The Father's House Children's Camp Day 1

Marsha Campbell, Uganda

The voices, a celestial chorus of angels, the heavenly harmony beckoned us as we approached the building. Twenty one parish youth and guitarist amazed us with their music. They welcomed us and we asked if they would help us plan a two day camp for the children of The Father’s House (see video below). They enthusiastically agreed, even when we told them it would begin the next day! We exchanged ideas for games and songs with them and made a plan together.

Once there was a farmer

Together with our new 21 young friends, we awaited the coming of the children for their first- ever day camp. The beat of the jerry can drums (a jerry can is a large plastic containers for carrying 5 gallons of water) signaled the marching parade of 100 children with their Mamas up the hill to the Primary school. Smiles and laughter abounded as they all filed in.

After opening songs and welcome, the story time began.

Once upon a time, there was a farmer.

The farmer went out and scattered seed upon the ground.

The children and Mamas listened eagerly to the parable of the Sower, dramatized in their own local language, Rukiga. Amazingly, this was accomplished with a Proclaimer, a solar paneled “boom box”, hard wired with the New Testament.

The youth then performed a skit acting out the story; this was especially fun to see “human birds” fly and take away the seed, “human thorns” choking the seed and “human rocks” covering the seed!

Then the children were given real seeds of cabbage in their hands. They had never seen cabbage seeds and were most interested as their community garden is now filled with rows of enormous heads of wonderfully nutritious cabbage. The real connection to the seeds growing in their own garden was evident. They are happily looking forward to harvest. The parable became alive as they learned that they also, were like a seed planted by their heavenly father. They will grow strong in the good soil of The Father’s House.