VBS in the jungle

After three failed attempts we finally made it to Segundo Jerusalem. We tried to go on Christmas but Jennifer was sick. Then we tried on New Years Day but due to heavy rains we couldn’t get there. Then last weekend we were planning on going but the rains kept coming and the road flooded. It was chest deep. Then this weekend, even though the road was bad and we had to rent a van, we finally made it.

 

Our van

We went with one prayer. That we may be a blessing to them. Segundo Jerusalem is a small group of families living together in community. It is too small to be called an offical community so it is actually a barrio or neighborhood. We have visited them before and they are always amazing to us. They are open, warm and inviting and we always leave with loads of plantains and papaya. They teach us Shawi words and ask lots of questions. Every time we visit, we leave encouraged and blessed. For this reason, we just wanted to bless them. 

 Eating some lunch on our porch.

Resting during the rain in our house.

We arrived Saturday morning and the first thing they did was offer us a house to stay in for the weekend. What a blessing to have a place to rest and get shelter from the rain. Then the men went to work. They are working to build a new church building. First they needed lumber so they went deep into the jungle, cut down a tree and milled the boards with a chainsaw. They are very talented with a chain saw. All the wood is cut so the men were working on hauling it out to the build site. I volunteered to go with them. After 45 minutes of walking through mud and standing water we finally came to a pile of boards 42 feet long.  Then it started raining and it took five of us an hour to carry one board back to the build site. I miss my local lumber yard. 

 One of the women preparing lunch.

After lunch of dried fish and rice the real work began, a Bible school for the kids. The rest of the afternoon was filled with Bible stories, games, songs, and crafts. At first the kids were scared to death of us. They wouldn’t respond to our questions or participate. The pastor told me the kids are not accustom to strangers and they were scared. But little by little they warmed up to us. Sunday morning, we continued with more stories and songs and by Sunday afternoon the kids were singing all the songs with motions, saying the memory verse, and participating in the games.

The kids really touch my heart this weekend. We provided lunch both days for them and I am glad we did. I asked Sunday morning if any of them had breakfast and not a single one had eaten. We quickly tapped into our stash of granola bars and gave the kids a least a little something to eat. They had never jumped rope or played with a Frisbee. They had never heard of Abraham and Isaac. And they had never experienced a Bible school. I pray that we were a blessing to them but in reality they completely blessed us. To see the joy on their faces as they learned the stories, to watch them spend hours on a craft with complete patience to make it perfect, to hear them recite a Bible verse and sing songs, I can not describe how full my heart is today.

Our kids also had a blast this weekend. We asked them what was their favorite part of the weekend and they responded, "everything!" 

Henry loved playing in the dirt with the other boys.

Maggie climbed on everything.

Lucy was a leader of songs and games. 

 Our new friend Daili with her craft.

 Jennifer working hard to prepare.

My new friend John Kennedy.

  And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.   And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

Matthew 18:3-5