Thursday dawned and David and Hilary headed off with some of the local team to one of the local Kandy churches for a day of speaking to and connecting with pastors from all the churches in the Kandy area. It was a day of promoting children's ministry and leadership equipping - encouraging the pastors to put their time and effort into the children of their congregations and community.
While the turnout was not as good as expected, the day went off really well and the pastors and their wives who were in attendance, were given much food for thought and encouragement to keep going with their efforts with children, as well as food for the body with a great lunch at the end.
With only one more conference to go on this trip, we packed up all the books and resources, as well as our personal luggage and waved farewell for this trip to the lovely, if not chaotic Kandy.
Ja-ela next stop.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Perehera and Elephant Adventures.
A quick update about our night out on the town....and our day off in Kandy.
We caught a local bus into the Kandy city centre, much of the streets are blocked off and by the time we arrived most of the vantage points - both paid and free were completely taken. The last night is the biggest and the buddhist people believe that they will get a special blessing if they witness this last parade - so Kandy was completely full! With Asela and the local boys guiding us we walked through back lanes and around the outskirts to see if there was any places where we could see the festivities.
After walking and trying a few places, we finally found a road, way back from the middle but looking down over part of the parade. So we stopped, found something to eat and waited....and waited.... and the rain came...and went...and came....
and finally, the parade came into view - we could see the fire throwers, and people marching, but it was quite a long way away, so some of the boys went scouting and found a better place. So off we all went, wending our way through the crowds and the backstreets to very close to the middle. There was thousands of people already there, with a big screen showing the parade which is televised on the final night. But we worked our way through the crowd and got quite close to the action. With the kids on shoulders they could see over everyone but it was still hard to see over all the people.
Then the police came in numbers and started yelling for everyone to sit down, on the pavement or street...where ever they were. The problem being that people take up less room when they are standing and there was so many people crammed in that it was quite difficult to sit down. For a brief time we had front row seats, rather front row standing, and we all got see some dancers, maypole runners, drummers and brightly coloured and fairy light covered elephants. But after a couple of minutes the police were back yelling and forcing people to sit or move so we had to sit down and could no longer see very well. We decided we'd had enough excitement for one night and squeezed through all the people and back to the buses. As it turned out, the Williamses got two more chances to see the Perehera as it is performed during the next day at some of the other temples in Kandy in the morning, and then one last time in the afternoon in the city centre - which they saw while munching down on some KFC (another thing ticked off the list of things to do in Sri Lanka).
The next day we had a rest day - which we spent catching up on washing or shopping or the Williams arranged to pay a visit to Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. A huge population of tame elephants who are fed, and then watered twice a day to the great delight of many tourists who come along to see it every day. While it's not possible to get too close to them most of the time, it is fun to watch them go down to a shallow river flat and wallow around in the water. There was also the opportunity for the whole family to have a ride on an elephant and Ebonie's highlight for the whole trip was when the elephant sucked up a great trunkful of water and sprayed it all over them as they sat on its back. It really was a great day for everyone, whether out and about or just taking it easy close to 'home'.
Kandy Perehera - many elephants from around Sri Lanka come to Kandy and wear their sunday best.
Bath time at the orphanage.
A chance to get up close to a baby elephant.
A study in opposites!
All Aboard!
We caught a local bus into the Kandy city centre, much of the streets are blocked off and by the time we arrived most of the vantage points - both paid and free were completely taken. The last night is the biggest and the buddhist people believe that they will get a special blessing if they witness this last parade - so Kandy was completely full! With Asela and the local boys guiding us we walked through back lanes and around the outskirts to see if there was any places where we could see the festivities.
After walking and trying a few places, we finally found a road, way back from the middle but looking down over part of the parade. So we stopped, found something to eat and waited....and waited.... and the rain came...and went...and came....
and finally, the parade came into view - we could see the fire throwers, and people marching, but it was quite a long way away, so some of the boys went scouting and found a better place. So off we all went, wending our way through the crowds and the backstreets to very close to the middle. There was thousands of people already there, with a big screen showing the parade which is televised on the final night. But we worked our way through the crowd and got quite close to the action. With the kids on shoulders they could see over everyone but it was still hard to see over all the people.
Then the police came in numbers and started yelling for everyone to sit down, on the pavement or street...where ever they were. The problem being that people take up less room when they are standing and there was so many people crammed in that it was quite difficult to sit down. For a brief time we had front row seats, rather front row standing, and we all got see some dancers, maypole runners, drummers and brightly coloured and fairy light covered elephants. But after a couple of minutes the police were back yelling and forcing people to sit or move so we had to sit down and could no longer see very well. We decided we'd had enough excitement for one night and squeezed through all the people and back to the buses. As it turned out, the Williamses got two more chances to see the Perehera as it is performed during the next day at some of the other temples in Kandy in the morning, and then one last time in the afternoon in the city centre - which they saw while munching down on some KFC (another thing ticked off the list of things to do in Sri Lanka).
The next day we had a rest day - which we spent catching up on washing or shopping or the Williams arranged to pay a visit to Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. A huge population of tame elephants who are fed, and then watered twice a day to the great delight of many tourists who come along to see it every day. While it's not possible to get too close to them most of the time, it is fun to watch them go down to a shallow river flat and wallow around in the water. There was also the opportunity for the whole family to have a ride on an elephant and Ebonie's highlight for the whole trip was when the elephant sucked up a great trunkful of water and sprayed it all over them as they sat on its back. It really was a great day for everyone, whether out and about or just taking it easy close to 'home'.
Kandy Perehera - many elephants from around Sri Lanka come to Kandy and wear their sunday best.
Bath time at the orphanage.
A chance to get up close to a baby elephant.
A study in opposites!
All Aboard!
Friday, August 27, 2010
Nuwara Eliya Conference!
It's been a busy time over here. We left Ampara and travelled for 7 hours back to Kandy with a dinner stop in the middle. The van carrying the Australian team overheated on the steep, windy road and the bus was down to 3 out of 5 nuts on one of the wheels. Needless to say, we were praying all the way back.
We were all asleep by about 1.30 - 2.00am, and then David, Hilary and Sarah were straight back into it with preaching at three different churches in and around Kandy, being picked up from 6.45am.
After preaching and lunch with the various churches, we packed the bus once again and headed south to Nuwara Eliya...high in the tea plantation region of Sri Lanka. We discovered that it is really quite cool up there - especially compared to Trinco, Batticaloa and Ampara. We stayed in a mission house right next door to the church which was hosting the conference, a place which also provided our meals. It was lovely to have everything so close and convenient. We were also within short walking distance from the centre of town.
The conference was slow to start with people dribbling in over the first session, to about 70 people in total. We found that the mostly Tamil population were quieter and and more serious than the previous conferences - but very keen to learn and take in everything we had to say. Everything went well with all the workshops - although it seems that a few team members had caught a cold along the way and so Yan and David took things easy and it was great to be able to go back to our accomodation during the conference for a time of rest if needed.
Given the temperature and the rain which was on and off for most of the time, we took the opportunity to go shopping down in the main town for some good quality and very reasonably priced jackets and jumpers.
Shanthi finished off the conference with her Heart of God message and a time of prayer for all the delegates and we were back on the road again - Yan and Michelle making sure that we we left on time...we had to get back to Kandy as early as possible because it's the last night of the Kandy Perehera - the big Buddhist festival when the tooth relic of the Buddha comes out on the back of the biggest tusker elephant. The festival gets longer and more elaborate as the parade continues, over 20 nights, so the last night is the biggest and most chaotic for Kandy city. Roads closed, police everywhere, carnivals dotted around town, checkpoints - the Prime Minister and the President of Sri Lanka in attendance. We made it back in quick time and Sarah and the Williams family went with the boys on the local team out to see the parade. A story in its own right. But it sure is good to be back in Kandy and we have a couple of rest days before our last conference in Ja-ela.
Michelle's Workshop
Hilary's Workshop
The Nuwara Eliya Conference
The Williams Family 2010
Beautiful Sri Lankan Tea Plantations
We were all asleep by about 1.30 - 2.00am, and then David, Hilary and Sarah were straight back into it with preaching at three different churches in and around Kandy, being picked up from 6.45am.
After preaching and lunch with the various churches, we packed the bus once again and headed south to Nuwara Eliya...high in the tea plantation region of Sri Lanka. We discovered that it is really quite cool up there - especially compared to Trinco, Batticaloa and Ampara. We stayed in a mission house right next door to the church which was hosting the conference, a place which also provided our meals. It was lovely to have everything so close and convenient. We were also within short walking distance from the centre of town.
The conference was slow to start with people dribbling in over the first session, to about 70 people in total. We found that the mostly Tamil population were quieter and and more serious than the previous conferences - but very keen to learn and take in everything we had to say. Everything went well with all the workshops - although it seems that a few team members had caught a cold along the way and so Yan and David took things easy and it was great to be able to go back to our accomodation during the conference for a time of rest if needed.
Given the temperature and the rain which was on and off for most of the time, we took the opportunity to go shopping down in the main town for some good quality and very reasonably priced jackets and jumpers.
Shanthi finished off the conference with her Heart of God message and a time of prayer for all the delegates and we were back on the road again - Yan and Michelle making sure that we we left on time...we had to get back to Kandy as early as possible because it's the last night of the Kandy Perehera - the big Buddhist festival when the tooth relic of the Buddha comes out on the back of the biggest tusker elephant. The festival gets longer and more elaborate as the parade continues, over 20 nights, so the last night is the biggest and most chaotic for Kandy city. Roads closed, police everywhere, carnivals dotted around town, checkpoints - the Prime Minister and the President of Sri Lanka in attendance. We made it back in quick time and Sarah and the Williams family went with the boys on the local team out to see the parade. A story in its own right. But it sure is good to be back in Kandy and we have a couple of rest days before our last conference in Ja-ela.
Michelle's Workshop
Hilary's Workshop
The Nuwara Eliya Conference
The Williams Family 2010
Beautiful Sri Lankan Tea Plantations
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Ampara Kids Camp a great success!
Well the Ampara Kids Camp was a great success. Thank you for all your prayers, it was a bit of a worrying start. We arrived and a huge storm broke and the boys worked hard in the pouring rain to get all our equipment and bags undercover. Not good for us, but this was the first rain they have had since April. Also the power kept cutting out, due to the rain, and we were concerned that we would be running the camp without power, and possibly without water. We started praying and sent out requests for others to pray also. And it turned out so well...but rather than me talk again...here's what the team had to say...
Ebonie
Good Food - Yummy!
My favourite part was the action songs. The kids got right into it - and me too.
Micah
I really enjoyed the part where all the boys started rumbling and tickling me.
Hilary
My favourite moment was when all the boys just kept asking Micah to pray for them and also when the leaders wanted to do the same craft as the kids, and get the free sunglasses too.
Having 20 kids respond to the gospel message was a highlight.
Hearing what some of the kids had to do to get to the camp...left at 3am, walk 2 km thru the jungle to get to the main road. Then travel by public bus to the town where the camp was, and walk in from there.
Shanthi
One of the pastors who brought children to the camp, called to let us know that the kids were testifying in church the next morning about what a great time they had, and what God had done in their life. The leaders also told us that this was a very good camp for them and their children, it was balanced.
Thanuja
Worship times and craft times - I liked to see the small children painting their bags. I also thought that the main talks by Sister Dharshi, Sister Sarah and Aunty Shanthi.
Janet
Most of the Hindu people they experienced Jesus Christ at the camp, this was a good thing.
Dharshini
Talent night - talent was really on show. Great dancing. Great singing. Great drama from the Kidsreach team.
Watching the kids get into the games session.
Sarah
One of the new Kidsreach team members, quite a shy young man, got up the courage
to run a game with all the kids for the first time.
I loved praying for the local leaders who brought their kids to the camp...they are going back to difficult situations and we prayed for them. It was great to encourage them and partner with them in speaking into the lives of the children.
Michelle
The drama was very funny - The Kidsreach team.
The faces of the children at the end...it was a joy to see them so happy - it makes all the travel worthwhile.
Yan
The children started off sitting towards the back, but by the end they were sitting right up the front. Their enthusiasm grew as the camp went on.
Harsha
I really enjoyed the games times, and the worship times, we were able to make a good connection with the kids.
Daniel
Talent night was lots of fun.
Worship time and prayer times.
Boys were enjoying the games.
Last day everyone was involved in worship - I thought that was a very good day.
Chathura
He was able to pray for the non Christian kids, they asked for prayer and I prayed from my heart.
Please pray that the seeds that were sown will take root. That the good work will be sealed by the Holy Spirit. That the leaders and children will be protected and strengthened against persecution in their home villages.
Here are the photo's which often speak louder than words...
Dharshini's Talk - "Let me introduce you to my friend..."
Action Songs for everyone!
Games time was awesome!
Big Kid Yan!
There were squeals all round with the parachute games.
Each child spent a long time creating a beautiful bag to take home.
The games session was one of the highlights for the kids and us.
Micah and Ebonie had us all laughing with the Mad Professor Skit for Talent Night.
The kids got up to do songs, dances and dramas too...they were all very good.
Making photo frames was a big hit - and every child got to take home a photo with their group.
Spot the Micah!!!
The times of prayer with the kids were very special.
Shanthi gave a great talk to finish..."You are a gift of God"
Sunglasses...The gift of instant cool!
We finished with gifts for all the kids...what a great way to finish a great camp!
Some of the kids from the camp
Ebonie
Good Food - Yummy!
My favourite part was the action songs. The kids got right into it - and me too.
Micah
I really enjoyed the part where all the boys started rumbling and tickling me.
Hilary
My favourite moment was when all the boys just kept asking Micah to pray for them and also when the leaders wanted to do the same craft as the kids, and get the free sunglasses too.
Having 20 kids respond to the gospel message was a highlight.
Hearing what some of the kids had to do to get to the camp...left at 3am, walk 2 km thru the jungle to get to the main road. Then travel by public bus to the town where the camp was, and walk in from there.
Shanthi
One of the pastors who brought children to the camp, called to let us know that the kids were testifying in church the next morning about what a great time they had, and what God had done in their life. The leaders also told us that this was a very good camp for them and their children, it was balanced.
Thanuja
Worship times and craft times - I liked to see the small children painting their bags. I also thought that the main talks by Sister Dharshi, Sister Sarah and Aunty Shanthi.
Janet
Most of the Hindu people they experienced Jesus Christ at the camp, this was a good thing.
Dharshini
Talent night - talent was really on show. Great dancing. Great singing. Great drama from the Kidsreach team.
Watching the kids get into the games session.
Sarah
One of the new Kidsreach team members, quite a shy young man, got up the courage
to run a game with all the kids for the first time.
I loved praying for the local leaders who brought their kids to the camp...they are going back to difficult situations and we prayed for them. It was great to encourage them and partner with them in speaking into the lives of the children.
Michelle
The drama was very funny - The Kidsreach team.
The faces of the children at the end...it was a joy to see them so happy - it makes all the travel worthwhile.
Yan
The children started off sitting towards the back, but by the end they were sitting right up the front. Their enthusiasm grew as the camp went on.
Harsha
I really enjoyed the games times, and the worship times, we were able to make a good connection with the kids.
Daniel
Talent night was lots of fun.
Worship time and prayer times.
Boys were enjoying the games.
Last day everyone was involved in worship - I thought that was a very good day.
Chathura
He was able to pray for the non Christian kids, they asked for prayer and I prayed from my heart.
Please pray that the seeds that were sown will take root. That the good work will be sealed by the Holy Spirit. That the leaders and children will be protected and strengthened against persecution in their home villages.
Here are the photo's which often speak louder than words...
Dharshini's Talk - "Let me introduce you to my friend..."
Action Songs for everyone!
Games time was awesome!
Big Kid Yan!
There were squeals all round with the parachute games.
Each child spent a long time creating a beautiful bag to take home.
The games session was one of the highlights for the kids and us.
Micah and Ebonie had us all laughing with the Mad Professor Skit for Talent Night.
The kids got up to do songs, dances and dramas too...they were all very good.
Making photo frames was a big hit - and every child got to take home a photo with their group.
Spot the Micah!!!
The times of prayer with the kids were very special.
Shanthi gave a great talk to finish..."You are a gift of God"
Sunglasses...The gift of instant cool!
We finished with gifts for all the kids...what a great way to finish a great camp!
Some of the kids from the camp
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Batticaloa Conference...
Well the Batticaloa conference is now finished, and it was a great time of fellowship and learning with around 110 delegates from around the region. This conference also included about a dozen leaders from the Ampara district who came along in order to receive training for the Ampara Children's camp which will be held on Friday and Saturday of this week. The conference program was almost the same as the Trinco conference, with the addition of some workshops for the Ampara leaders. Batticaloa was greatly affected by the Tsunami in 2004/05 and there is still a lot of rebuilding going on of roads and infrastructure.
We were graciously hosted by the pastors of the church where the conference was being held - Pastor Roshan and Sister Michelle, and they also allowed us to use the church every evening as a place to eat our dinner - which we bought in the local takeaway.
The first day of the conference, the Kidsreach local team found themselves hosting a children's program along side the conference program for a number of kids who turned up thinking the conference was a children's event. Despite the very short notice, they did a great job and the kids had lots of fun.
As with Trincomalee, the Games session run by Hilary was a great success and we have decided to incorporate some more games throughout the program because they are so effective at breaking down the barriers that can keep the delegates from getting involved and mixing with one another. The keynote session that Pastor David gave on how to minister to boys was met with great interest by the almost exclusively female delegates, and really highlighted the problem of being relevant to boys in our programs as it has a flow on effect for the number of men who are attending and ministering in church as adults.
All in all the conference was a success. Our initial concerns about having enough interpreters, given the primarily Tamil speaking attendance was put to rest by having a number of delegates who were able to step in and they all did a great job.
Tomorrow is a rest day - a visit to another famous beach here on the east coast, then we are travelling to the children's camp the following day...Pastor David and Asela will be splitting off to go to Colombo for a 2 day seminar for Compassion workers and Escape workers on counselling children. Thanks for your comments ... we are reading them and it's good to know that people are following us as we move around. I have added photo's to the earlier posts so go back and see some of what I have been writing about. For now...goodnight and God bless.
We were graciously hosted by the pastors of the church where the conference was being held - Pastor Roshan and Sister Michelle, and they also allowed us to use the church every evening as a place to eat our dinner - which we bought in the local takeaway.
The first day of the conference, the Kidsreach local team found themselves hosting a children's program along side the conference program for a number of kids who turned up thinking the conference was a children's event. Despite the very short notice, they did a great job and the kids had lots of fun.
As with Trincomalee, the Games session run by Hilary was a great success and we have decided to incorporate some more games throughout the program because they are so effective at breaking down the barriers that can keep the delegates from getting involved and mixing with one another. The keynote session that Pastor David gave on how to minister to boys was met with great interest by the almost exclusively female delegates, and really highlighted the problem of being relevant to boys in our programs as it has a flow on effect for the number of men who are attending and ministering in church as adults.
All in all the conference was a success. Our initial concerns about having enough interpreters, given the primarily Tamil speaking attendance was put to rest by having a number of delegates who were able to step in and they all did a great job.
Tomorrow is a rest day - a visit to another famous beach here on the east coast, then we are travelling to the children's camp the following day...Pastor David and Asela will be splitting off to go to Colombo for a 2 day seminar for Compassion workers and Escape workers on counselling children. Thanks for your comments ... we are reading them and it's good to know that people are following us as we move around. I have added photo's to the earlier posts so go back and see some of what I have been writing about. For now...goodnight and God bless.
Sunday and Travel...
Pastor David preached at Trincomalee - a message about the ways that children protect themselves and how we as the church, can play a key role in reaching out to children who are hurting and vulnerable. His message is also a chance for people in the congregation to look into their own life and receive healing for hurts they have endured. So we finished the service with a prayer and ministry time for anyone that came forward. Shanthi and the local team also ran the children's program for the morning, and we spent some time praying with them for various needs such as healing and help with school work. After packing up and realising that we really needed to hire a van to get all the luggage and bookstall to our next location, we grabbed lunch and headed off - about a six hour journey to Batticaloa.
It was long dark by the time we arrived and we grabbed a quick bite to eat at the hotel restaurant before crawling into bed...Batticaloa conference starts first thing in the morning.
It was long dark by the time we arrived and we grabbed a quick bite to eat at the hotel restaurant before crawling into bed...Batticaloa conference starts first thing in the morning.
Monday, August 16, 2010
A weekend in Sri Lanka...
Hi to you all...a quick update before I hit the sack...
After the Trinco conference, we piled into the bus and spent a couple of hours splashing around at the local beach. The first beach I have seen in Sri Lanka with a lifesaving outpost. We stayed until it was almost dark and everyone had a great time. For at least one of the local team - it was their first trip ever to the beach.
Saturday dawned bright and hot, and we had a day to see the sights and catch up on sleep/housekeeping stuff. It was a fun day, if not a little frustrating at times.
The bus left on Friday evening with two of the local team to go and pick Yan and Michelle up from the airport - a monster journey of around 7 hours right across the middle of the country, and then the same to get back again!
This meant that for our sightseeing, we arranged a local bus for the day. Well from the very beginning, the driver was going to try to run the show. We had made plans originally, but then decided to change them to make best use of our day off. He argued with us for 10 minutes about how he was only going to drive us according to the original schedule. We finally won through, only to have another big argument with him later on in the day. It was bizarre and bit tiresome as we were paying him to drive us for the whole day. When he did eventually drive us, we made a trip up to the hot springs, which is one of the attractions of Trincomalee. After arriving there we discovered that it was probably famous more because of it's significance to the Hindu religion than for anything else. It was interesting but a little disappointing. I think that the little market stalls on the way in and out were probably more interesting. Also, the boys from the local team sang all the way there and kept us clapping and singing, which was also a highlight of the trip.
After the hot springs, we came back into Trincomalee and went to look at Fort Frederick. A very old fort built by the Dutch, and now housing a Hindu Temple and some amazing views of the whole Trincomalee town, local district and the large harbour. Given the heat and the climb to get there, we were very glad the views were so good, and made it worth the effort to get there.
We decided, after the next big argument with the bus driver, to go up to Nilaveli beach - a beautiful beach to the north of Trinco, and have a swim and wait for the rest of the team to come and find us and go swimming also, after their very long trip to the airport. The beach was full of people - a very unusual thing to see in Sri Lanka, and lots of people were swimming too...an even more unusual sight. The beach is like an Australian beach - long and deep with white sand and small to medium sized waves. Micah and Ebonie were loving catching waves and splashing around. We stayed in the water for quite some time, waiting for our original bus to arrive...all the while watching as stormclouds gathered and moved towards us.
The rain eventually came, and we all made a dash for a little shed at the back of the beach so our clothes and towels didn't get wet. Most of the boys just stayed out in the rain, playing soccer, and then getting back in the water. We all kept waiting for the rain to ease, but it just kept going, and even got heavier so that by the time the others did arrive, at around dusk, it was really bucketing down. We made a trip back to the bus with some of the clothes...a distance of about a kilometre...and found that the path and carpark were starting to flood. Meanwhile, the rain had gotten even worse and had turned into a thunderstorm. We had to grab all our stuff and stumble back to the bus, through some substantial puddles, at times minor flooding and through the driving rain. It was quite an experience...and one we won't forget in a hurry. We all stood in the bus all the way back to the hotel, because we were all sopping wet and had no dry towels or clothes to get into. But it was very good to see Yan and Michelle who had come to look at the beach but had thankfully stayed in the bus and so were still dry. We all had a great day...it was nothing like we had expected...but was a very good day nonetheless.
Tomorrow...a day of ministry in the local church...rather than three of us preaching in three different churches, we're scheduled to all go to the one church - the church that hosted the conference, and Pastor David is preaching. Shanthi and the team have been asked to run the children's program aswell as the music for the adult service.
Well that wasn't so quick...but there was a bit to tell...so for now...I sleep...but I will bring you up to date some more tomorrow...with lots of love from us all over here in Sri Lanka!
Kidsreach Team 2010
After the Trinco conference, we piled into the bus and spent a couple of hours splashing around at the local beach. The first beach I have seen in Sri Lanka with a lifesaving outpost. We stayed until it was almost dark and everyone had a great time. For at least one of the local team - it was their first trip ever to the beach.
Saturday dawned bright and hot, and we had a day to see the sights and catch up on sleep/housekeeping stuff. It was a fun day, if not a little frustrating at times.
The bus left on Friday evening with two of the local team to go and pick Yan and Michelle up from the airport - a monster journey of around 7 hours right across the middle of the country, and then the same to get back again!
This meant that for our sightseeing, we arranged a local bus for the day. Well from the very beginning, the driver was going to try to run the show. We had made plans originally, but then decided to change them to make best use of our day off. He argued with us for 10 minutes about how he was only going to drive us according to the original schedule. We finally won through, only to have another big argument with him later on in the day. It was bizarre and bit tiresome as we were paying him to drive us for the whole day. When he did eventually drive us, we made a trip up to the hot springs, which is one of the attractions of Trincomalee. After arriving there we discovered that it was probably famous more because of it's significance to the Hindu religion than for anything else. It was interesting but a little disappointing. I think that the little market stalls on the way in and out were probably more interesting. Also, the boys from the local team sang all the way there and kept us clapping and singing, which was also a highlight of the trip.
After the hot springs, we came back into Trincomalee and went to look at Fort Frederick. A very old fort built by the Dutch, and now housing a Hindu Temple and some amazing views of the whole Trincomalee town, local district and the large harbour. Given the heat and the climb to get there, we were very glad the views were so good, and made it worth the effort to get there.
We decided, after the next big argument with the bus driver, to go up to Nilaveli beach - a beautiful beach to the north of Trinco, and have a swim and wait for the rest of the team to come and find us and go swimming also, after their very long trip to the airport. The beach was full of people - a very unusual thing to see in Sri Lanka, and lots of people were swimming too...an even more unusual sight. The beach is like an Australian beach - long and deep with white sand and small to medium sized waves. Micah and Ebonie were loving catching waves and splashing around. We stayed in the water for quite some time, waiting for our original bus to arrive...all the while watching as stormclouds gathered and moved towards us.
The rain eventually came, and we all made a dash for a little shed at the back of the beach so our clothes and towels didn't get wet. Most of the boys just stayed out in the rain, playing soccer, and then getting back in the water. We all kept waiting for the rain to ease, but it just kept going, and even got heavier so that by the time the others did arrive, at around dusk, it was really bucketing down. We made a trip back to the bus with some of the clothes...a distance of about a kilometre...and found that the path and carpark were starting to flood. Meanwhile, the rain had gotten even worse and had turned into a thunderstorm. We had to grab all our stuff and stumble back to the bus, through some substantial puddles, at times minor flooding and through the driving rain. It was quite an experience...and one we won't forget in a hurry. We all stood in the bus all the way back to the hotel, because we were all sopping wet and had no dry towels or clothes to get into. But it was very good to see Yan and Michelle who had come to look at the beach but had thankfully stayed in the bus and so were still dry. We all had a great day...it was nothing like we had expected...but was a very good day nonetheless.
Tomorrow...a day of ministry in the local church...rather than three of us preaching in three different churches, we're scheduled to all go to the one church - the church that hosted the conference, and Pastor David is preaching. Shanthi and the team have been asked to run the children's program aswell as the music for the adult service.
Well that wasn't so quick...but there was a bit to tell...so for now...I sleep...but I will bring you up to date some more tomorrow...with lots of love from us all over here in Sri Lanka!
Kidsreach Team 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Trincomalee Conference complete!!
We have completed our first conference here in Sri Lanka. There have been lots of great times with the delegates and we know that God has been at work amongst us over the last two days. We have all now had a chance to speak our various talks and workshops and it is good to get into the speaking and teaching part of the trip.
Some of the highlights...
Shanthi spoke in the final session about God's heart for us and for children and we spent time praying for each delegate and also for each member of the team. It was a time of commitment and rededication to God and to ministry with children.
Getting to know the Pastors and their three lovely daughters who made us feel so welcome and are working tirelessly in Trincomalee to serve God and their community.
The games session run by Hilary was so much fun and all the delegates got right into it - especially some of the older women and also the young men who to that point had been quiet and sitting towards the back. Passing lifesavers from mouth to mouth on toothpicks was hotly contested, as was the balloon blow lolly chew relay.
Working through interpreters has been good, which is always a blessing, and given that this is a mostly Tamil speaking area, the interpreters have come mostly from the delegates and church members, and they have done a great job.
Both Micah and Ebonie gave a small talk to the whole conference and this was also a highlight - they both spoke well and with confidence, despite Ebonie feeling sick and Micah being very nervous beforehand.
We have a day of rest and seeing the local sights, then we are preaching in and around the local area at various churches...will update more later...we will also meet up with Yan and Michelle who are arriving in Sri Lanka on Saturday morning. YAY! It will be really good to be a complete team.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Trincomalee Conference...
As I write this, Ebonie is doing her first talk in front of the whole conference - she is talking about the importance of children to Jesus and how that means that children are also important for us who work with children.
She has been sick on and off since we arrived, due to the travel and heat and food changes...and even this morning before she spoke she was sick but we all prayed with her and it is a great testimony to see her up in front of everyone - she speaks very well - clearly and with confidence. It is very refreshing to hear a child speaking with such maturity and authority. Micah will get a chance to speak tomorrow, and both of them will be presenting object lessons as the conferences progress.
There are about 120 delegates at this point, a good mixture of young and older, mostly women and some men. It is also a predominantly Tamil speaking area, so much of the translation will be with people who are attending the conference. We'll write some more when this conference is done, but for now it's time to be present here....
Thursday, August 12, 2010
We're off and running!
Hi there to everyone who is journeying with us as we travel around Sri Lanka!
Just to bring you up to date. The Williams family - Hilary, Dharshini, Micah and Ebonie, along with Sarah arrived Sunday night/Monday morning and spent two days in Colombo visiting family, getting used to the weather and new time zone, and eating. Yes eating...lots of yummy, yummy food.
We stayed with Dharshini's Aunty and Uncle and they cooked lots of great food...like Chocolate Biscuit Pudding which we ate for breakfast, lunch and dinner!
On Wednesday morning we picked up Pastor David who had just flown in from Zimbabwe - it took him 29 hours to get here. We then travelled from Colombo to Kandy to meet the Kidsreach local team and visit the 'House of Hope' office.
When we got there we were greeted with a welcome song by the team...it was a wonderful way to meet them all.
We ate a quick lunch and packed the bus AND van and then finally we headed off in the late afternoon on the long trip up to Trincomalee, arriving at around 9.30pm.
Our hotel the "Raj Mahal" is very bright and clean. It was so good to get off the bus finally. Dharshini had been a pillow for Ebonie the whole drive so she had a numb bum! We grabbed a very late dinner and headed for bed quickly...the conference started first thing next morning.
More coming soon....
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
2010 Mission Trip!
Just a very quick note to say that we are about to head over to Sri Lanka for 3 weeks of ministry and camps and connecting....watch this space!
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