Saturday, July 31, 2010

Duck Duck Chicken

Two weeks ago, a group of little girls from the neighborhood met me at my gate.  After the usual round of hugs and tickles, they told me they wanted to have Bible study.  I asked them what they wanted to study, and they said they wanted to hear Bible stories.  Well, okay!  Thus began the Saturday morning kids' club in my backyard.

It's all pretty simple.  They come, drink some water, eat some cookies.  I tell a Bible story, and we talk about it.  (Getting them to talk is like pulling teeth, but it happens every now and then.)  then we play games.  Lots of games.

It's pretty clear that I haven't worked in children's ministry for a while, because I couldn't think of any games to play without balls or jumpropes or some kind of materials.  All that came to mind was Duck Duck Goose.  So I started trying to explain.  It's a simple game, so that part was easy.  I asked them about ducks, and found out that "duck" in Lugbara is "mbata".  But then we hit a snag, because a goose is also called "mbata."  I did some quick thinking and remembered that chicken is "au"  (ah-oo).  So we played "Mbata Mbata Au"—Duck Duck Chicken.

I wanted to play Red Light, Green Light with them, but how do you explain a stop light to kids who haven't even seen a stop sign?  So we turned it into 1-2-3 Go instead.  Today was bright and sunny (and hot!) so we played "Endrika"- shadow tag… which they all loved.

And now I have officially come to the end of my game repertoire.  Any suggestions for good, non-neck breaking games for 3-to-9 year olds are appreciated.  (Thanks, Red Rover, but I'll pass!)  Please pray for the Saturday morning kids' club—that we'll be able to communicate well with these sweet friends, that the national kids will develop good friendships with the MK kids on our team, and that they all would come to understand just how much Jesus loves them!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

On a Bad Day...

Every now and then, there comes a day when I want to be anywhere but here. Maybe there's a conflict going on between different people- or myself. Maybe I'm frustrated with work. Maybe the power and the water are out on the same day. Or maybe I just want to be home.

But more often than not, on these days, something happens that reminds me why I'm here. It may be a conversation with Jesca or Carol. Maybe my friend Ayiko (aka "Old Baby") runs up and gives me a huge hug.  Maybe a story group will have a record turnout. Maybe Prisca or Joann will tell a story from memory better than I ever could. Somehow, those little things just make all the chaos and frustration of life here worth it.

Last week, I was having one of those days. Things were just BAD. I set off for Crane, pessimistically thinking that we probably wouldn't have anyone even show up. As I walked down the path to the school, my "usual crowd" of preschoolers met me as I passed their homestead.  Usually, 5 or 6 (or even more) will all come running, tackle me with hugs, and watch while 2 or 3 of them (my favorites—I'll admit it) walk on to the school with me. But on this day, they all decided to come along. Before I knew what was happening, I was walking (very slowly) down the narrow path with 7 preschoolers holding my fingers and walking in front of and behind me. One little boy had even left without his pants! We arrived (finally) at Crane, and they wouldn't leave.

I have no idea if these little babies know why I come to their village every week. I don't know why they come running to me like they do.  And I can't communicate well enough in Lugbara to tell them stories about Jesus to explain. But I can pray for them, that God will put someone in their path to teach them His truth. And on those days, when I really don't want to be here, that's enough to keep the suitcases put away.