Coloring for Jesus
Disaster relief volunteers often work with children whose families have gone through natural disasters. These volunteers help families and children on a temporary basis with basic needs like food, water, and shelter. They also help children by just being a friend when they need one the most. One special thing they do is to look after children so that parents can take care of other things. The volunteers play with children, talk to them, and give them guidance when they don’t understand the horrible things that have happened.
One way disaster relief volunteers help children cope is to let them draw and color pictures about their feelings. Volunteers can then follow up with the children to let them know that Jesus loves them and wants to take care of them. They let the children know that Jesus can take things that are messed up and make something great out of them.
Did you know that you can help friends who are going through a rough time in the same way that disaster relief teams do? You can recycle old, broken crayons and reshape them into something new and beautiful. Then, you can give them to friends and talk to them about their feelings.
What You Need:
• old, broken wax crayons
• microwavable bowl or pot
• microwave or stove top
• cookie cutters shapes
• cookie sheet
• freezer paper
What You Do:
1. Pour old, broken wax crayons into a microwavable bowl or pot.
2. With the help of an adult, heat the crayons in a microwave or stovetop. Use low heat to slowly melt the wax.
3. Cover a cookie sheet with freezer paper. Spread out cookie cutters onto the freezer paper.
4. When the crayon wax is melted, carefully pour it into the cookie cutters. (Be careful, as the bowl or pot will be very warm.) Fill the cookie cutters as much as desired.
5. Place the cookie sheet into the freezer. Freeze crayon wax for three to four hours.
6. Remove the cookie sheet from the freezer. Carefully push the crayon wax out of the cookie cutters.
7. You now have new, large crayons in creative shapes. Share them with a friend who is going through a rough time. Draw and color a picture with them. Ask your friend to talk about their picture with you. Listen to their feelings and pray with them.
Used by permission of Woman's Missionary Union, SBC