Today we had close to sixty children come to hear the Bible story. I used the flannel board that was graciously given by an anonymous donor. To him I say thank you so much for your gift. It makes it so easy to tell the stories and the colors and details keep their attention. Even when Christian stood in front of them with the camera taking pictures, they didn’t even look up at him. That is amazing in itself because whenever any of them see a camera that’s it for anything else. They all want to get their pictures taken! The story today was of Adam and Eve walking with God, about how beautiful the garden was and all the animals that Adam got to name. I learned something today – I told you we learn something new just about everyday! When most of us think of Africa, we automatically think of the animals: lions, tigers, giraffes, and I even hoped when I learned we were coming here that we just might have zebras walking around our property! But in actuality most of those animals are kept in preserves to protect them and also, here anyway, it is a way for the country to bring in revenue. Safari’s are very expensive here, running anywhere from $500 to $1000 per person. But I learned that because they aren’t common, when I showed the children a lion they didn’t know what it was. Crazy huh! But they aren’t educated, they aren’t exposed to TV or the world. I think that made the story even more interesting to them. Derek, my interpreter is so loving being able to be a part of teaching the children and I don’t think I have to worry anymore about having someone to help! He has come by the house everyday since Easter and he asked me today if he can come by this week just to talk about the Bible. He is the one that has been playing the Bible in their language for whoever will listen! Even Sharifu told me he enjoyed the story very much and he was a great help in serving the kids. He also was a great help with the board, it rained this morning and the wind kicked up and kept blowing the story pieces off. So he held onto parts of it for me.
Raelee was the best helper today. She helped prepare beforehand and she got the kids in line for the snacks we had prepared for them. There is a bread here, it looks like a hushpuppy on steroids but it is sweet, and deep fried. And very inexpensive! Mandaze are what they are called and we had forgotten to call her until last night but she still had them here, 100 of them by 9 am. We paid about $7 for all. She has come before when we had workers, she walks around the village to sell them everyday. Obviously at that price she doesn’t make a whole lot of money and she is a pretty elderly lady. I asked her if I pay her would she bring some everyday and 100 on Sunday, and she was overjoyed at that arrangement. I told her that there was only one problem with that that I could see and it is once word goes out I may start needing twice that on Sunday! She was very okay with that thought, and I don’t mind paying for it if it brings more kids in. They may come for the “doughnut” but they will hear about our God and God says:
“so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11
It is seeds planted and it is not up to me whether the seed takes root and grows, God will take care of that. He just asks of all of us to plow and plant and if it is His Will we will also reap the harvest. After the story, Ms Betty asked me how we know God more. I explained salvation again (I think I will need to do this every week) and most of the kids came forward. Partly because Ms Betty prompted, pulled and pushed them to! And that doesn’t matter, I still had tears in my eyes when I prayed with them and they repeated the words because I know that if only one really begins to seek Him then this is all worth it. We may not be able to affect many adults, but my prayer is we can with the little ones and their lives will be honored and blessed by God. I was also asked “what if I am an orphan and have no mother or no father?” That one really got to me, but I told them they can have a heavenly Father that loves them and wants His very best for them. I told them I am not saying it will be easy, but it will be worth it. They all said they loved the story and asked if I will tell them more next week. There were so many people that were coming to the well that also stopped to listen, and many hung out after. I think it was 2:00 before I got lunch for us made, but it was good, very good!
Raelee sang Jesus Loves Me all by herself, Christian had already taken my camera inside so I missed that. I told her she would have to do it again next week. But she taught the children to sing part of it and they sang it with her!
His Grace For The Journey 