Created and Chosen

"For it is by grace, you have been saved..."  sing Auntie Blessing and the 70 children in the afternoon group with their hands raised.  I breath a prayer that they believe and comprehend those sacred words, that the Holy Spirit gives them understanding that they are created in Christ and chosen in him before the creation of the world. That is our theme, "Created and Chosen." 

Lately I've been challenged to think about what we are chosen to.  I can't imagine after God invited us all to be his, that the goodness of the invitation starts when we die and go to heaven.  There is too much beauty here that declares his majesty.  We are invited to walk, be transformed, and a part of the unity had by the Trinity that spoke creation into existence. That is what I want these souls to understand.

How, in four weeks (it was supposed to be five), can we communicate all of that? So, my prayer continues, as we round up this year's holiday Orange Hat, that truth spoken would sink deeply into their hearts, that they are invited to be recreated in Christ and chosen for a purpose. 

On Saturday we'll have our final program to present our songs, dramas, art, Scripture, Nigeria States rap, and dances.  May God be lifted high in it all and may they go out in the joy that we all experienced together. 

Thank you for praying with us! 

The Carpentry group making a tippy tap. 

Learning to care for animals in the animal group.

 

Learning basic computer skills and painting our "doors" for  the drama "Big Orange Splot"

Opening where we learn Ephesians 2:!-10

Labeling the map of beautiful Nigeria

Learning how beautiful Nigeria is. 

The Goodness of Translation

Lives are being changed through the translated Bible.  In this video clip my boss, Johnstone Ndunde, shares about a man's life that was changed here in Nigeria.

The Goodness of Translation

Shine: The Gospel in Baka

This ten-minute documentary tells the story of challenges and triumph of our colleagues in South Sudan as they translated the Baka New Testament. We share their joy at finally holding it in their hands after persevering through civil war, displacement and more. Along with the translators, we long for the Baka people to know that God is close, whether in hard times or times of plenty.

Shine: The Gospel in Baka

New churches forming in Madagascar

Whenever I get to pray with Serge, I am encouraged by his heart of gratitude. In this clip he shares about something God is doing in his home country of Madagascar that we are deeply grateful for.

New churches forming in Madagascar

Go for the Gold

 We've been streaming the Olympics here, and my daughters' favorite sport changes every half hour. Today they were going to be gymnists, high jumpers, tennis stars, and sprinters.  Since I spent so much time running and training in college, I can imagine the stress and the hard work that has gone into arriving at a competition where you represent your country, being the best of the best! Sometimes I break into a sweat as I watch the muscles straining at the start line, and my heart races as they sweep toward the finish line. 

Although I'm in no shape to run the 100 meter now, I find the race I'm in still sets my heart beating, sweat beading on my brow.  Tomorrow we start the summer program at the Orange Hat.  Although the Orange Hat is a side ministry that happens year round three afternoons a week, for the month of August, the 150-200 children that are entrusted to me by their parents draw my energy, resources, and time, leaving me exhausted by 2pm when we all head home for the day.  

After sending a video of what we're doing at the Orange Hat to my family, my sister wrote, "It feels like all your experiences previously have led to this, using all of your strengths."  That's how I would feel at the end of the long jump runway.  All the training had lead to this.  And that IS how I feel about this work with the Orange Hat.  From the curriculum writing, songwriting, skills training that we offer three days a week, arts two days a week, Nigerian history and geography that we teach, and most importantly, the worship and Biblical truths that hold it all together is a compilation of the loves God has given me over the years.  He has also provided an absolutely fabulous and passionate team.  When we were preparing for this early July, I asked them what the Orange Hat is, and they said things like, "A place where children are transformed, where children who can't pay for what we offer get it anyway, where they are loved, free to make mistakes, meet Jesus, get a boost, learn to read..."  They have caught the vision!  It thrills me that God has brought this team to me and all of us to each other. 

Please pray that all of these beautiful words continue to be true.  Pray for the children, the teachers, the professionals that will come alongside to teach skills, and all of our families as we make this sacrifice that Jesus might be made known, and that these children will gain skills that will make them more successful in the plans God has for them!

I think that in all this striving, I have a deep conviction that this is the gold worth running for; to grasp the hands of little ones that need to be uplifted, to love Jesus by loving them, to remind them they are beautifully and wonderfully made, treasured by their Creator.  I see the joy tremor through the whole being of the Olympians when they overcome and years of grueling work meets victory... I know they have honored their country and families.  I believe the joy that we all get from this sprint of the Holiday Orange Hat carries a similar overwhelming joy that expresses itself more quietly through a child finally learning the sound of a letter or understanding for the first time they have the ability to create something extraordinary, reflecting their Maker.  We pray we do the same and make him smile too.

Go Away!

There were children. Always so many children. Our children are a magnet for other children and so everywhere we go, they follow us giggling, trying to touch their hair, take their hands. The Bible dedication was no different. The group of children grew and grew, watching and commenting on my children's every move until the adults around said, "Go away!" They did, and then slowly crept back to continue their entertainment.

The plenary speaker, Bishop Kwashi (in maroon), greets the chief’s representative (in blue). In the background are many children behind the Yoder children. Photo credit: Shadrach Yusuf 

 

Then I (Christy) had an idea! I told them to follow me. I walked with them to a space behind a building and taught thema song in their own language using a Bible verse read poorly by me. They pronounced it well, of course—better than I did—and they learned the song and the dance movements easily. We walked back into the tent and they sat behind me, with purpose now because they were going to perform with me. When they got to talking, I would turn and say, "Shhhh..." and they would because now they had a part to play.

 

One of the lead boys sings “God’s Word is not chained” in the new Bwatiye translation. Photo credit: Shadrach Yusuf 

They did perform the song in front of all those people. It was beautiful. They did a lovely job. Two of the boys that were the leaders of the group, received their own transitional primer and Bible. When I handed it to them, the whole group of thirty children gasped. I told them they couldn't keep it to themselves, they had to teach their friends. They nodded solemnly. Please pray that God will call someone to disciple these Bwatiye children and that these two boys will lead the way.

All the children parade around the field singing “God’s Word is not chained” in Bwatiye. Photo credit: Shadrach Yusuf 

We Can Read Our Language!

 

Christy dances with women who have waited a long time for this joyous day. Photo credit: Shadrach Yusuf

 
The old women who I (Christy) danced back from the river with were effervescent. Their stamina amazed me. The next day, as people left the Bible dedication, I saw four of the women I had danced down the road with, their eyes aglow, waiting to talk with me.

"Did you get it?” I asked them. “Did you get the Bible in Bwatiye?"

"No,” they said, we cannot get it."

I asked them to wait a minute. I stepped away and I bought four Bibles and transition primers to help them learn to read their language. But what if they couldn’t read at all?

"Can you read?" I asked

"Yes! We can read in our language!"

"You read in Bwatiye?"

With big proud smiles on their faces they said, "Yes, we have a reading class every week. We can read our language!" "Well, now you can read the Bible then." They all hugged me and I melted… they were so beautiful and eager. How I delighted in their joy in the Word and how I thank God that I will get to dance with them in eternity!

Please pray that the literacy classes in the Bwatiye language will continue and many will learn to read the Bible for themselves! There is also an audio version of the New Testament. Pray that many will get it and use it!