We had a special service where many of our 32 nationalities on board at the moment sang one worship song in their own language - beautiful!
Most of us Germans got together and sang: "Von guten Maechten wunderbar geborgen", a song that Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote in the Concentration Camp. It really touched me to think about him going through such a terrible time and still being able to put all his trust in God!
Here some of us "German girls" on the Africa Mercy
Most of us Germans got together and sang: "Von guten Maechten wunderbar geborgen", a song that Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote in the Concentration Camp. It really touched me to think about him going through such a terrible time and still being able to put all his trust in God!
Orphanage "God's childrens home"
Tuesday afternoons I get to go off the ship and help to lead a teenage group for 9 girls between 12 and 15 years old who live in this orphanage.
I will write more about this another time for these girls are very much on my heart. Last Tuesday we spent time to talk with them about the cross and the meaning of it for us personally. We also did some crafts (stitching crosses) and I taught them a song with little dance movements which they performed proudly onSaturday when we came back to spend time with all the children in the orphanage.
On Saturday we also shared about Easter and had a lot of fun doing crafts with all the children whose eyes grow wide when they see crayons and glitter and coloured paper!
To see them being sooo proud of something so simple, being so thankful for such a small effort, being so receptive for what we share really touched me. Just think of the expectations our teenagers in our countries have and how hard it is sometimes to make them excited!
I will write more about this another time for these girls are very much on my heart. Last Tuesday we spent time to talk with them about the cross and the meaning of it for us personally. We also did some crafts (stitching crosses) and I taught them a song with little dance movements which they performed proudly onSaturday when we came back to spend time with all the children in the orphanage.
On Saturday we also shared about Easter and had a lot of fun doing crafts with all the children whose eyes grow wide when they see crayons and glitter and coloured paper!
To see them being sooo proud of something so simple, being so thankful for such a small effort, being so receptive for what we share really touched me. Just think of the expectations our teenagers in our countries have and how hard it is sometimes to make them excited!
Easter ...
... it was a good week to reflect on what Easter really means. Every day the crew had the opportunity to take part in "meditation at the cross" with little inputs but mostly just quietness and reflecting about what Easter means for us personally. Wolfgang and I took turns and almost fought over the priviledge to go - all of you who have small children know what it means to have some time of quietness to think, reflect, pray. Wolfgang even fell asleep once :-)
Easter sunday was very special: A service outside on the dock, all nationality differencies and spiritual backrounds laid aside, celebrating together that Jesus is alive! That's why we celebrate Easter..
At 10:00 am we went back into the ship, all sweaty and hot (never experienced that at Easter before!) and were so thankful once again for the Airconditioning that works most of the time!
One of the hightlights also was our Easter brunch - over 400 people in one dining room, all dressed up, enjoying amazing food (are we really in Liberia??? ) prepared with so much effort and love.
I thought my kids would not know after our two years here what a croissant or a full rye bread roll is - but we have a German baker from Nuernberg here at the moment that wants to serve in missions with his talents - and these talents taste great! Too bad he is leaving soon... but better for our shape I guess :-)
At 10:00 am we went back into the ship, all sweaty and hot (never experienced that at Easter before!) and were so thankful once again for the Airconditioning that works most of the time!
One of the hightlights also was our Easter brunch - over 400 people in one dining room, all dressed up, enjoying amazing food (are we really in Liberia??? ) prepared with so much effort and love.
I thought my kids would not know after our two years here what a croissant or a full rye bread roll is - but we have a German baker from Nuernberg here at the moment that wants to serve in missions with his talents - and these talents taste great! Too bad he is leaving soon... but better for our shape I guess :-)
Children's activities:
colouring eggs for the Easter brunch
doing crafts with patients on the ward - I took David down to help doing crafts with the "VVF-ladies" (the ladies that are helped on board through surgery because they are incontinent after prolonged labour and the birth of a dead child) an it it amazing to see how a child opens up the hearts of our patients on the ward and makes it easier to communicate and share!
Here is the recipy and some fun pictures for you to see the outcome:
Tomb Cookies
Ingredients
Bible
1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch of salt
1 cup granulated sugar
1 qt. or gal. size zipper bag
wooden spoon
tape
1. Preheat oven to 3000 F or 1500 C.
small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.
Read: John 19:1-3. Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted
together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and
went up to him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him in
the face.
3. Let each child smell the vinegar. Add teaspoon of vinegar into the mixing bowl.
Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross He was given vinegar to drink.
Read John 19:28-30. Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the
Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." A jar of wine vinegar was there, so
they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to
Jesus' lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he
bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
4. Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give
us life.
Read John 10:10-11. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that
they may have life, and have it to the full. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd
lays down his life for the sheep."
5. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the
bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the
bitterness of our own sins.
Easter Activities brought to you by Shirley’s Preschool Activities
www.shirleys-preschool-activities.com
Read Luke 23:27. A large number of people followed Him, including women who
mourned and wailed for Him.
6. So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup of sugar. Explain that the
sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and
belong to Him.
Read Psalm 34:8. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes
refuge in Him.
John 3:16. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that
whoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."
7. Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.
Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have
been cleansed by Jesus.
Read Isaiah 1:18. "Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord. "Though your sins
are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall
be like wool."
John 3:1-3. Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the
Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a
teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform the miraculous signs you are
doing if God were not with him." In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can
see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
8. Fold in broken nuts.
9. Line the cookie sheet with waxed paper. Drop mixture by spoonfuls onto waxed paper.
Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.
Read Matthew 27:57-60. As evening approached, there came a rich man from
Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate,
he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body,
wrapped it in clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of
rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.
10. Place the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each
child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed.
Read Matthew 27:65-66. "Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as
secure as you know how." So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on
the stone and posting a guard.
11. Go to bed. Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight.
Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.
Read John 16:20. "I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world
rejoices. You will grieve, buy your grief will turn to joy." And John 16:22 "So with you~
Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will
take away your joy."
On Easter morning, open the oven and remove the cookies. Take a bite. Notice that the
cookies are hollow!
On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.
Read Matthew 28:1-9. After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary
Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake,
for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the
stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as
snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The
angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus,
who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place
where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples: "He has risen from the dead and is
going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him. Now I have told you." So the
women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell His
disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them, "Greetings," He said. They came to Him, clasped his
feet and worshipped Him.
Read: John 19:1-3. Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted
together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and
went up to him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him in
the face.
3. Let each child smell the vinegar. Add teaspoon of vinegar into the mixing bowl.
Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross He was given vinegar to drink.
Read John 19:28-30. Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the
Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." A jar of wine vinegar was there, so
they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to
Jesus' lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he
bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
4. Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give
us life.
Read John 10:10-11. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that
they may have life, and have it to the full. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd
lays down his life for the sheep."
5. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the
bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the
bitterness of our own sins.
Easter Activities brought to you by Shirley’s Preschool Activities
www.shirleys-preschool-activities.com
Read Luke 23:27. A large number of people followed Him, including women who
mourned and wailed for Him.
6. So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup of sugar. Explain that the
sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and
belong to Him.
Read Psalm 34:8. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes
refuge in Him.
John 3:16. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that
whoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."
7. Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.
Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have
been cleansed by Jesus.
Read Isaiah 1:18. "Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord. "Though your sins
are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall
be like wool."
John 3:1-3. Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the
Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a
teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform the miraculous signs you are
doing if God were not with him." In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can
see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
8. Fold in broken nuts.
9. Line the cookie sheet with waxed paper. Drop mixture by spoonfuls onto waxed paper.
Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.
Read Matthew 27:57-60. As evening approached, there came a rich man from
Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate,
he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body,
wrapped it in clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of
rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.
10. Place the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each
child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed.
Read Matthew 27:65-66. "Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as
secure as you know how." So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on
the stone and posting a guard.
11. Go to bed. Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight.
Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.
Read John 16:20. "I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world
rejoices. You will grieve, buy your grief will turn to joy." And John 16:22 "So with you~
Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will
take away your joy."
On Easter morning, open the oven and remove the cookies. Take a bite. Notice that the
cookies are hollow!
On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.
Read Matthew 28:1-9. After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary
Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake,
for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the
stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as
snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The
angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus,
who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place
where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples: "He has risen from the dead and is
going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him. Now I have told you." So the
women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell His
disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them, "Greetings," He said. They came to Him, clasped his
feet and worshipped Him.
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