Lions, Tigers, and Bears! Oh My!

 

 

Yesterday the arts camp at the Storytelling Library in Patna began. The theme for the camp is “It’s a Jungle Out There.” Over 80 kids attended yesterday with many more expected today as Saturday was a school day for some children in India.

 

The children were so excited! At the start of the day, the kids performed several stories and poems they learned to share with us in English! They were so cute and very proud to show us what they learned!  All the children enjoyed animal themed songs, drama activities, stories, crafts, and games throughout the day.

 

David was in charge of the crafts and the games. Today he had the children create animal masks and make scratch art animal ornaments. The kids particularly enjoyed making the scratch art animals, as they were very skilled at creating intricate patterns and designs. 

 

Heather led the singing and helped the children act out several stories. Their favorite book of the day was a book that David’s mom (Jane) gave Heather entitled “Giraffe’s Can’t Dance.” We used this book to talk to the children about how each person is a special and unique creation unlike anyone else on earth. In a culture where belief in reincarnation is common, the message “you are special and unlike anyone else” is greatly needed. You should have seen David as Gerald the Giraffe when Heather introduced this book! He was spectacular and the kids just loved it! Later on, the older children acted out the book too. The children also enjoyed singing several of the songs that children at FBC love: Shake My Sillies Out, Down By the Bay, and even Germs (The Invisible Dog Song)! 

 

Our host Sita runs this library. She and the volunteers are absolutely amazing. At the library, children from all economic, social, and cultural, and religious backgrounds learn and play together. What a wonderful expression of community in a culture where separation based on these factors is very common.   

 

One thing that continues to amaze us is how God uses every experience, every job, every gift, every talent, and every bit of knowledge he has ever given us to accomplish his purposes and glorify his name. God does not waste a thing! Instead, he weaves it all together into a beautiful tapestry as he works through us! We find this especially true in situations that take us our of comfort zones and call us to depend on him fully.

 

For example, David was reflecting today on how he is thankful he led educational tours at historic sites several years ago as God used his experiences in leading large groups yesterday. This was no easy task especially with the language barrier! However, many of the volunteers in the Library were telling Heather what a wonderful man David is and remarking how good he is with the children. As you can tell, Heather is writing this part of the blog as David would never share the volunteers’ reaction with anyone. In fact, Heather is proud of David and the servant-hearted way he is handling all the challenges of India. He has even learned to tolerate Indian food!!!

 

One of the most interesting moments at the camp yesterday occurred when the children were leaving. They began touching our feet followed by their own faces. Feet are considered unclean in India. To touch someone’s feet and then take your hands directly to your own face is a great expression of honor and gratitude in this culture. In fact, it means that person is part of your family. Thus, these children told us in their own way how much they appreciated us being here and leading the camp. Additionally, we also learned that this expression is a way of asking for a blessing from a respected elder. If the children do this to us again, we intend to say, “The Lord bless you and keep you” in response.

 

Please pray that all the volunteers and the children see and experience the love of Christ through our actions, our energy, our smiling eyes, and our touch. Since followers of many religious traditions come to the Library, we are not able to speak openly with the children about Christ. However, we are constantly reminded of the words of St. Francis of Assisi, “Preach the gospel at all times — If necessary, use words.”

 

Speaking of St. Francis of Assisi, it is interesting that although our host Sita is a Hindu, she has a framed copy of The Prayer of St. Francis in here home. This prayer has always been special to Heather. In fact, the prayer was sung at our wedding by our dear friend Brad. Seeing the framed copy of the prayer in Sita’s home was a reminder for Heather that God has brought us to this library to be instruments of his peace. As you read the prayer below, please pray that we will sow love, pardon, faith, hope, joy and the ultimately the light of Christ as it shines through the cracks our clay vessels. The prayer of St. Francis reads:

 

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

 

O Divine Master,

Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

To be understood, as to understand;

To be loved, as to love;

For it is in giving that we receive,

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

 

Amen.