Let's start at the very beginning,
A very good place to start,
When you read, you begin with A-B-C,
When you sing, you begin with Do-Re-Mi,
Do-Re-Mi, Do-Re-Mi,
The first three notes just happen to be,
Do-Re-Mi, Do-Re-Mi-Fa-So-La-Ti,
Oh, let's see if we can make it any easier.....
Our life here often reminds me of this song. Every day, our goal is to start at the very beginning with someone and to make it as easy as possible for them to understand and accept the ABC's (Admit, Believe, Confess). Over the past few months, we have been given the incredible opportunity of starting at the very beginning with lots of different groups of people, and we have seen several understand and accept HIS plan. During the next few weeks, our volunteers will have many opportunities to share THEIR personal stories and HIStory with these various groups.
Children's Sunday School at Harmony Home (HIV)
One of the precious babies at Harmony Home (HIV)
Some of Jessie's Tuesday NIght BOOK Study Fellowship Discussion Group Members
Wednesday Night BOOK Study in our Apartment
Jack's Friday Night Young Adult Group Friends
A Few of Esther's Friday Night Youth Group Friends
Saturday Sunday School at Our Storefront Clubhouse
Hundreds of Children that will attend English Camps #1 and #2
Every day, we have Divine appointments with many people. However, there are few of us and millions of them. We need your help. Won't you join us in this task? Please use these posts to daily remember the people on our little island. May millions come to a personal relationship with HIM. Acts 5:14, 42 says: "Nevertheless, more and more men and women were added to their number...Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that JC is THE SAVIOR."
We even had a real live Aussie helping out :) Seven white foreigners helped teach and one child was American...other than that....everything was done by nationals and all children attending were local.
Each day, the children marched in just like in the States...well almost.
Everyone had worked VERY hard to prepare the facilties for the week's activities. We really appreciated all of the "extra" materials sent by our good friends in MS and WV. We were able to help six of the fifteen classes decorate their rooms. (And, the leftover materials are now on their way to Thailand to help with another week of fun for some of our own company kids.) Recycling VBS materials is very good stewardship.
Since the week was publicized as "bilingual", everything was translated (which by the way, takes twice the time and materials).
After the opening rally, we all headed off to our classrooms for the day's lesson. Again, each classroom had an English speaker and a National speaker. So, the children heard the story and memorized the verses in both languages.
Music time was the only exception. Everything was done in English. Of course, motions are the same in any language.
Our family really enjoyed the Mission Harbor. It was great to hear how others are sharing HIStory around the world. Our VBS children collected money for a special project...purchasing mosquito nets for families in India. Our large clubhouse sponsors two special trips to India each year, so our nationals can share HIStory with children and adults there. The target goal was $2500 USD. One little girl brought her very heavy piggy bank. She said she was giving her "life's savings" to save others. I think she understood the message.
The most exciting part of the week was decision time. Our English shepherd gave an invitation during the opening rally on Wednesday. During the prayer time, two of my fourteen children raised their hands but did not go forward. During class time, we shared the A, B, C's and seven raised their hand to accept. During the closing rally, our English shepherd gave a second invitaon. Twelve of my fourteen children went forward. (Two are from Harmony Home....Jing Jing and Vic...how exciting!) More than half of the 200 children made a commitment on some level! We are excited for the national SS and Awana teachers to follow-up.
Another exciting part of the week was the VBS leader's annoucement that next year she hopes our large clubhouse will host two weeks of VBS. When she asked how many would be willing to work two weeks, almost everyone in the room raised their hands! We were completely overwhelmed! From the beginning when our family learned that the VBS was limited to 200 children and had a very long waiting list, we had been hoping that the leaders would choose to do a second week next year. Our thoughts have been answered. Of course, that means, we'll be even more busy next summer :) But, it's definitely worth it! Perhaps, you'll consider coming over to assist us. The greatest joy in all the world is working alongside these nationals and seeing these precious little ones come to HIM.
Our space at this location will be much more limited, but we will have absolute freedom to share as much of HIStory as we possibly can. Also, our national helpers will be able to do daily and weekly follow-up with these children for years to come.
