VBS - Kinshasa Style

 

     This week has been our busiest time in the Congo yet.  We are helping to teach a week-long Vacation Bible School for about 150 kids from age 3 to about 15.  But, VBS in the Congo is done a little differently than in America.  Most of us only know a few words in Lingala and our resources are limited.  But as we come to the end of this week, the exhaustion of long mornings at VBS and busy evenings planning at home are pushing us to our limits both physically and mentally.  For this I thank God because it is forcing us to give Him our plans and rely on Him for our source of energy.

(My six year olds--they loved their creation mobile craft.)

     Each evening before VBS we spend planning for the next day.  Our job is to come up with a craft and one or two games to further enforce the story of the day.  For example, on the first day the Bible story was creation.  Since it was our first day we weren't prepared in time to print anything, so in Congolese-fashion we created and painstakingly traced 150 copies of coloring pages and squares for a 7-days-of-creation mobile.  But, also in Congolese-fashion we have learned "to make do" and we made a night out of it--watching three movies and laughing at each other's drawings.

(Tracing coloring pages for hours)

     Early the next morning we meet with the teachers and demonstrate the craft and activity of the day so they can understand and hopefully be able to convey it to the kids (since we don't know enough Lingala).  Each of the teachers do a phenomenal job conveying the story and teaching memory verses.  Although we can't understand the language, we can tell that the kids are engaged and there is enough use of visuals and acting out that we can follow along.  Then it's our turn.
     Emily (our missionary team leader and best friend) is a super woman and runs around between classes, helping with translation.  The five of us girls are each assigned to a different class and age group, and we do our best to demonstrate the activities and then help out where needed.  They asked us to teach the kids an English song throughout this week and we chose "My God Is So Big" because it was easy, interactive, and one they didn't already know in Lingala or French.  This song has become a huge hit with the kids as we've found creative ways to teach it to them and sing it.  And at the end of the day each class performs the song for the whole group.  Slowly we are able to make connections with the kids.

     I have the privilege of working with the six-year-olds and even though they are young, they are full of energy and they challenge and bless me in so many ways.  On day one I sat on the end of one of the benches and although the kids were packed together, one little girl made sure to leave some space between myself and her on the seat.  During the craft many of the kids came to me with questions but I wasn't able to answer them and tried to communicate using hand motions.  The language barrier has been the most difficult challenge so far.  However, as the week went on, I found more ways to jump in and explain the games using hand motions.  I even picked up a few more Lingala words that helped a lot.  I became more comfortable with the way things worked and during one of the games today the kids were literally ambushing and hugging me.  A few even clung to me or held my hand.  Now in the Congo, these kids can take a simple American game like "Duck, duck, goose!" and turn it into a game of tag.  The games are louder, the kids are rowdier and the rules are almost non-existent.  But I love it.  I love their energy and their passion and it's contagious.  

     The Congolese people are the opposite side of the coin from American people.  But God created diversity and He mixed up the languages and scattered the people.  And at the end of the world every nation will worship at His feet.  We may be different, but we all worship the same God.

"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone."

1 Corinthians 12:4-6