Today was LOL's first performance of the school year. LOL is my middle school students' class ministry in which they juggle, perform illusions and skits as a means of presenting the Gospel. The show was at the Barron Center Nursing Home in Portland, Maine.

This year's team is made up of 22 students, seven more than last year's troupe. This makes it harder to get the kids as much stage time. However, all 22 of them were involved to various degrees, and they did as well as a first show of the year can go. Some kids need to work on speaking louder, getting on stage quicker and general stage presence, but these things improve all year long.

On the other hand, there were several high points, including Erik stealing machetes from Andrei, Tyler nailing the linking rings illusion, Alex's hysterical portrayal of the 'good son' in "The Prodigal Juggler", and Makayla being the weed that chokes the seed that sprouts with it, portayed by Stephanie in the parable of the sower.

The best part of LOL's nursing home visits is when they get to meet the people face to face after the show. The students were paired up, and mingled with the residents. Hannah, the magic chicken, and Jewels, the rabbit went to visit the residents, too. The kids were especially excited to have met a female resident who was a Methodist minister. When I spoke to this lady and asked, "Where were you a minister?'" she quickly responded, "I still minister. you never stop being a minister." How true.

So, this year's LOL team has a lot of promise, and I look forward to watching the kids improve and impact the people they meet between now and June.