Easter Rock hunt

Not a typpo...

For realz...

We did an Easter Rock Hunt this year with the kids in our little club.  

A creative, sweet friend (Leigh Ann) shared this idea with me a couple years ago.

First you must find rocks. 

Where we live people always stare at us (usually out of curiosity), but that day, even more so, as we were in the bushes next to the road gathering rocks. haha Let's just say they may think the foreigners are not only strange but a little cray cray. :) 

After gathering (and in my case washing because you seriously do not know if this may have been the public restroom rock), write the word "Sin" on them.

We had a TON of sin in our house that night. ;) 

Being the great influence I am, I pressured a sister to help me hide our "sin" before going to club to worship. Do you spy sin??

So, our kids weren't exactly sure they wanted to hunt for rocks, nor look for sin - ha. Ian asked me what was inside the rocks because, ya' know, in Easter eggs there are treats.  Being scientifically minded as I am... I said, "Rock  I guess."  He wasn't really impressed.

However, competition to find practically anything spurs children.  So they ran around searching for the sin rocks we had hidden.  Meisi was so proud to fill her bag up.

The kids carried their rocks up three flights of stairs and it got a little heavy.  Because, that is what sin does, right?  It weighs us down. 

After they lay all their sin down, we placed a red sheet over the rocks to represent Jesus's blood. 

His blood covers our sin.  One of my precious children, who I won't name, continued to try to get their hand under the sheet to play with their "sin."  We do that don't we?  Sometimes we ask for forgiveness but we aren't REALLY sorry or maybe we just enjoy the temporary pleasure of the sin a bit too much. Y'all, we must truly let it go.  Stop waller'n in it!  Truly give it over to Jesus, asking for forgiveness and strength to not look or turn back to it.   

We talked with the kids about how sin separates us from the Lord eternally.  The only way to have relationship with Him is through Jesus.  How the precious blood of Jesus paid the price for our sins.  How we must individually ask Him to forgive us for our sins (we don't get to Him because our parents have a relationship). How we must confess with our mouths He is our Lord and follow Him all the days of our life - talking with Him through prayer and reading His word.  How we need to have a real relationship (one where you spend time together through prayer and getting to know Him through His word). 

Thankfully, Sunday is coming and Jesus didn't stay dead!  He is ALIVE!!  While our brother shared the message we took away the rocks and replaced them with treasure (candy and treats from America that different friends and churches have sent - these days that is a true treasure).  We then covered it with a white sheet.  

After the message we shared how Jesus's tomb was empty.  The white cloth represents how He can cleanse us of our sins but that unlike the tomb - our life is not empty.  Rather it is full, full of sweetness.  Sweetness that is too great to keep to ourselves.  He wants us to share with the world! Then we revealed the sweet treats shared with us.  The kids were excited about their treats and they did such a great job really thinking through questions asked.  

Thank you Leigh Ann for sharing this idea.  An Easter Rock hunt made Easter much more special than just our regular egg hunt. :)  

Also thanks to friends and churches who sent us some of those special treats!!  

What do you do after Easter service?  

Well, in the south it wouldn't be traditional without a small feast right?  

Aili and Brian were very creative and made these cute pastel deviled eggs; to some these may look familiar ;) If anyone has a good translation for deviled eggs in this language - please share!!  The nationals love them but are a bit leary of the name.  :) 

 Thanks to our small club here- we had our own version of a really yummy feast. :)

This time of year, my excitement is rekindled about sharing He is Alive!!  HE is risen!  He is risen indeed!! Do you guys say that back and forth in your families?  In your churches?

Matt Maher's song "Christ is Risen" has that effect on me. I want to yell it out:

"Oh, death - where is your sting? Oh hell, where is your victory?"
Then to the church around the globe...
"Oh, church - come stand in the light
Our God is not dead, He's Alive, HE'S ALIVE!!"

We have reason to celebrate.  Too sweet of news to keep to ourselves.  Church -
"Come awake, Come awake, come and rise up from the grave!"

You can sing (or yell) along by clicking the link below. :)