MILLIONAIRE MADNESS: Teen VBS

"For the love of money is the root of all evil: 

which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith,

 and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."

I Timothy 6:10 

On June 22-25, 2015, we had our first Teen VBS.

Everyday, we sang songs, played games and had a skit.

The workers did a wonderful job portraying their characters.

Each story showed that world gain will pass away, 

but God's will gives treasure in Heaven.

Jim Hunt did a wonderful job preaching to the kids 

and James Silwamba taught a missionary story.

We are so thankful for these young men to serve as leaders in our church 

and for the wonderful group of teenagers who are 

becoming more and more faithful to services.

MZBC VBS

On the first day of VBS, there were 50 - 4&5 year olds.

They were divided into two classes.

That first day was exciting and hectic at the same time

as we made plans for a larger group than expected.  

We set up more chairs and tables, shared crafting supplies, and prayed even harder.

Our goal - to share with these little ones the love of God by pointing them to the Savior.

The smiling faces were so precious!

Monday- Wednesday, the children were taught about the days of creation,

Adam & Eve's sweet fellowship with God in the Garden of Eden,

and then of thier sin which broke man's fellowship with God.

(We could see the Holy Spirit working in the hearts of these little ones 

as we talked about how we are all sinners in need of the Savior.)

Thursday, the children sat in quietness as they listened to Miss Michelle

 talk about Christ dying for their sin.  

They asked questions of curiosity and spoke of believing in the Savior.

Friday, we used the puppets during our lesson to talk about Heaven.

They liked the fact that there would be no sadness or crying in Heaven 

and that Jesus would be there.

Each day we had a handful of children who wanted to talk privately with the teachers.

By the end of the week, we had a number of children who had responded to the lessons. 

Many seeds were planted.

Many lives were touched.

We saw 4 children saved in our class!!!

One of the little girls who was saved, was a visitor on Tuesday.

She was invited by a bus kid.

On Wednesday, she accepted Jesus as her Savior!

She said, "Miss Gina, I understand and I want Jesus to save me from my sin".

That's not the end of the story.

On Sunday evening, her parents attended the closing program.

Her mother went forward during the invitation and accepted Christ as her Savior.

Later in the evening, one of our pastors was speaking to the girl's father.

He ended up accepting Christ that night also!!!

We had a glorious week of VBS with high attendances each day.

The most blessed thing was the around 30 children & parents who were saved.

I am so thankful that I had the chance to be here to see the Lord at work in so many lives.

"And Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them,

 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 18:2-4

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About the Ministry of Furlough -

Furlough is a time when missionaries come home from the mission field to report to their supporting churches, gather more needed support, visit with family and friends, and the opportunity to serve in various ministries at their sending church and other churches.  During furlough, a missionary is pulled in many directions of service.  It is not always an easy task to go from one place to the other, saying quick "hellos" and quick "goodbyes".  The people a missionary invests in on furlough are lives they may get to impact for Christ for just an hour, day, or week.   The eternal rewards of the Ministry of Furlough will many times only be known when we get to Heaven.  The Lord uses the ministries a missionary is a part of during furlough to strengthen their spiritual walk and to teach them things that will help their ministry on the mission field.  Pray for your missionaries on furlough.  Their heart's desire is to be on the mission field where God has placed them. 

DAY#3 Abambo VBS - June 27, 2013

The last day of VBS at Abambo was a cold and rainy one.

The faithful workers gathered up all of the goodies 

we have been collecting for the children

and filled small bags for them to take home at the end of the day.

Each bag contained-

a New Testament,

an orange,

and lots of sweets!

(thanks to Emily, her boss, Janine &Les, Heather, & Jean,...)

A gift for each child on the last day.

With the weather being so cold,

we wondered how many would really come today.

Then they started showing up,

dressed for Winter weather

and carrying their umbrellas.

Had to take a picture of this little girl. She was so cute!

A little while after a few kids had gathered,

I was working in the other room and heard the children start singing.

I peeked around the corner to see this-

Peter N. was leading the singing!

Peter N. leading some songs.

Although the early morning group was small,

he had them singing nice and loud, all together.

Peter N. did such a great job and the kids loved him!

Bible Lesson -

Today during the Bible lesson Pastor Jeff blindfolded a boy.

He walked around the room

calling to the boy and asking him to come toward his voice.

He even went outside once to see if the boy could find him.

We can't find our own way without Christ!

Then Pastor Jeff had the kids close their eyes.

They could not see and needed someone to guide them.

Just like we need the Bible to guide us!

To get the children ready for the lesson,

Pastor Jeff & Blessing lead them in "Thula Wazi Nginguthixo"

("Be Still and Know")

This was the best they have done all week!

Our lesson today was about the Samaritan woman.

Jesus explained to her that He is the Living Water.

Listen to the children saying our memory verse - John 3:16

During the invitation, a bunch of children responded to the Gospel.

Pastor Jeff had me & Blessing take the girls out to talk with about salvation.

There were 8 girls who came with us.

Sadly, I didn't get a picture.

We worked with them first as a group and then one-on-one.

They each thought that they had been saved before, but now they were not sure.

We prayed with all 8 of them for reassurance of salvation.

This is why we are so burdened to plant a church in this area.

Many do not understand salvation or may believe in the ancestors & God.

They need a pastor to teach and lead them in the Truth.

Please pray with us about this need.

Pastor Jeff & Sam lead 5 boys to Christ on Thursday.

Pastor Jeff and Sam had 8 boys who responded to the invitation.

3 boys received assurance of salvation

and 5 boys were saved!

Craft Time -

Because of the rain, we decided to divide the kids into 2 groups

 to do some crafts with them.

The older children decorated cups.

Each cup had a water proof label on it with the day's verse - John 3:16 in Zulu.

Even Sam got into the craft.

As you can see, they had lots of fun.

I was pleased to see that they wrote things about God on their cups-

"I love you God."

"You are my Lord."

The little children were busy coloring a Bible picture in the other room.

Special Prizes -

These children said all of their memory verses.

 We awarded each of the children who said all of their memory verses 

with a 50cm long bubble gum rope.

Pastor Jeff handing a new Bible to each of the kids who were saved.

 Each of the children who were saved this week got a new Bible of their very own.

(Sorry, I took this picture with only the kids that were saved from Wednesday.)

Kids saved on Wednesday receive their very own Bible.

Now it is time for the kids to be dismissed.

They all lined up...

...and walked out the door...

 ...to receive a New Testament & treats.

We are so happy with all that the Lord has done 

in the lives of the children in Abambo this week.

A great big THANK YOU to everyone who

prayed;

gave of their time in preparation, teaching, interpreting, gametime;

gave of their finances for supplies & goodies for the kids;

made, bought, or brought snacks;

helped to clean the facilities;

poured juice;

took photos;

kept the children quiet and still (even that bad little boy);

even though you could not come to help

you prayed & encouraged those who were able to be there;

stayed home to do work so her husband could come;

stamped tracts;

kept the goats and village dogs from eating our snacks;

killed the big spiders,...

Every person is important and needed.

We could not have had such a great week 

if it wasn't for everyone behind the scenes.

This is not the end of the Lord's work in Abambo,

this is only the beginning!!!