VBS comes to a close

Well, the week got away from me and I haven't blogged the last two days of VBS...yet.

Thursday and Friday went well with around 360 children present. It was amazing to watch all of these kids listening (most of them attentive) as our VBS leader told the Bible story of the day. It was incredible to hear them all singing about how they need to choose to road that leads to Jesus, not the road that leads to death (in Tok Pisin, of course).
The topics covered during the week were:
Will if be afraid or will I trust in God?
Will I be jealous or will I thank God for the thinks He's given me?
Will I be lazy or work hard for God?
Will I be angry or have self-control?
Will I keep on commiting sin or ask God for forgiveness?

Please pray for these chilren. Pray that the things they have heard this week will stick. Many of these children do not attend church regularly and this may have been the first time they have heard of God's love for them.

Please pray also for the many Papua New Guinean women who helped with this VBS and continue to work with these children in their villages. Pray that God would strengthen them and he would provide resources for them. Many of these women have no resources for teaching these children except a Bible and God's guidance (thankfully, these are the most important things to have.)

Thanks for the prayers.

Now that VBS is over, I am gearing up for school to start up again. This week, I've been buried in lesson planning. It is my new goal to start blogging at least once a week so that you all can get a bit more of my perspective on life here in PNG.

VBS day three

Today was day three of our week long VBS.

Attendance today was about the same as yesterday, 383 children.

I along with some of the other leaders are beginning to fell a bit tired. Please pray for energy so that we can finish the week strong.

Pray also for the children that they will open up and share with their leaders.

Today the topic for the lesson was regarding anger and how anger can open the door and let Satan in.

Thanks for your prayers.

VBS Day Two

Today was day two of a week long Tok Pisin VBS. We had about 385 kids come today. Thank God for good weather and all of the people involved in this minstry. It's amazing to see so many kids engaged in listening to the word of God! Please pray that the children will open up during our discussion time. This is the time when we can share with them one-on-one. Papua New Guinean children are very good at sitting and listening, but it is often hard to get them to open up and talk to an adult.

On another note: A long-time translator here in PNG collapsed and died in the village today. WE don't have a lot of details yet, but she and here husband have served her in PNG for many years. (I believe they are currently working on their third translation project if that gives you any idea how long they have been here.) Please pray for her husband, family, the Ukarumpa community, and the people that they have ministered to here in PNG. Many are shocked, saddened, and hurting by this news.

VBS Day one

Chad mentioned in his blog that I am helping with a Vacation Bible School this week. The VBS is geared mainly toward Papua New Guinean children, although some "whiteskin" children are attending as well.

I am excited about helping out with this minstry for a number of reasons.

First, it's a great way to minister to the children who live here on center as well as in the neighboring villages.

Second, sometimes living here seems a bit like living in a bubble. For the most part, our neighbors are all other missionaries or Papua New Guinean believers who live and work here on center. This VBS is a great chance to reach out to the greater community here in the Eastern Highlands Province. Not only do I get to talk to kids about Jesus, but I'm working alongside many Papua New Guinean women too.

Third, it's a very "hands-on" way to do what we came here to do, give the word of God to the
people of PNG.

Lastly, and probably least important, it gives me a chance to practice my Tok Pisin. I've been trying hard to learn the language and in the 10 months we've been here I feel like I've learned a lot, but I still have a lot to learn.

The last time this VBS was held (2 years ago) there were close to 100 children who came. THis year we were hoping for even more.... God answered that prayer by sending close to 350 children on our first day! Wow!!!

Now, I don't know about you, but when I think of 350 children (from aged 2 to 14 or 15), I think of chaos. Believe it or not, it was an incredibly smooth morning. God really
came through made it an incredible morning!

Please pray for the rest of the week that we can really communicate God's love to these children. Pray that God would work in the lives of these children. Pray that this week will be the start of life changes for some of these children as they give their lives to Jesus Christ.