Who would've known the amount of work, detail, and energy involved in making Joyland Festival possible? It started with Joyland teachers brainstorming for games/booth ideas, their themes, and creative titles for each of them. Spreadsheets were created to organize all the work that needed to be done.
For our Thursday/Saturday workdays, eager volunteers from every department of our church came to help us out – from college to ISM to Praxis group sisters and brothers. People were working wholeheartedly, giving their best in painting, cutting, constructing, drilling wood, painting life-sized cars, treasure maps, and various signs, making a pirate boat, and more. The eagerness and willingness of people to serve was so delightful. No one was doing their work drudgingly, but people were having such a good time, laughing and conversing with each other while working, enjoying each other's company. People didn't even seem to notice the time passing. We literally had to kick people out as they wouldn't stop working even when it was midnight. As I serve, I experience again and again the joy and excitement of giving myself and serving together with others as one body of Christ. Though our church is composed of many parts – people from different ministries, different skills – the fact that we have all come together for the sake of these kids is truly a picture of the community in action.