Since 2010, I have been training middle school students at Windham Christian Academy in how to use juggling and magic as a means to share the Gospel. Our traditional first show of the year is at Portland's Barron Center Nursing Home, and we had this year's BC gig last week. This year's team is small- only twelve students- and many beginners, but they were enthused and motivated as we left the school for our venue.
The Barron Center's rec room is a beautiful space with a nice sized stage, a lovely aquarium, and plenty of floor space and ceiling height; a major fctor for jugglers. We arrived in plenty of time to set up and warm up before the 10:00 show was to start. The team was just the right mix of high spirits yet respect for the fact that we were in the residents' home, unconventional though it is.
The show had many highlights. Eva dazzled with her machete juggling. Toby was so funny both eating an apple while juggling, and also as the broken-hearted boy in "I Want to Know What Love Is". Shaylee juggled one bll, one ring and one club; not an easy task. Hadley, Elsa, Sunny and Toby - none of whom could juggle at the start of the school year, were able to perform varying juggling patterns at various points in the show. Sunny and Faith were hysterical as the cheerleaders in "he Good Nerd", our version of the "Good Samaritan".
Yet, as good as the show was, the best part is always after the closing routine. At that point the kids go in pairs to visit the audience to talk, listen, and pray with the residents. Not only were the students a blessing to the senior citizens in the crowd, but they were a blessing to us as well. One married couple (the wife was a resident and the husband was visiting) told the kids about how prayer saved the wife's life. Even speech and motor skills that had been lost were returning for her. Another gentleman, Mohammid, is an immigrant from Afghanistan. He was a fun guy to speak with, and really appreciated the show. This led to some good discussion back at school about the Islamic faith, and that it really is possible for different cultures and faith to enjoy and respect each other.
Our next show is November 20 at Ossipee Valley Christian School. This will be a very differnet crowd than the folks at the Barron Center, and will be a homecoming of sorts for Hadley who transferred from OVCS this year.