![Picture](/uploads/1/0/4/8/104894215/published/10455313-10204343256242650-6316688888217731802-n.jpg?1496854831)
When Tyrone took over the work and moved it to Gambella, the congregation consisted of several men, two elderly women, the preacher, his wife, and their two children. So, in 2013, Tyrone decided to have the congregation host the first ever Vacation Bible School in order to encourage women and children to come study the Bible. He asked Joanie, a lady he and his wife worship with, to head it up. Then came the need for other teachers. Alma (his wife), Rusty (a family friend), and Karisa (a young college student) eagerly agreed to go.
The women planned for 100 children, expecting maybe 50. The first day about 200 children showed up. Mothers were begging them to accept their children into the VBS. The teachers said there wasn't enough material, the mothers said they didn't care, they just wanted their children to learn about God. So, a few were added to each class. But, there simply wasn't enough teachers for all those kids. So, children lined the walls outside the classroom and listened in, joining in songs and lessons.
On Tuesday it was learned that the children had been waiting for the teachers at the school as early as 6 AM (it didn't start until 8:30) and therefore haven't had anything to eat. Tyrone decided to get river water and purchase rolls for each of the children inside the classrooms. The children in turn shared their food with the children outside.
Quickly, the entire town learned about the VBS and were stopping the kids in the streets to show them what they learned that day. Several visitors and family members came to the compound wanting to learn more and set up Bible studies with the local preacher.
In 2014, the teachers planned for 200, and ended up with about 300 children. The same thing happened as the previous year. After fitting in who they could, the rest of the kids lined the walls. The congregation now had about 35-50 children coming to Bible class on Sunday!
In 2015, another unique opportunity arose, a man with the Anywaa Tribe wanted us to teach 50 children from his tribe. Renee Cloud agreed to teach them. There were 300 children from the Nuer (the first and second VBS) Tribe, and 50 children from the Anywaa tribe. This is important to note because these two tribes are supposed to hate each other to the point of killing. The brave Anywaa children walked through Nuer territory because they so desperately wanted to learn about God. On Friday, the day they receive their certificates, children and families from warring tribes came together in songs, prayer, and celebration. See how Christ has brought people together?
In 2016, the teachers decided to go even bigger and planned for 500 children. 300 of the Nuer Tribe, and 200 of the Anywaa Tribe. There of course were more children, making the total about 520 children. There are now about 100-125 Nuer children coming to Bible class on Sunday. Two Anywaa congregations now have 20-50 children coming to Bible class. GOD IS GOOD Y'ALL!
In 2017, with 10 American teachers and 3 local teachers, over 1,000 children attended VBS. Four classes were held over a period of two weeks, 3 classes the first week (one Nuer and two Anywaa) and 1 class the second week (Nuer). Two of the classes were at camps that had never before had a VBS. The kids got to learn stories about Jesus, learn songs praising Him, and just have fun.
In 2018, there were 16 individuals from 4 congregations that volunteered to go and teach 1,800 children about the parables of Jesus! There were 3 classes held over 2 weeks. The first week was held in Gambella, Ethiopia and the second week was held in Lare, Ethiopia. While we officially taught 1,800, there were several hundred children who wanted to attend, but we simply did not have enough teachers. It is a wonderful problem to have, but we do pray for even more people to come and teach so we can teach all who desire to learn.
In 2019 twenty-four teachers from America taught 4,000 South Sudanese Children in the seventh annual Vacation Bible School. Many children were turned away due to needing more teachers.
In 2020 the mission planned to teach 10,000 South Sudanese Refugee Children, but due to the U.S. restrictions regarding Covid 19, the mission team was prohibited to travel to Gambella. The Ethiopian Government also placed many restrictions on the Ethiopian and South Sudanese refugees. However, the mission team continued to prepare materials for the VBS with hopes the restrictions would be lifted and the team could go teach the children. Unfortunately, the continuation of the restrictions prohibited the team from going; however, the materials were sent to Ethiopia with David Thoatmer in July 2020. In October 2020, the Ethiopian Officials lifted some of the restrictions and 14 native men and women (trained by the American Mission Team) began teaching Sudanese Refugee Children in the refugee camps and a couple of Ethiopian villages. The goal for the native teachers is to teach 5,000 children in six weeks.
Word is quickly spreading through the refugee camps and more and more parents are requesting a team come and host a VBS with their children. If there were enough teachers, we could EASILY teach another 1,000 kids. We pray you will consider joining our team and reach out via the "sign up" button above to request more information about this incredible opportunity!
The women planned for 100 children, expecting maybe 50. The first day about 200 children showed up. Mothers were begging them to accept their children into the VBS. The teachers said there wasn't enough material, the mothers said they didn't care, they just wanted their children to learn about God. So, a few were added to each class. But, there simply wasn't enough teachers for all those kids. So, children lined the walls outside the classroom and listened in, joining in songs and lessons.
On Tuesday it was learned that the children had been waiting for the teachers at the school as early as 6 AM (it didn't start until 8:30) and therefore haven't had anything to eat. Tyrone decided to get river water and purchase rolls for each of the children inside the classrooms. The children in turn shared their food with the children outside.
Quickly, the entire town learned about the VBS and were stopping the kids in the streets to show them what they learned that day. Several visitors and family members came to the compound wanting to learn more and set up Bible studies with the local preacher.
In 2014, the teachers planned for 200, and ended up with about 300 children. The same thing happened as the previous year. After fitting in who they could, the rest of the kids lined the walls. The congregation now had about 35-50 children coming to Bible class on Sunday!
In 2015, another unique opportunity arose, a man with the Anywaa Tribe wanted us to teach 50 children from his tribe. Renee Cloud agreed to teach them. There were 300 children from the Nuer (the first and second VBS) Tribe, and 50 children from the Anywaa tribe. This is important to note because these two tribes are supposed to hate each other to the point of killing. The brave Anywaa children walked through Nuer territory because they so desperately wanted to learn about God. On Friday, the day they receive their certificates, children and families from warring tribes came together in songs, prayer, and celebration. See how Christ has brought people together?
In 2016, the teachers decided to go even bigger and planned for 500 children. 300 of the Nuer Tribe, and 200 of the Anywaa Tribe. There of course were more children, making the total about 520 children. There are now about 100-125 Nuer children coming to Bible class on Sunday. Two Anywaa congregations now have 20-50 children coming to Bible class. GOD IS GOOD Y'ALL!
In 2017, with 10 American teachers and 3 local teachers, over 1,000 children attended VBS. Four classes were held over a period of two weeks, 3 classes the first week (one Nuer and two Anywaa) and 1 class the second week (Nuer). Two of the classes were at camps that had never before had a VBS. The kids got to learn stories about Jesus, learn songs praising Him, and just have fun.
In 2018, there were 16 individuals from 4 congregations that volunteered to go and teach 1,800 children about the parables of Jesus! There were 3 classes held over 2 weeks. The first week was held in Gambella, Ethiopia and the second week was held in Lare, Ethiopia. While we officially taught 1,800, there were several hundred children who wanted to attend, but we simply did not have enough teachers. It is a wonderful problem to have, but we do pray for even more people to come and teach so we can teach all who desire to learn.
In 2019 twenty-four teachers from America taught 4,000 South Sudanese Children in the seventh annual Vacation Bible School. Many children were turned away due to needing more teachers.
In 2020 the mission planned to teach 10,000 South Sudanese Refugee Children, but due to the U.S. restrictions regarding Covid 19, the mission team was prohibited to travel to Gambella. The Ethiopian Government also placed many restrictions on the Ethiopian and South Sudanese refugees. However, the mission team continued to prepare materials for the VBS with hopes the restrictions would be lifted and the team could go teach the children. Unfortunately, the continuation of the restrictions prohibited the team from going; however, the materials were sent to Ethiopia with David Thoatmer in July 2020. In October 2020, the Ethiopian Officials lifted some of the restrictions and 14 native men and women (trained by the American Mission Team) began teaching Sudanese Refugee Children in the refugee camps and a couple of Ethiopian villages. The goal for the native teachers is to teach 5,000 children in six weeks.
Word is quickly spreading through the refugee camps and more and more parents are requesting a team come and host a VBS with their children. If there were enough teachers, we could EASILY teach another 1,000 kids. We pray you will consider joining our team and reach out via the "sign up" button above to request more information about this incredible opportunity!