Update #5 Southern Africa

Jirise, friends and family! This is Noah writing on behalf of the team here at Hands of Hope.

Today we finished up the last day of our first week of VBS. Tomorrow morning, the kids from this camp will head home, bringing the Biblical truths we taught them back to their home environments. We’re ending on a high note to be sure!

To start the day, Natalie and I told the story of the Good Samaritan to the kids. We had a good conversation with our group afterwords about what it means to be a good neighbor. After that, we had some morning games like tug of war and duck duck goose, followed by a craft where kids made bags to put all their other crafts in. 

After lunch (and after Holly, Liv and I found some kittens), we played a game of four way capture the flag between our four teams. It was fun, chaotic, loud, confusing… all the things you would expect! It was great seeing all the teams work together and strategize.

We started ending the day with evening praise and a game from Alyssa and Natalie. Then, one of our leaders, Uncle Stewart, led us to the bonfire for s’mores and a story. While roasting s’mores, the kids were dancing to all sorts of music from Macarena to popular in-country favorties. They started singing traditional songs on their own after the music ended, and I was struck by how in tune they were with one another (literally and figuratively)! I looked around and all I could see were kids in harmony with one another. The fellowship was beautiful. 

Uncle Stewart ended the night officially with a moving story that I hope I can remember and retell back in the States! Overall, today was an amazing day full of kids working together and being shown the love of God. Thinking about how we have positively affected these kids lives is truly heartwarming. This first week has reminded me how important it is to focus on the big picture that God has, and to work to follow His plan above any plans I could ever make. I mean, my team all followed His nudging to Africa, didn’t we? I can’t wait to see what’s next.

This is Noah signing off for the night – God Bless!

Gloria In Te, Domine