Sorting Crafts

Count, sort, stuff, press, zip, pass....  Our kids all helped as we worked to assemble the crafts into individual packs for the upcoming missions trip Haiti.  It was a fun time having the kids be a part of this trip in a hands-on way.  

The missions team will be conducting an activity and learning time for the community youth surrounding Alex's House Orphanage in Kalico Beach, Haiti.  Each afternoon the youth that attend the meeting will learn a Bible lesson, have a snack, participate in games, learn new songs, and make a craft.  We will be ministering in one location for two days of lessons then move to another location ministering to another group for two days of lessons.  All in all we hope to have a little over 150 youth attending the meeting times.  

One craft we will be making is a canvas bag with a draw-string closure. The Haitian kids can decorate their bags with beads and fabric markers before putting them to good use.  We gathered together the canvas bag, one marker, and 6 beads into a zip-lock sandwich baggie. Now this craft will be ready to hand-out.   

The other craft is a necklace with a cross then colored beads that represent the Gospel story.  We will be teaching the children about the beads colors and the special meaning for each.  It's typically called the "wordless beads" since the colors are important reminders of the Love of Christ and Salvation.  

The Biblical principals taught through the bead colors works like this: 

Black bead:  My heart was dark with sin (we are separated from God by our sins) Romans 3:23, Prov. 4:19

Red bead:    Until the Savior came in. His precious blood I know... (Jesus' death on the cross) 1 John 1:7, John 3:16, Hebrews 9:22

White bead:  Has washed me white as snow (forgiveness/pure) Psalm 51:7, 1 John 5:13, 

                     And in God's Word I'm told, 

Gold bead:   I'll walk the streets of gold  (Heaven) John 14:1-3

Green bead:  To grow in Christ each day, I'll read my Bible and pray.  2 Peter 3:18, 2 Timothy 2:15

* The Italic words are a song that we will teach to go along with the lesson.  

Here is a link to a tutorial page of how to make a Wordless Book and Wordless Bracelet.  Our craft will be a Wordless Necklace to the same effect.  You may be noticing the blue bead and purple bead.  The blue bead represents baptism and the purple represents the royalty of Christ our Lord son of God.  

Would you please pray for the youth that attend these outreach meetings?  Pray that they will have open hearts desiring to learn the truths about Jesus and for a willingness to follow Him.  Please pray for the missions team as we present these simple, yet powerful truths from the Bible.  Pray that no distractions will hinder the message from being taught.  

We are still in need of supporters for this trip!  By the providing hand of God, my missions trip funds have been met!  However, the costs of the crafts and snacks for the youth outreach is still in need of your help.  Each child's snack and craft for the two days costs only $5 each.  We are looking for one time donations to sponsor a child in providing for their supplies.  Would you help by donating $5, $10, or more?  It's easy by going to the "Donate" button on this blog's home page.  Or, if you know me personally, you may send a check made payable to "Welsh Baptist Church" and note "Haiti Outreach" in the memo.  

Thank you so much!  Prayers are dear to us and we are thankful for you!