children's ministry

The children marched down the steep hill one-by-one, singing, talking, laughing as they came. Some smiled shyly as they passed by the team members who were anxiously awaiting their arrival. Others raised their hands in the universal sign of friendship and greeting. After a few chaotic moments, all the kids were inside the church while teachers, mothers, grandmothers, and aunts stood warily by the doorways and windows to see what this foreign group of people was going to do.

Then a local pastor began to lead the children in some singing. The enthusiasm and happiness finally began to settle among the crowd as they joined in on tunes like "Heads, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" and "Father Abraham." After that, the team members (and Ali and Aidan) acted out the parable of the lost sheep. In a very simple, straightforward way, the children heard and saw a classic Bible story.

Then we all joined together in prayer.

Finally, the crowd was split into smaller groups, some of whom worked on a craft to take home as a reminder of the Bible lesson while others went outside to play group games. There was lots of giggling and chattering while everyone played and worked.

And by the end of the morning, not only had the children heard a story of God's desperate love for them, but they saw it in the eyes and smiles of the American friends who had come so far to share it.

(Heather)