It has been a good week. Once we were back on Wednesday we went back to our activities here. Barb has been knitting each morning with the people at SACAB and I have been at Harmony School each morning. These two activities have allowed us to use our gifts in very practical ways.
Barb has made good progress with the knitters although they seem to have a bit of difficulty figuring out what it is that they really want to knit. It was going to be sweaters. Yes, why does one need a sweater when it rarely gets below 70 degrees. I guess temperature is relative. Anyway, now that someone has been working on a shawl, there seems to be an interest in working on shawls. There is good progress being made in the general knitting skills. Not that I would know, but that is what I am told.
I have taught Bible at Harmony Primary School the last two mornings. Harmony is the primary school run by YWAM in Soroti. They have much smaller classes than the public schools around and should be able to provide much more direct teacher-student interaction. Bible is taught with all the grades together P-1 to P-5 from 8-8:30 each morning. There is a time of praise and worship and then a lesson. Up to this point, the lessons have been very much like sermons and lectures. The last two mornings I have taught by telling and acting out stories. The kids have seemed very engaged and the teachers were all present for this. Normally the teacher who is "teaching" is there and the others take a break. They were all told to be present to observe. This is a bit intimidating, but I believe it went well.
While I have been there, there has been a Dutch couple, who are also teachers, working at the school with the teachers on teaching reading. We have spent a lot of time talking about ways to bring about some changes in the way instruction is handled.
We have our marriage Bible study starting in just a few minutes. This has gone quite well. We are getting more discussion as the people start to get to know us a bit more.
Last night and this morning we had the opportunity to listen to the stories of 3 of the young men we got to know last year. Two were abducted by the LRA and the other had his father abducted by them. Their stories are terrible and amazing all at once. Each one claims they have managed to put this terrible past behind them and forgive because they were saved since then. It is hard to imagine boys in their early teens being taught to kill and years later they are able to tell the story and give thanks to God for the blessings in their lives.
I (John) had another Bible study at Amecet this morning. These have become very enjoyable times as the kids have begun to open up and relax at bit more. I will have one more time with them next Saturday.
Sorry if this is confusing. Some of it was written on Friday and some on Saturday. We know you are all smart enough to sort that all out.
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2 comments:
Once again--a treat to hear about what you are doing each day. Jack and Cindy leave today for their training in CA. We are helping Stacey and Ben move into their house in a few hours. However, it has been steadily pouring all morning, so we do hope it decides to stop. Chris had an awesome time at SERVE, and is now trying to catch up on some sleep. Lar goes back to work Tuesday, and has had a great vacation. I'm finally going to let my head think about school once Lar heads back to work. It's great to see how your gifts are being used in such practical ways. How awesome to know you are making a lasting impact in their lives. May God continue to give you health, strength and patience! Larry, Linda, and Chris
Sounds like you guys are doing great! I'm especially excited about the marriage seminar, and the teaching methods you're teaching -- it seems like those two things could revolutionize the country if they spread! Blessings as you do your work.
It was a treat to hear about your trip to Sipi falls - it brought back memories of thinking, "There's no way in the world guides would get away with this dangerous a path in the U.S.! Beautiful, though...
Jodi
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