Fourth Meeting - Candle Making

"For thou wilt light my candle:  the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness."  Psalm 19:28

We continued our Candle Making for our next meeting.  This time we made taper candles.  Terri led us again in the process of making taper candles.  To make tapers you have a large pot of hot wax, dip the wick, which is doubled over in half, straight into the wax.  Hold it in the wax for 5 seconds.  Pull the wick out of the wax and wait three minutes before dipping again.  As you go through this process the wax begins to build up and you get a taper candle after much dipping and patience. 

Since this process takes some time, we had the girls get started right away and had our devotion time as they dipped.  Since the weather was nice, we brought everything outside and had the girls get in a large circle with the pot of hot wax in the center.  The girls each took turns dipping their wicks into the wax.  By the time we went around the circle, enough time had elapsed that it was time to dip the wick again.

Dipping

Success!

While the girls waited for their turn to dip they read the verses they looked up during the week on "candles".  They came up with some great verses using the variations of "candle" found in the bible.

We also discussed missionaries in the 10/40 window.  I told the girls what the 10/40 window was and showed them on our large wall map where this area is located.

10/40 Window

We discussed how this is the area in the world with the most unreached population.  Here are some mission statistics for this area of the world:

Missions statistics from the places of the 10/40 Window:

• Center of population:Two-thirds of the world’s population — more than 3.2 billion people — live in the 10/40 Window.
• Unreached and unevangelized: 95% of the people living in the 10/40 Window are unevangelized. Many have never heard the Gospel message even once. There are either no Christians or not enough of a Christian movement in many cultures of the 10/40 Window to carry out vibrant near-neighbor evangelism. If those groups are to be evangelized, believers will need to leave their own culture to enter another where they will seek to plant the gospel. Such cross-cultural evangelism is required because there are people groups with no church movements that are understandable or relevant to them.
  • Good news: There’s a difference between unreached and unreachable. In 1989 there were only four known Christians living in Mongolia. That country now has an estimated 10,000 indigenous believers. Also, Christian television programming can now be received in many closed 10/40 Window nations.
• Poverty: Eighty-five percent of those living in the 10/40 window are the poorest of the world’s poor.
  • Good news: Christians delivered more than $1 million worth of food to just one 10/40 Window refugee camp in a recent year. In one North African country that is hostile to the Gospel, abundant rain fell after an Easter service. A local news channel reported, "Christians have brought rain to the desert."
• World religions: Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism are centered within the 10/40 Window.
• Least evangelized cities: Half of the world’s least evangelized cities are in this window.

My oldest daughter than taught everyone a song she had learned to help remember who lives in the 10/40 window.  The song is sung to the tune of "BINGO" .

What are the peoples of the world

the peoples inthe window.

T*H*U*M*B, T*H*U*M*B, T*H*U*M*B

The peoples inthe window.

T stands for Tribal

H stands for Hindu

U stands for Unreligious

M stands for Muslim

B stands for Buddhist

The song makes it easy to remember this population of the world and to keep them and the missionaries who are witnessing to them in our prayers.

The girls did a fabulous job on their candles as you can see them proudly holding up their handiwork.

To complete this badge the girls need to make three different candles.

Next meeting we will be learning the art of Letter Writing and Rubber Stamping!

Thid Meeting - Candle Making

"She perceiveth that her merchandise is good:  Her candle goeth not out by night."  Proverbs 31:18

For our third meeting we worked on a creative skill, Candlemaking.  To start our meeting we discussed what a candle does for us, it shines light on everything.  When it’s dark, we stumble and fall and hurt ourselves.  I then talked to the girls how Jesus shines a light in our life, lighting a path for us to follow so we don’t stumble along.  I challenged the girls to look in their Bible Concordance for the word "candle" and to come up with at least one verse that pertains to "candles" to share with everyone at the next meeting.  I also gave them a hint that they wouldn’t find the word "candle" in any verses but to find what words were used instead and report back at our next meeting with what they found. 

One of our moms, Terri, then took over and taught the girls about candlemaking.  For our first meeting we worked with poured candles.  We divided the girls up into three groups. 

Group 1

Group 2

Group 3

 Each group was able to choose their own candle color and scent.  Terri did a fabulous job explaining the procedure of measuring and cutting the wick to fit each mold and how to properly secure the wick to make it ready for the hot wax. 

Stirring in the scent

The girls first made votive candles.  They then picked a metal mold for a larger, pedestal candle and prepared the wick for this type of candle.  The hot wax was poured into the molds and cooled overnight.  While we were waiting for the wax to get to the correct temperature for pouring, the girls worked on a fire safety sheet as they snacked on brownies and Terri reviewed different safety precautions for burning candles.

Safety sheet

The girls had a blast and the candles turned out beautifully.

Second Meeting - First Aid

"But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was:  and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him." Luke 10:33-34

For our second meeting we worked on a homemaking skill, First Aid.  One of our moms, Jenni, took the helm and did a fabulous job teaching our girls about first aid. 

There was a lot of information that needed to be covered from how to help someone who is choking to splinting a broken arm.  Jenni gave the girls handouts and bandages to practice what they learned.  It was fun to watch as the girls teamed up to wrap each other up in bandages.

Demonstrating the Heimlich maneuver

Bandaging injured arms

Demonstrating the correct way to wrap a head injury

And the incorrect way to wrap a head injury

As you can see, the girls had a good time learning about first aid. 

To complete this badge the girls need to:

Read a book on first aid.

Make a list of doctor, police and fire department telephone numbers and leave them by your home phone.

Demonstrate how to make a call giving necessary information.

Demonstrate what you should do to treat:

Choking          Small Cuts

Fainting          Burns

Abraisions     Fractures and sprains

Demonstrate what to do if someone’s clothes catch fire.

Explain why it is important to keep someone warm while she is waiting for emergency medical help.

Explain why a person should not be moved if they are injured.

Assemble a first aid kit for your home.

Our First meeting - Swimming

For our first meeting we worked on a recreational activity, Swimming.  It’s still warm enough here in September to take a dip in the pool, so all the girls and a couple moms jumped on in and got started working on their Swimming badge.  Before we jumped in the water we went over basic safety rules for the swimming pool.  We also discussed how to safely help someone who is drowning and how to call for help.

To complete this badge the girls need to be able to:

Tread water for five minutes.

Float for five minutes.

Swim 50 yards free style. (we determined this to be 5 times back and forth in my swimming pool)

Swim the breast  stroke or back stroke.

List three swimming safety rules

Demonstrate how to save another person from drowning.

I broke the girls into two groups, one group worked on treading water while the other group worked on floating.  Five minutes is a long time to tread and float on your back!  The girls were troopers and did their best to last the entire five minutes.

Next, the girls were staggered started to swim the 50 yards free style.  Again, they did a great job accomplishing their goal of going back and forth the pool 5 times. 

I then broke the girls up into groups, depending on their stroke of choice, and they demonstrated either the breast stroke or back stroke.

Before it was time to leave, we reviewed the safety rules and procedure for saving someone who is drowning.

It was a fun afternoon in the pool and all the girls did a great job!

Planning our first meeting

The Purpose, Goal, Verse & Prayer of Keepers as stated in the handbook:

Purpose: To learn to walk in the steps of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, day by day, moment by moment, in every situation.

Goal: To have a teachable spirit so that I can master the different crafts and skills which will enable me to become a competent, well-balanced Christian girl who loves God, and who will one day be a proper helpmeet and keeper at home.

Verse: 1 Peter 2:21, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow in His steps”

Prayer:   Dear Lord,

              Teach me the way to make each day a stepping stone as I learn to walk in your steps, and with your help I will make of my life a harmony of love, joy, and service to Thee, my family, and others.

I am so thrilled to join other moms that wish to encourage the skills & growth needed for our daughters to one day be keepers of their own homes!

Today, once everyone arrived, everyone opened their handbooks, went over the above goals and did a quick overview of the handbook, pointing out the 5 different skills areas: Biblical, Creative skills, Homemaking, Knowledge & skills, Nature, Others & Recreational Activities.  We also discussed badges and the various types of badges that can be earned. 

Next, we went over our proposed schedule for this year. We are going to meet the first and third Friday of each month from 2-4. We will take breaks during the school holidays. Below is our proposed schedule of activities and skills for this year.  Each family was also encouraged to work on skills that interest them outside of club as well.

September      Family, Missionaries, Storytelling

Week 1                Swimming

Week 3                First Aid

October     Family, Missionaries, Storytelling

Week 1                Candle Making

Week 3                Candle Making

November Family, Missionaries, Storytelling

Week 1                Rubber Stamping/Letter writing

Week 3                Library Skills/Literature

         

December Family, Missionaries, Storytelling

Week 1                Baking/Hospitality

January     Family, Missionaries, Storytelling

Week 3                Tennis/Pass out badges

February   Family, Missionaries, Storytelling

Week 1                Cross Stitch

Week 3                Cross Stitch

March        Family, Missionaries, Storytelling

Week 1                Cooking

Week 3                Health & Fitness

April          Family, Missionaries, Storytelling

Week 1                Soap Making

Week 3                Soap Making

May                   Family, Missionaries, Storytelling

Week 1                Ice Skating

Week 3                Awards Banquet

* the family, missionaries & story telling are all three on- going awards for the girls to work on all year at their own pace. 

Starting our Group

Keepers at Home

As it states in the handbook: Our daughters are only with us a few short years, and in these years, they have so much to learn about Jesus, about being a Christian woman, and about being prepared to be a wife, manage a home, and rear their own future children. In this group, the girls will have fun learning new skills while building character and good habits. Being a "keeper at home" is a very worthwhile job and an enjoyable one too. Do not let the list of skills intimidate you. If you do not know some of them, learn them along with your daughter(s)!

Thank you to the moms that expressed an interest in starting a group. My girls & I are excited! This is OUR group. There are no set ways to run one; we can change things to suit our needs and desires. . Keepers At Home is a program oriented for girls 6+ years old and their mothers. It was created as an alternative to secular scouting groups. Keepers encourages biblical family values while developing a diversity of skills for feminine Christian womanhood. The meeting begins with a devotional and group building activities. Mothers then take turns leading activities including creative skills, homemaking skills, nature study, sports and other activities. Mothers and their daughters work side by side to teach and learn new skills.

Each girl needs her own handbook where the skills being worked on can be recorded and checked off as your daughter(s) complete them.  Most badges will have a fee associated with them.  When at all possible, the dollar amount for each badge will be announced about a week prior to our meeting.  We will have two awards meetings, one in January and a larger, banquet meeting in May, where badges will be handed out for work accomplished by the girls.  For our banquet meeting in May, the girls will be encouraged to bring their work to show to everyone.  You are encouraged to bring family and friends along.  Keep track of your girls badge work in their books and on the worksheet you all received at the first meeting.

Although it is not a requirement for being part of our group, Mom participation is encouraged!  Look through the list of skills and let me know if there is something that strikes your interest. 

The list of skills & activities is extensive. Check out all the fun things we can do!

Creative Skills 27

Basketweaving 29
Calligraphy 33
Candlemaking 36
Candlewicking .43
Ceramics 47
Counted Cross Stitch .49
Crewel Embroidery 53
Crochet 56
Decoupage 58
Dollmaking 60
Drawing 63
Embossing 67
Embroidery 71
Flower Arrangement 75
Knitting 78
Latch Hooking 82
Macrame 84
Miniatures 91
Needlepoint 92
Oil Painting 96
Photography 100
Plastic Canvas 103
Pressed Flowers 106
Quilling 110
Quilting 115
Rubber Stamping 120
Scrapbooking 124
Spinning 127
Stenciling 130
Tatting 133
Tole Painting 136
Watercolors 140
Weaving 142
Homemaking 147
Baking 148
Budgeting 150
Cake Decorating 153
Camping 155
Cleaning 157
Cooking 160
Fire Safety 166
First Aid 169
Food Preservation 171
Gardening 175
Health and Fitness 182
Home Decorating 187
Hygiene 189
Ironing 193
Laundry 194
Organization 196
Proverbs 31 Study for Girls 199
Scheduling 209
Sewing 214
Soapmaking 216
Knowledge and Skills 220
Biography 221
Computer. 227
Foreign Language 230
Genealogy 232
Library 236
Literature 239
Music 242
Poetry 244
Sign Language 248
Storytelling 250
Teaching 252
Typing 254
Writing 256
Nature 260
Birds 261
Butterflies 264
Flowers 268
Horses 270
Insects 273
Pets 278
Trees 281
Wildflowers 285
Others 287
Bus Worker 288
Child Care 290
Church 292
Ecology 295
Etiquette 298
Family 300
Friends 306
Grandparents 310
Hospitality 313
Letters 316
Love 320
Missionary 325
Neighbor 327
Others 330
Rest Home 332
Special Needs 334
Witnessing 338

Recreational Activities 339

Badminton 340
Bicycle 342
Croquet 346
Hiking 348
Ice Skating 352
Swimming 353
Table Tennis 354
Tennis 355
Volleyball 357

 Thanks for reading and for your help! Looking forward to getting to know you and your girls better throughout the year.

Blessings,

Linda