Short-Termers Equal Blessing

Although in some people’s opinion, money and time spent in facilitating short term missions exposure could be better used for other needs, we can whole-heartedly testify this short term team was a great blessing and encouragement. (Of course, one might say we are biased since the leader of the team was Ruth’s nephew!) Although it involved work, we praise God for all the seeds planted during that time which would not have happened without their participation. As we tallied the Lesson 6 Evaluations by the Kiswa Primary 100 pupils to whom they taught the VOICE Honesty module , we were delighted to see that:

•  65 chose “interesting” as one word to describe VEC (Values Education Class)
• 70 chose “helpful”
• 69 chose “liked by parents”
• 59 chose “life-changing”
• 87 indicated that their practice of honesty had improved as a result of VEC

As part of the evaluation, the pupils were asked to choose two of the following Values Promises which were the most difficult for them to follow:

I will be honest

I will not cheat or steal

I will always tell the truth

I will be honest even if it is difficult

I will admit when I am wrong

When asked what they wanted to do as a follow-up of VEC:

•  62 indicated they would like to talk to a Values Teacher about God and the Bible
• 83 said they would like to be more active in a Scripture Union Club in their school
• 55 checked that they would like to introduce their Values teacher to their parents
• 77 revealed their plan to continue reading the Bible at home

Wed., 7th of Dec., Group picture of Kiswa Primary
pupils involved in the VEC (Values Education Class) program.

Of course, these last numbers represent a weakness of short-term ministry in that they cannot follow-up these children, except through prayer which I know they will do. But we praise God that one of the Kiswa Primary teachers, Madam Jennifer, has agreed to do what she can to fulfill these pupils’ desires; we will give her the Evaluation and summary within the next couple of weeks. The absolute best answer for sustainable follow-up would be a near-by church to take Kiswa Primary School as part of their Mission Field…an urgent prayer request.

Once the VEC ministry was finished and after 3-day sight-seeing trip, the team was willing to spend 24 hours of their final hours at the Scripture Union Camp on beautiful Lake Victoria. The camp staff expected about 150 campers—somewhere around 350 came! Although a good number of campers slept in tents, the Canadians were grateful for one room where all 7 of them slept on 3 mattresses, side by side! The next day, the campers were divided into four groups and each of the four Canadian team adults taught an introduction to Honesty. Bonding happened as the Team ate, played, and washed dishes together. “It seems like these people have been in Africa before” was the comment of one Scripture Union camp staff.

How fun to see the culture and sights through new eyes and have our burden and work shared by this delightful Team. We are confident there will be many ripples of transformation resulting from their ministry.

Now as we turn our attention to other things on our desk, God surprised us as I chatted by phone with a friend in Eastern Canada.  This generous friend has provided the funds to purchase a second container which will provide for storage for the remaining 3 Values Modules to be published.