My Halloween
On Halloween Day I spent my time at school as productively as possible, working hard in class and during my study period to ensure that I would have as little homework as possible that night, because I was going to be busy. Not because I planned to go trick-or-treating or partying as my friends from school were doing, but because I was helping out with Joyland Festival. Joyland is our children's ministry. Joyland Festival is basically our church’s substitute for the normal Halloween activities. There were many different booths where the kids could play games, winning “PowerPoints” which are redeemable at the PowerPoint store where they could buy all sorts of things.
In addition, there were photo booths where kids could dress up as a pirate from "Pirates of the Carribbean" and take a picture on a ship, or take a pic with Pixar buddies Lightning and Mater. There was also a magic show with our own resident magician Maurice, and a snack booth with cotton candy and popcorn to top it all off!
As a helper in one of the booths, I had such a good time just being there and being a part of what was going on and being able to witness the kids’ joy. Kids and parents alike were having fun bowling with Batman, shooting targets in the Wild, Wild West, taking pictures on a pirate ship and getting cotton candy from the Jetsons. And especially watching the joy and gratitude of the kids and the appreciation of the parents, I felt so fortunate to be able to be part of something like this. And the next day at school, while other people were talking about the shooting in San Francisco’s Castro district, I was able to talk about my Halloween.