Impactful “ah-ha” moments where we felt truly blessed to do what we do – whether at a food event, during a Hope Zone visit, a playground build, or even a beautiful interaction alongside those we’re serving. These are the heartbeats behind KATW, and we’re honored to share them. Our prayer and hope is that you, too, will join us – experiencing your own unique “ah-ha” moment.
The “HEART” of PAYDAY: One Playground at a Time
Do you remember the thrill of your first trip down a playground slide or catching a little one at the bottom? Or the little spark of pride when your child finally crossed the monkey bars alone for the first time?
Those are simple, innocent moments that cause you to pause in joy!
Now imagine a city of more than 500,000 people with no parks or safe places for children to play or have a meaningful escape where they can simply be kids despite the hardships around them.
That was Carrefour, Haiti. A city near Port-au-Prince and the epicenter of the devastating 2010 earthquake that claimed more than 250,000 lives and left millions homeless.
At the time, I was serving as the director of parks and recreation for a city in Pennsylvania, when I received a call from a local pastor with a strong heart for missions. I didn’t know him, but he asked if I could help secure a playground donation for Carrefour’s displaced families.
Thanks to a generous play partner’s donation, I soon joined a team of volunteers who delivered and built a playground right in the middle of a tent city that was home to over 7,000 injured and homeless Haitians.
When we cut the ribbon, hundreds of children came running from every direction. They literally hugged the poles with gratitude, raced up the slides, and filled the air with laughter. I’ll never forget the happy tears in my eyes as I watched kids experience a slide for the very first time, or the adults lining up for a turn on the swings. For that community, one playground became a beacon of bold, colorful hope and brought joy in the midst of chaos.
That experience changed me. I had always believed play had power, but there, I witnessed how it was used to heal, connect, and restore joy. It was in that moment that God made my calling clear: to help provide the gift of play to the poorest of the poor. That was my first “ah-ha” moment.
Since then, I’ve had the privilege of working with Kids Around the World, helping build playgrounds, deliver food, and most importantly sharing God’s story of hope and healing to children in struggling communities across the globe.
Every project brings fresh reminders of why this work matters – like the team that returns each year to build in memory of a missionary friend, or the day our team stopped to pray in the middle of a challenging build, and watched God turn everything around.
I’ll never forget the morning we faced an impossible task in Cité Soleil, Haiti, moving a massive pile of stones before a playground dedication. As we started, villagers joined in, forming a human chain that cleared every rock in time. God used that moment to remind me: doubt fades when we exercise faith together.
These moments are what I call my paydays. They’re not the kind that come with a check, but the kind that fills your heart.
Because I get to see God at work:
- In the joyful hearts of children discovering play.
- In the helpful hearts of communities coming together.
- In the willing hearts of volunteers answering the call.
- And in my own heart, filled with gratitude and awe that I get to live this out alongside others.
That’s my Payday.
It’s the joy of seeing God at work in the hearts of the kids, parents, volunteers and communities we serve, one playground at a time.
As Senior Director of Play Partnerships, Greg Weitzel is fueled by faith, partnership, and the joy of seeing children play. Working alongside more than 100 partners in over 50 nations, he champions how playgrounds build community and share hope. More than swings and slides, Greg believes that each playground is a space where transformative moments impact not only the teams he serves alongside but also the lives of kids and families around the world.