Friday: The Best for Last

Holiday Bible Camp concluded today. The week has flown by! Today's lesson was about the sense of touch. The theme all week has been about praising God because we are fearfully and wonderfully made (PS 139:14). Sandpaper cut-outs of gingerbread boys were "colored" with cinnamon sticks and marshmallow "eyes" glued on as the children learned about textures during craft time. Feeling jello and various other textures helped Rebecca teach about the skin, nerve endings, and such. The expressions of the faces of the children were priceless as they reacted to new feels, tastes, and smells during academics each day. Speaking of priceless reactions--back up to seeing day--when Rebecca produced a ping-pong ball to show the size of the eyeball--some of the children through it was a real eyeball and almost fainted.

The Bible story on Friday was the Story of the widow of Nain's dead son and how Jesus' touch gave him new life. We taught how the saving mercy of Jesus Christ can touch our lives and raise us from spiritual death to life. In the two younger age groups the plan of salvation was presented using a necklace of colored beads symbolizing lostness, sacrifice, cleansing, growth, and eternal life. In the two younger groups, the children sang songs and colored pictures of the story.

During recreation, Meg played the traditional game of Holiday Bible Camp, Over-Under. This game is always a hit and a must do for the children.

At the conclusion of the day, the children sang and thanked us for camp. We presented each child with their own doll given by the Doll Ministry of First Baptist Church, Berea! There were squeals of joy, smiles, laughter as every child began to realize the doll was a gift to keep. We had signed musical Christmas cards for each child, filled a bag of edible treats, and gave a home craft of a 2010 calendar to be colored. Floyd had worked many nights and all of most days colating & stapling small coloring books of everyday's Bible story to be given to each child. He had also divided up crayons to send home with everyone. The children kept saying, "Asante" (thank you). It was overwhelming for each of us.

After we left Happy Day, we headed to shop the Masai Market at Village Market. There our long time friend, Elisabeth, was waiting to help us with our shopping and negotiating our purchases. This is unlike any "jockey lot" or "flea market" experience in the States. This is bartering on steroids. We had a great time. Where else can you negotiate a 2500 Kenya shilling carving down to 700 Kenyan Shillings or a 8500 Kenyan Shilling nativity down to 2200 Kenya Shillings--The thrill of the hunt and sweet success when the deal is struck. (Obviously I wrote this part of the blog, Floyd) IF YOU GO TO THE VARIOUS MASAI MARKETS IN NAIROBI ASK FOR ELISABETH AND TELL PASTOR FLOYD SENT YOU. She is a fine young woman with a great heart. We met her four years ago and she has proven to be a great friend.

Friday we went to dinner with Bernard, Mary, and the girls. One of our favorite restaurants is RO-RO Chinese Restaurant at the Village Market. It is located upstairs and very open. Down below a jazz band was playing great music! It was quite unique eating Chinese food in an African country listening to American/New Orleans jazz.

As Floyd drove us back to the Kentmere along a quiet, almost deserted road--we thanked God for the experience of once again serving, loving, and being loved by our brothers and sisters in this part of the world.