Heroes of the Bible

​We kicked off the summer hosting 22 elementary age children for camp in conjunction with the preschool camp and their theme, “The Desert.” During Sunday School we use the desert box to tell Bible stories that take place in the desert, so we decided to use “The Exodus” as our anchor Bible story. It began with the children hearing the Godly Play story reenacted in the desert box--a large box with a wooden bottom and lid and clear sides, filled with sand. All Old Testament stories told in this way begin with hearing about the danger and desolation of the desert, with a sun that burns, winds that sting and the scarcity of food and water. In this story God’s people and Moses (wooden cutouts) march through the desert to Egypt for a better life, only to find Pharaoh waiting for them.
 
On the first day of camp the children made kinetic sand for their own desert box with a decorated lid. Then each day they made components of the story to add to the box; the red sea that parted, and decorated pegs to represent God’s people, Moses and Pharoah. The children also volunteered for parts in our reenactment of the story, replete with costumes, to perform for their families on the last day.  Thanks to Leslie and Allen, the addition of the favored song “Pharoah, Pharoah, let my people go” with arm motions made for a fun grand finale to the camp.
 
Best of all, the children learned that when Moses was lost or in danger, he would “come close to God, and God came close to him” and then he knew what to do.  Bringing children to a relationship with God is the cornerstone of Godly Play and the most important part of our work with them.
 
Moses looked to God to quench his thirst, just as Jesus looks to us now to quench our thirst by service to others in need and sharing His life with them. After Mother Theresa taught children in the Loreto Entally convent in India, she then took them on her visits to the poor and infirmed. Those who were in the desert due to their health, deprivation and isolation. Mother Theresa taught children about Jesus by sharing His love and compassion with those who were hungry and thirsting for God. May it be so with us.

You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I trust for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.   _Psalm 63:1
 
Faithfully yours,
 
Christy Merritt
Children’s Ministry Director