MISSION: Uganda Blog Update 08-26-2011

276 children. 3 days, 2 hours each place, 3 preaching points, 3 complete VBS’ a day: Marathon VBS at Nakivale! So, we had our very first VBS out at the refugee camp. It was quite the learning experience. I had for months been considering doing something like this. There are children everywhere at the camps, and little or nothing seems to be done for them from a ministry standpoint. Overall, it went very well. The kids were super excited, and even though Anna taught the lesson through an interpreter, they listened intently. The Betty Lukins stuff we were sent was great for this. I had put the word out about needing toy cars and other prizes, and my father’s church, FBC of Bellfower sent a box full of these, which arrived three days before the VBS. Excellent timing! The cars, bracelets, and necklaces were a tremendous hit, as well as about 30 wooden crosses, which we used for memory verse prizes (these nearly sparked a riot when we tried to hand these out to the winners – this was another one of those learning experiences I mentioned). Tom and Cheryl Tracht, some of our fellow missionaries here in Mbarara, came with us and their kids, and were a HUGE help to us. We had songs (in Swahili), a memory verse for the week (also in Swahili), the Bible lesson each day, and a craft (they loved this). At Ngarama, even some of the adults colored pages (I don’t think they had ever colored before) on the last day. Our adult workers at each of the places were extremely helpful. We couldn’t have done this without their aid controlling the children and relaying instructions. The whole experience, albeit physically exhausting, was very positive, and I look forward to the next one we do, probably near the end of January.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Sunday, I’ll be conducting their first Lord’s Supper at Sangano. The church just organized under a Constitution not long ago, so this is an important step. Pray for me that this will go smoothly. I am acutely aware of how this will likely set precedent, so I want to make sure it goes well. Continue to pray for the churches at Nakivale Refugee Camp in Uganda.