball and
play hopscotch while others make
for the swings and slides. Some
cluster around a handful of picnic
tables and play with chalk and nail
polish.
“I think I’m addicted to purple,”
Brianda says, giggling, as Megan
Ziegler, a sophomore nursing
student, helps her paint her nails. “I
like it because of GCU!”
Crafts, a Bible lesson and a skit
The volunteers create “stations”
based on the Bible verse, which this
week is, “As for God, His way is
perfect: The Lord’s Word is flawless;
He shields all who take refuge in
Him.” (2 Samuel 22:31)
For the arts and crafts project,
the children paste together a
construction paper shield with a
cross and a copy of the verse.
For the skit, volunteers Josh
Micko, Steven Culebro and Kayla
Michaels brainstorm under a tree.
Micko, a freshman justice studies
major, suggests an enactment in
which hikers come to a fork in the
woods, one shorter and easier and
the other harder but “God’s way.”
The hiker goes the hard way and
stumbles. But because “the Lord
is our shield, Jesus is our shield,”
the hiker recovers his footing and
the way becomes clear, Micko
suggested.
“Seeing all the kids have
engaged, one-on-one time with
people who genuinely care and
love on them” is a moving sight for
Rodriguez. “And when you see the
message of the Bible verse stick, it’s
amazing. God can do His work here
at the park.”
Christian Barrow, who happened
to be in the park with her children,
Alison, 5, and Romel, 2½, strode
over to request a permission slip.
“This is perfect for the
community,” Barrow said. “All these
kids will get to know each other
better.”
‘God is like a shield’
Over at Little Canyon Park, Fallon sits
cross-legged in the grass surrounded
by more than a dozen children who are
munching on fruit snacks.
Enjoying the play equipment
(right) is one of the many activities
for kids on a Saturday at Canyon
Kids. Readings from the Bible are
interspersed with lots of games
and skits — and laughs (below).
