Kaposwar Story Time

During our three weeks in Kaposwar, the children and I went to the Kaposwar Town Library every Tuesday and Friday for a story time program.  We worked with the local children's pastor, Emmy, and a lovely young volunteer, Chesang.  We would begin the program by reading some of our favorite African stories to the children.  A few of the selections were, "Lazy Lion", "Mama Panya's Pancakes", and "Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain".  The children seemed to love the stories and were very engaged as we read about familiar animals, discussed cultural values, and studied illustrations that captured scenes from everyday life.  We were thrilled to have the opportunity to read out loud to the children, doing our best to put on our Kenyan accents and taking time to carefully show the pictures to the children.  It was a delight to see many of the same children return each week.

After we read a few stories, it was time to get up and move.  After all, children are children and they all did a brilliant job listening, but were ready for some exercise and games after a 2-3 stories. Chesang was our game organizer and came up with very clever games for us.  The photos below show a song & game called, "In and Out of the Bamboo Forest".  The children stand in a large circle. A few are chosen to weave in and out of those standing.  Then, when it is time, you sing, "Tappy, tappy, tappy on my shoulders" and you choose a person to join what eventually looks like a conga line.  It was great fun and a joy to play together.

At the beginning of December, we would conclude our library program with a Bible lesson using the precious banner and booklet, "The Jesse Tree" that our friends in Pittsburgh helped us put together.  It proved to be such an effective teaching tool and the children quickly caught on to the concepts and were eager to review the symbols we initially placed on the tree as well as volunteer to answer questions and place the new symbol for that day onto the tree.  We officially donated the banner at the end of our time and would transport it back and forth to our home.  Our family thoroughly enjoyed using it for morning devotionals and then sharing it with the children at story time.  It is now in the safe keeping of Pastor Emmy and she is eager to continue it with the children throughout this Advent season and even into the New Year.

Our time in Kapsowar has come to a close, but we love the fact that there are delightful new children's books in the library waiting to be enjoyed by the local children.  We're thankful for faithful Christian Sunday School teachers like Emmy, Chesang, and others who are keen to invest in the lives of the youth in Kapsowar.  And we've been blessed by the love and graciousness of all the children we met and interacted with during the weekly story times.