Yesterday was a quiet day and henceforth, there was no reason for me not to blog about it. We did go and get our puletasis started at the seamstress place. That was exciting. When we told the kids that we were getting them, they were quite flattered and excited that we were partaking in their culture. Everything that Americans or palagis can do to embrace their culture, is very appreciated and does not go unnoticed.
Today was wild and crazy and henceforth, I had good reason to not blog until now. We started off the day with a fairly early start, about 8:30 or so. We drove to the mechanic to pick up the church van and then I drove the missionary's mini-van to "Cost-U-Less", a Samoan Sam's Club or Costco, to get snacks for the kids for our outing. We then went to KS-Mart, the Super K-Mart equivalent, and got water balloons for our activity. Then we went home and filled up the water balloons, which is always a fun and exciting activity. As our morning activities came to a close, we brainstormed about object lessons for the kids and came up with one for the water balloon toss.
About 1:00PM or so, we began picking up the kids. David drove the church van and it took about an hour to pick up all 8 kids in my Sunday School class. Most of them live in villages fairly close, but the roads in the neighborhood are so bad, that it takes quite a while to get down them and back.
Once we got to the house where our activity was, next door, we started the festivities by dividing guys and girls into teams. We then did the wheel-barrel race and a dizzy bat race. The score board was tied one-to-one at that point and we went to the final event: The balloon toss. We all paired up and got across the lines from each other. In America, we might have had problems getting in pairs and choosing out friends, but with this small group, I didn't see any discontent from anyone and that was really nice. The kids were so excited that a few of the balloons popped before the toss started. My partners and I did very well, coming in 3rd and then 2nd (see pictures to come). We then all grabbed balloons and had a really fun water balloon fight. It was great. After we picked up the pieces, we had snacks and the kids were so excited about the prepackaged cookies and crackers. Again, in America, if you ran out of mini-Oreos, there might be a few tears or grabbing of someone else's Oreos, but here it was a mere, "O.K. then, I'll just have Chips-Ahoy." No hard feelings, just happy to have a good snack. We also had the personal favorite, Capri Sun...no explanation needed there.
We then talked about accountability and staying close with our church friends so that we can strengthen each other. We used Romans 12:2, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of yours mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- his good, pleasing, and perfect will.", as our theme verse for today. We are calling the series of events for them, "Swimming Upstream" because Mara, one of the missionaries mention the peer pressure from friends and unchurched family that these kids have. We are trying to emphasize that we, as Christians, are different and we have a reason to live differently, by God's standards, not the world's. I would just ask you to pray for these kids as they try swimming upstream and for us as we try to encourage the bravery needed to do so.
I really thought that our event went really well. The kids, all 8 of them, really enjoyed getting to hang out with us and with each other on a time different from Sunday mornings. That notion, of getting together during the week, is completely foreign because of the trouble involved in coming together. It is quite different than in the States.
Thanks again for reading, posting, and emailing us. There will be plenty of pictures to follow.
5 comments:
I am glad you had a great day. I am looking forward to seeing the pictures.
Fun! A water balloon fight! Oh, I haven't been in one of those in ages.
I like your lesson series title - it sounds so professional and interesting. I bet you're doing a great job with those kids.
I can't wait to see your puletasi on! I'll talk to you soon.
&hearts Katherine
Your father is watching you...both of us. Love you and missing you but know what you are doing is important.
Kate, I am so glad you are getting to see how different church is in another place- but also how God is the same everywhere! One thing that is amazing to me about Christians outside of America, is how much trouble they go through, like you said, just to be together. In Japan it is pretty simple to get to church, but if you go to church, your friends and family will probably think you are crazy, and that is tough too. We are so blessed in America.
Hi Kate,
I think that there are snakes in Samoa from what I recall... the Germans brought them in to control rats... unless you are in American Samoa?
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