Castles, Jesus, and T-shirts

Holidays from school can mean idleness and boredom for young children. To take advantage of this "down" time, we held a Bible Club for the local kids. 


Tracy's niece Jessica Weatherford and her husband Dave arrived in Zambia this week to encourage us and to minister to the children of the seminary and at the transmitter station. In an earlier post I wrote of children from the station that draw

water here on campus. It's called the transmitter station because there are 10-15 defunct transmitting towers surrounding the houses at the police retirement post. 

Thirty-four children showed up the first day, with 8-11 from the station. A half hour ahead of time we inflated the jumping castle, which drew early birds. Very seldom do the students' children get to jump to their hearts' content. And, jump they did!

On Wednesday we held a two-day Bible club for the children here at the seminary where we live, as well as the children that live nearby at what is called the "transmitter station." At this station there are about 10-15 defunct transmitting towers dotted around the homes there. In an earlier blog I had written about the children push a wheelbarrow the short distance to fetch water. 

Thirty-four children showed up the first day, with 8-11

Tracy with the boys

from the station. About a half hour beforehand we inflated the jumping castle which drew a number of early birds. Seldom do these children have the opportunity to jump to their hearts' content. And, jump they did!

Helping us this week was also one of my students, Goden, and his wife Ireen who work with Child Evangelism. They were great cultural guides and helped us with crowd control. 

To start each lesson Dave shared the four gospel cups, similar to the salvation bracelet or wordless book. Afterwards he told a Bible story~the children coming to Jesus. To reinforce the lesson he and Jessica had t-shirts for the children which they decorated. Underneath "Jesus Loves," the children had their names and hand prints. Games, songs, and candy rounded out the day, with a final jump at the castle. 

We're thankful for the open door with the children, especially with the ones from the transmitter station. And we're hopeful for new life in Christ, as well as growth in Him.