Isaac’s wife & children

We were gone on vacation over Sunday the 8^th. Mrs. Chu was scheduled to lead the story, about Abraham's servant going and getting a wife for Isaac. But that morning she was unexpectedly called in to work. She gave the material to 10-year-old Wing Tung to lead. Wing Tung has led the game and craft a couple of times, and does fairly well. But, not surprisingly, leading the story was too big a job for her. She could probably tell it fine, but trying to tell it and at the same time get various kids to play their various parts, and keep track of props, etc…we heard it was rather confusing for all. Oh well, live and learn. I didn't hear how the game (blowing bubble "prayers" to the ceiling) and craft {gold bead bracelets) went.

Sunday the 15^th, then, was the story of Jacob & Esau, mainly focusing on Jacob's manipulations to get the birthright & the blessing. We disguised Jacob, one of the girls, by wrapping wooly scarves around her neck & arms. After she finished getting the blessing & sat back down, we had Esau show up and start hunting him to vent his wrath. So Jacob was supposed to flee. I looked for our Jacob to get her going, but her disguise was too good! I didn't recognize her! (I'd remembered she'd worn pink, but it was all covered up by the dark scarves. Smile.)

For a game we had ten small objects in a bag for the kids to feel for according to which photo they drew. A nice quiet game for a change, and it went well. For craft time we made microwave chili, ("that red stuff" as Esau/Edom would say) each child adding some different ingredient to the pot. When we did this three years ago, a couple of our adults wouldn't eat it because as Buddhists they eschew eating beef. So we made it with ground pork this time (turkey hamburger isn't available here). Guess what—chili tastes kind of weird made with ground pork!

Bible study was another one of those eye-openers. That's good; it means we're having genuine discussion. Still, hard to draw my application and conclusion when most people (including the believers) seemed to feel that a certain amount of bending the rules to get some extra benefits is just the way the world works. I wasn't able to convince anyone otherwise in the time we had. Will have to just pray for the Holy Spirit to use the truth in their hearts.