The Lord gave us bountiful grace throughout our three weeks of VBS! Although it was exhausting, He continued to remind us that He went before us to prepare the way, He gives us the strength to serve Him, and our focus simply needs to be pleasing Him.
The three 1-week programs were conducted at Nakaale, Alamacar and Lobulepeded Primary Schools. In all, there were about 810 kids. Each school was a unique experience. Nakaale had 123 preschoolers alone! Our KEO trained teachers did a fabulous job leading this group in games, songs, and the daily teachings. We walked 1.5 miles each way to Alamacar enjoying the gorgeous valley, extended fellowship together, and some mud. We were a daily spectacle for the neighborhood and even picked up some students on the way each morning. Two young gentlemen from the Timothy Discipleship Training sponsorship program providentially were released for a school break just in time for them to join us. For the third week at Lobulepeded, a team from Mbale including staff at Knox School of Theology (KST) and All Nations Presbyterian Church (ANPC) joined us. Although mostly African they didn’t speak the language, many were shocked by the differences in village living and the warm welcome we received at the school. This mission wide and beyond partnership meant that our team represented 6 countries (US, Canada, Uganda, Burundi, South Sudan, Kenya), 7 US states (Oklahoma, California, Pennsylvania, Florida, Washington, New York, Iowa), and even diversity across Ugandan tribes from Kampala, Mbale and Karamoja. It was a glorious picture of how the church crosses all countries, tribes, languages, skin colors, economic statuses and ages. The partnership and time spent together strengthened the church members as well. There were many times when I was struck by the magnitude of God’s work in preparing us all for this outreach and how privileged I am to be a part of it.
We began each day in the word and prayer as a team. Once at the school we would begin with an opening assembly then divide into classes. The US volunteers taught the Bible lessons using colors to communicate the gospel in an easily memorable way, organized fun games, and brought donations of Bibles and soccer balls for the schools. Our local staff helped to translate, engage with the kids on a more personal level, shepherd them from place to place, challenge the students in learning the daily memory verses in their mother tongue, lead songs and conduct the opening and closing assemblies. We translated the song My God is so Bigand taught it in both English and Karimojong. I joked that by the end we would all be hearing it in our sleep as we chose to sing it every day. Our friends from Mbale also taught classes and joined in wherever needed even adding verses to our songs. We closed each morning in reflection on how to improve, giving praise for what God had done and prayer being careful to submit all our successes to Him.
All three schools welcomed us with open arms, allowing us to consume their mornings for a whole week to proclaim the gospel. It was made possible in large part due to the preceding years of pastors and ministry team members teaching the catechism in these very schools. We aren’t strangers. We also took the opportunity to share the gospel with the teachers at each school. What a gift to have such a captivated audience from varying backgrounds and exposure to the church?! Now they have scripture hidden in their hearts and singing through their dreams!
It was not without challenges of course. It began with flight delays as closed Iranian airspace disrupted some visitors’ itineraries. We were competing with the needs of ripening sorghum (children are in the fields most days banging on drums and singing to scare off the birds), NGO give-away programs (they’d drive by motorcycle gang style), and primary elections (here they have no problem giving away cash and beer for a vote). My own attention was divided between mission responsibilities, the needs of my family and the needs of the team. A 24-hour flu and separate head cold made the rounds, other helpers caught malaria, or amebiasis. Most days I woke early all aflutter repeatedly needing to give over what I never controlled in the first place. And yet despite these obstacles, over 800 kids heard the gospel, seeds were planted, others were watered, the church was knit more closely together and Christ’s sufficiency was highlighted.
We are very thankful that we serve a Good and Big God who never leaves us, reigns as king over all people, all places and all times, and who makes Himself known to us. May the seeds planted grow under the Spirit’s infinite care into a church zealous for Christ alone. All glory to Him.