We have various friends throughout the world mostly because we have lived in America and Belgium as well as the UK but also because we have been involved in different Christian Outreach Programs where people from various countries have come to stay with us while they do evangelistic work in association with whichever church we have been attending.
This week there was a solitary visitor to our church all the way from Italy to help with our outreach work during this month.
He is called Dario and he is a professional clown.
He came to NI to work with children in Lurgan for a week.
Saturday Night we met him as Dario and not "Dario the Clown" while he explained how he came to be a clown and how God was working in his life.
Sunday Morning he came to our morning service at church and centred his actions and words on how God loves us, using imaginary flowers, a multi coloured piece of material, balloons, a suitcase and a young 9 year old boy he picked out of the congregation.
At the end of the service he made balloon animals, swords and hats for the children and they all got their photograph taken with him.
He even made a hat for me especially to match my cardigan.
Then to finish off Fred and I had our photo taken with him too.
Sunday Evening he was with another church who had joined with us to bring Dario over from Italy while we had a special Gospel message more for adults.
Monday Morning & Afternoon he was doing an an assembly and workshops in one of the primary schools followed by our After School Kids Club in another Primary School.
This time he had an object like a feather duster.
He taught us how to greet a clown sitting down (because it involved lifting your right leg and various other precarious movements and he didn't want anyone to fall over), juggled with 3 balls and then explained how we should pray to God when we cannot do something because God has promised to help us and God had helped him to learn how to juggle with juggling clubs when he had found this very difficult and of course he enlisted the help of several willing volunteers.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday were also spent in Schools doing assemblies and workshops with the children
Of course the balloons made an appearance so that Dario could make hearts for the the leaders of the churches who had hosted him.
Sunday Morning saw Dario at the other church again.
Sunday Evening we were delighted to have Dario with us again where he reminded us all that we are fearfully and wonderfully made by God, using balloons, a wig, a tutu and mime.
Thank you Dario for joining with us and teaching the children more about God.
Thank you God for your love for us, for helping us in all things, for creating us so uniquely and for making Dario such a caring clown.
Thank you God for your love for us, for helping us in all things, for creating us so uniquely and for making Dario such a caring clown.
Have you ever had a clown at your church?
Have you ever met a Christian Clown?
Are you thankful for God's love and for different ways to tell others of His love?
Are you thankful for God's love and for different ways to tell others of His love?
