AWANA games at RAF Alconbury Published March 11, 2008 By Maj. Keith Welch 423rd Civil Engineer Squaddron RAF ALCONBURY -- On Saturday, 1 March, close to 80 pumped up 5-12 year-olds from Mildenhall, Lakenheath, Fairford, Menwith Hill, Alconbury and Alconbury Baptist Church gathered at RAF Alconbury's High School gym for the first annual UK-wide AWANA Games Competition. Over the course of four hours the kids competed in 17 different events uniquely designed to teach the value of teamwork, sportsmanship, and determination. Many of the events had odd names such as The Beanbag Relay, The Four-Way Tug, and Balloon battle, but the kids were already familiar with the rules because they play them once a week when they meet together in their AWANA clubs. This event marks the first time in recent memory that churches from US bases across the UK have cooperated to sponsor AWANA Games, and it offered a rare opportunity for the kids to test their skills against their peers from other clubs, while making new friends in the process. AWANA is a bible-based, international children's ministry that is committed to teaching kids the gospel message through fun activities, and this event sure hit the mark. Not only did the kids have fun, but they also received an entertaining bible story from missionaries Arne and Wilhelmina Ellermets of Bradenton, Florida who just began a 30-day tour to conduct special AWANA events like this one at several churches throughout Europe. The leaders of the respective AWANA clubs hope they can make this event the first of many such cooperative ventures in the near future. In fact, they have already begun to plan for hosting the AWANA Grand Prix -- a model car race -- in May at RAF Mildenhall. Points of Contact: For RAF Mildehall AWANA, contact Ken Macdonald at rafmildenhallawana@googlemail.com For RAF Fairford AWANA, contact Jamie Caselli at hs2003_04@yahoo.com For RAF Alconbury AWANA, contact Keith Welch at psuwelch@rocketmail.com or Diana.dopp@alconbury.af.mil For Alconbury Independent Baptist AWANA, contact Pastor Jose Esquibel at drjoseesquibel@yahoo.co.uk Menwith Hill AWANA will be forming soon. To help contact Rene Edwards at peveret21.com