KidsPak. Your support of KidsPak projects will make a difference in the lives of children at home, across the street and around the world.

Transcription

1 Mennonite Church Canada KidsPak Projects for Small & Tall all Helping the church grow in stewardship and mission. Your support of KidsPak projects will make a difference in the lives of children at home, across the street and around the world. Route to: Children s Church Leaders Church Retreat Planners Advent Project 1 Advent Travel Tax Thailand Project 2 Ears that Hear and Learn China Lent Project 3 Toast, Bannock and Jam Native Ministries Project 4 Faith & Friends at the Waterfront Ukraine Club Leaders Intergenerational Small-group leaders Sunday School coordinators

2 Editor: Elsie Rempel Assistant: Lois Bergen Front Cover Photos: Todd & Jeanette Hanson,China; Pat Houmphan,Thailand; Natasha Dueck, Ukraine; Peter Rempel, Canada. Design & layout: Lynette Wiebe /05/04 Printed at The Christian Press, Winnipeg, Manitoba Mennonite Church Canada 600 Shaftesbury Blvd Winnipeg MB R3P 0M4 Toll Free: T: F: E: W:

3 Contents Advent Travel Tax (Thailand)... 4 Ears that Hear and Learn (China) Toast, Bannock & Jam (Native Ministries Project for Lent) Faith and Friends at the Waterfront (Ukraine) KidsPak in Review KidsPak Contribution Forms Engaging the Small & Tall in your congregation The KidsPak projects and activities in this booklet are designed to invite intergenerational participation in the life of your congregation. As you engage both small and tall with these stories and activities, I hope that participants will be eager to know more about the ministries of the broader church and experience the joy of giving. This year s thematic units can add new life and meaning to each quarter in the children s ministries of your congregation. We have considered broader audiences and applications for KidsPak material so it can be used in Sunday School, at Clubs, for Children s worship or at a church retreat. This year, four projects have been developed that will add adventure and meaning on your stewardship journey. Two of these projects were created with the special intent of helping your children learn and share during Advent and Lent. We hope that the projects are engaging, that they inspire a sense of mission, and increase the joy of giving. All monies raised are carefully tracked and applied to the ministries outlined by the projects in this booklet. Count on your efforts and gifts to make a difference in the lives of others! Thank you for considering these projects of healing and hope through our common work in this community of congregations we call Mennonite Church Canada. When it comes time to forward the collections to Mennonite Church Canada, please copy the contribution form on the back inside cover of this booklet. (Contribution forms are also available on the web site at ( kidspak/contribution form.) The KidsPak booklet is also on our web site! Visit Please call me if you have any questions. Have fun! Sincerely, Al Rempel, Director, Resource Development, Mennonite Church Canada Toll free: arempel@mennonitechurch.ca

4 KidsPak Mennonite Church MENNONITE CHURCH CANADA S ANNUAL PROJECT KIT FOR SMALL & TALL Canada Project for Advent Advent Travel Tax Sharing the Good News through Cows and Christian leaders When we travel, our journeys unfold through changing landscapes. They are times of expectation and preparation, and often involve both celebrations and expenses. During Advent, we recall the journey that Mary and Joseph took to Bethlehem where they had to register for taxation purposes. It was a hard, long journey for Mary to make at the end of her pregnancy. We think that as they traveled, Joseph supported Mary by giving her a donkey to ride on. They had to rely on the hospitality of innkeepers for food and rest. Did they have a celebration meal after Jesus was safely born? Maybe shepherds shared the very first Christmas dinner with Mary and Joseph. God was involved in that event in such a way that the birth of Jesus also fulfilled a prophecy about Bethlehem. Because Jesus was born in Bethlehem to be God-with-us, we can know and be part of the good news that God is ultimately in charge in our world. Jesus came from the glory of heaven and willingly shared our poverty and need. Many people still depend on the hospitality of others for their needs as they travel. Traveling is still difficult in many places. Pat and Rad Houmphan, Canadian Mennonites What Your Gift Can Do! Money collected in this project is one way we can share from God s abundance to us with others who live in poverty and need. $50 would buy school supplies for 25 needy children $100 would provide emergency medical assistance to a needy family $200 would help Pat and Rad travel to help people in these villages $300 would provide leadership training for a lay leader in the church $500 would purchase another cow for lending out. who were once refugees to Canada from Laos, now live in Borabur, Thailand as MC Canada Witness workers. They know the poverty and need of the Isaan people (Lao/ Thai) and travel on difficult roads. There are 21,500,000 Isaan people living in northeastern Thailand and another 5,000,000 in Laos. They are subsistence farmers with very few cash resources. 4 Mennonite Church Canada KidsPak

5 Pat and Rad Houmphan support a young, vibrant church and journey with the Isaan in the midst of their poverty. Their pastoral ministry includes evangelism, leadership training, English teaching and vacation Bible school. They help these people in many ways. They work at encouraging economic development among the Isaan people Witness worker, Rad Houmphan, with children eager to learn more about the story of Jesus. through a cow lending library and a tuition fund. They, and their local co-workers, often use motorcycles to drive to these rural villages so they can share the good news about what life can be like when God is in charge. Motorcycles and sometimes a bus like the one shown here, ease their travel a little, like the donkey that Joseph offered Mary. Activity: Motorcycles for Mission If someone in your church has a small motorcycle, ask them if the children s story teller can begin the children s story time by being rolled in from the back of the sanctuary on their motorcycle. Teenagers in your church would probably be more than willing to provide the muscle power for this. Activity: Travel Tax Booklets Distribute the attached Advent Travel Tax Booklet to everyone in the congregation. (This is something senior youth might want to do.) It includes these taxable areas: the number of shoes, motorized vehicles, Bibles, snack foods in their house, and Christmas dinner items. Each item has a modest donation value. The money collected this way is contributed towards the ministries described in the project summary. A church that held a similar travel tax raised close to a thousand dollars this way. Steve Plenert is accompanied into Home Street Mennonite Church by the youth as they raise awareness of the need for motorcycles to help with the ministry in Thailand. Mennonite Church Canada KidsPak

6 Home and Congregational Activity: Create a Bethlehem walk with your crèche. Stable Place your Nativity stable (it can be made from simple slabs of wood or bark ) onto a sheet of dark blue cloth. Background Drape the fabric behind the stable over a large piece of cardboard to represent the sky. Stars Cut out or purchase enough gold stars (see diagrams) for each day of Advent and use them to make a path leading to the stable. Landscape Decorate the landscape with stones, mosses, twigs, dried flowers, etc. Movement During each day s advent ritual (you may want to use the At-Home Advent, gently move Mary and Joseph one star closer to the stable. Then place the star they have passed onto the sky. This will show a very clear picture of the Advent season. By Christmas, the sky will be full of stars. Animals, Shepherds You may also want to add plants and animals and finally shepherds to the landscape on successive Sundays. Angels On Christmas Eve, adding angels to the sky and a baby Jesus to the manger would finish the scene. Earth and sky would be filled with beauty as they receive the gift of God-withus, Jesus. Travel tax = Christmas blessings for Thailand Matching additions to the Nativity scene with donations to the Advent Travel Tax would connect worship with service in a tangible and credible way. Sunday Childrens Story Activity: To do this in the congregation on Sundays, Mary and Joseph would have to take enough steps for each Advent weekday. Children could be involved with moving them forward, posting the stars and adding to the landscape as long as the mood remained one of worship. Sunday school collection could be held in conjunction with the children s story and connected to travel tax items. Rituals practiced in the congregation reinforce rituals practiced at home. If the families in your church are using the At- Home Advent Devotional materials, then incorporate this ritual and mission project into the family worship times in your homes. Doing so provides another wonderful way for children to participate in joyful, Christ centered giving and preparation for Christmas. If you do not know how much tax you should pay for each item, consider paying 25 cents. Most of us have shoes for all occasions. Volunteer a tax of cents for each pair of shoes you own. We like to snack when we travel. Volunteer a tax of cents for each snack you eat during your Christmas vacation. We have many ways of getting around. Volunteer a tax of cents for each bicycle or motorized vehicle your family owns. Christmas dinners are a wonderful time to remember to be thankful and to remember those who have less. Pay a tax of cents for each item in the main course menu. Many Isaan people cannot afford a Bible. Count the number of Bibles and New Testaments in your home. Volunteer a tax of cents for each. Do we get our just desserts at Christmas? Pay another tax of cents for each time you have dessert during Advent. 6 Mennonite Church Canada KidsPak Advent snack-thailand:

7 Banana in Coconut Milk Kluay Buat Chee (Thai name) Serves 6-7 Ingredients: 4-5 bananas (Plantain bananas are best. If you need to use regular bananas, use fairly green ones.) 4 cups of water 1/2 cup sugar (add more if you like) 1 tsp salt One can of coconut milk 4 Tbsp Tapioca seeds. Rad says Minute tapioca works well. If you use this variety, skip the soaking stage. Cooking instructions: 1. Soak tapioca in 1 cup of cold water for 5 minutes. Then drain the water. 2. Peel the bananas, cut in half lengthwise, then cut across to get pieces around 3 inches thick. Soak them in 4 cups of water for about 5 minutes as well. 3. Bring the 4 cups of water and the bananas to boil, then add 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tsp salt, and cook for 10 minutes. 4. Add one can of coconut milk and tapioca. Stir until it boils or the tapioca floats, then remove from the heat. Serve it hot. Variations: You can substitute the bananas with Pumpkin, Taro, Yam, or make it with just Tapioca seed alone. Games: Children in Thailand love to play, Rock, Paper, Scissors, just like children in Canada. You could play this game in Sunday school or even in church during children s story time to connect you with children in Thailand. This next game needs a large space. It would be great fun at a church picnic or retreat. I think there are Canadian varieties of this game as well. Eeee! Game This game is popular in many countries. Gordon Janzen played this as a missionary child in India. Gordon says, In Hindi we call it Kabardi, as the person going into the other side must hold their breath and say kabardi the whole time. We often played it outside in an area the size of a badminton court. Pat and Rad say, I hope that children have fun with the game. The children here like it very much and they have fun. Preparation: Draw a line across a room or field to separate playing zones for the teams.divide people into 2 equal teams (teams should have at least four members, but can get quite large). To Play You may use the rock, paper, scissors method to decide which team starts first. The first team sends one member into the other team s zone to try to touch one or more opponents. Whoever the team member touches is out of the game and moves to the sideline to watch and cheer on the others. Mennonite Church Canada KidsPak

8 The team member who crosses into the other side must say E-E-E-E all the time until they return to their home side before they run out of breath. Once the game starts, each team can run around freely within their zone. The person from team A, who darts out and is saying E-E-E-E all the time (and in one breath), can touch opponents with their hands anywhere that is appropriate. The persons touched are out of the game if the E caller returns to home base. If the opposite team catches the E caller, he/she continues to say E and tries to get loose and escape before they count to 10; otherwise, he/she will be out of the game and those who were touched by him/her are still able to play. Anyone who is out of the game moves to the sidelines to watch and cheer on the others. If the E caller darts out and safely back but is unable to touch anyone, no one will be out of the game. After the team A sends out an E caller, it is team B s turn to send out a person to repeat the process. To Win The team with the last active team members is the winning team. Songs: When God s in Charge The lyrics for this song can be heard on track 11 of the CD, God s Love is for everybody by Bryan Moyer Suderman and friends (4th printing in stock at Mennonite Church Canada). Also sing the song In the Highways. You can find it as track 12 on the CD, God s Love is for everybody by Bryan Moyer Suderman and friends and in the accompanying song and activity guide (page 29). When God s in Charge Verse 1. When God s in charge, the first shall be the last. When God s in charge, the first shall be the last. If you want to be a leader, well then go and serve the rest. When God s in charge, the first shall be the last. (Mark 10:42-45) Verse 2. When God s in charge, the last shall be the first. When God s in charge, the last shall be the first. So remember, when you re at the bottom and things keep getting worse, When God s in charge, the last shall be the first. (Mark 10:42-45) (Chorus) Verse 3. When God s in charge, the hungry are satisfied. When God s in charge, the hungry are satisfied. Laughter sparkling in the eyes of everyone who s cried, When God s in charge, the hungry are satisfied. (Luke 6:21) Verse 4. When God s in charge, it s like a little seed. When God s in charge, it s like a little seed. It starts out small, and grows into a great big giant tree! When God s in charge, it s like a little seed. (Luke 13:18-19) Verse 5. When God s in charge, then everyone will sing. When God s in charge, then everyone will sing. Songs of praises bursting out of every living thing! When God s in charge, then everyone will sing. (Rev. 5:6-14) (Last Chorus) Let me tell you what it s like when God s in charge, Let me tell you what it s like when God s in charge, When we put God in control of what we do and who we are, Let me tell you what it s like when God s in charge. Let me tell you what it s like when God s in charge Let s live in hope, cause we know our God s in charge. Words and music by Bryan Moyer Suderman. Copyright 2001 Bryan Moyer Suderman. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission. Permission is granted for congregations of Mennonite Church Canada to reproduce this material for one-time use within the congregation, or for multiple uses related to KidsPak projects. To obtain permission for permanent use, please contact Elsie Rempel, erempel@mennonitechurch.ca, toll free , fax: All other users may obtain permission to reproduce this material by contacting the same address. 8 Mennonite Church Canada KidsPak

9 Advent Tax Booklet (use these suggestions or make your booklet using more ideas) Desserts eaten during Advent Items in your Christmas dinner Tax per dessert: Tax per item: Total: Total: Times you eat fast food Number of CDs or tapes in your car Tax per fast food fix: Tax per CD: Total: Total: Mennonite Church Canada KidsPak

10 Number of pairs of shoes in the house Number of motorized vehicles Tax per Pair: Tax per vehicle: Total: Total: Number of Bibles Number of snack food packages Tax per Bible: Tax per package: Total: Total: 10 Mennonite Church Canada KidsPak

11 KidsPak Mennonite Church MENNONITE CHURCH CANADA S ANNUAL PROJECT KIT FOR SMALL & TALL Canada Ears that Hear and Learn Chinese Proverb: Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere. China Project: There is much to hear and learn as one observes the rapid pace of changes in modern China. The growing Chinese Christian Church is trying to do its part in addressing the needs brought about by the many social changes, but it represents only a small minority of the population. Mennonite Church Canada, together with the other partners of the China Educational Exchange (CEE), supports a ministry of presence and teaching that seeks to empower the church in China as it faces these challenges. Through the MC Canada China budget, we provide, among other things, support for rural pastors in challenging settings and social development programs in the poorer, rural areas of Sichuan province. This includes a hearing improvement project and a student sponsorship program. Todd and Jeanette Hanson, MC Canada witness workers from Saskatchewan, have been listening and learning to provide an important ministry of presence for the Chinese Church from their home in Nanchong, Sichuan Province. Jeanette works in cooperation with governments and churches to establish school welfare projects, including student sponsorships, community based rehabilitation, and special education training. Todd teaches university students and facilitates teaching workshops for other CEE teachers. Their daughter, Claire, is the only non-chinese child in her school in Nanchong. She really enjoys her school experience of hearing, learning and making friends. This KidPak project introduces you to only one geographical area in which Mennonite Church Canada and Mennonite Central Committee support work in cooperation with China Educational Exchange (CEE). CEE teachers provide a ministry of presence on University and College campuses in many other locations as well. CEE works together with institutions of higher learning, churches and local government in supporting education, exchange, and community development. Another project receiving support is the Nanjing Counseling Centre, a privately run counseling service run by Christians working with teens and families, which also facilitates seminary training in the area of pastoral counseling. CEE also supports student and sponsorship projects in several other areas of China. What Your Gift Can Do! $ 0.35 buys one hearing aid battery for a family who couldn t afford it $28.00 per month helps a rural Chinese pastor remain in ministry $ buys a cassette recorder for a family to use in speech training for their child $ supports one primary school student for one year s tuition $ helps Jeanette travel to remote areas to meet with families in need of help Mennonite Church Canada KidsPak

12 Story: Why hasn t God made you rich? What kind of God do you have? Why hasn t God made you rich? This is what Elder Chen s friends ask him. Others in the community taunt him and his wife: Christians are just poor and lazy, like you! Elder Chen is anything but lazy. Besides planting and raising all the food his family eats, he also works very hard in a church congregation of about 50 people in the area around his farm. This small congregation is part of a larger congregation in Nanchong city, Sichuan province. Elder Chen receives training from the pastors in Nanchong so that he can teach, guide, and preach to the people in his area. He and his wife spend much time with the Christians in their area. Many of these people can t read, so they need help to study the Bible. Other people have personal or family problems and need help. Still others are eager to believe anyone who comes through the area preaching. Sometimes these preachers are trying to trick people and are teaching things not found in the Bible. Elder Chen helps people learn what Jesus taught so they know which road to walk on. Elder Chen, his wife and 10 year old son pose in front of their simple home. Elder Chen s neighbours have houses of brick and stone. Some even have houses decorated with ceramic tiles. In these families, someone has left the farm, and maybe even the province, to find work somewhere else. Elder Chen would be able to do this, too, but he chooses not to because he feels the congregation needs a good leader. Because the other Christians are also poor, Elder Chen does not get paid for his church work. There is one thing about not having very much money that does bother Elder Chen he doesn t have enough money to pay for his 10-year-old son to go to school. In China, families must pay for their children to go to school. To help Elder Chen continue working in this small rural congregation, CEE/Witness, with your help, is paying the school fees for Elder Chen s son so that his son can continue to study. In this way, Christians in Canada are working together with Elder Chen and Christians in China. Elder Chen does so many wonderful things for people. Why do the people in his community look down on him? People who don t believe in Jesus can t understand why his work is important. They judge him by what they see. When they look at his farm they see a 3-room house made of mud and bamboo. They see a roof made of straw with a floor of dirt underneath. They see a family that barely has enough to eat. Elder Chen s wife says, We happily live with a little physical discomfort if it means we have more time to work with the Christians. Claire Hanson and Elder Chen s son eat lunch. The bowls are borrowed from a neighbour. 12 Mennonite Church Canada KidsPak

13 Story: Xu hears and speaks Say, Hello Auntie, Hello Auntie. Little Xu s (pronounced shoe ) grandfather sounded like he was coaxing a one-year-old rather than a six-yearold, but when Little Xu did say Auntie, everyone beamed proudly. Little Xu is just learning to talk. Poor hearing prevented him from talking earlier. He just couldn t hear the sounds well enough to imitate them like other children do. Last year, Little Xu received a hearing aid and began the slow process of learning to speak. There are many things involved in learning to speak. Children must learn that sound has meaning. They need to recognize high and low, and loud and soft sounds. They also have to learn how to move their mouths, teeth and lips to make the sounds. It isn t easy! Little Xu: The string hanging from his ear is tied to his hearing aid so that if it falls out, it won t fall onto the ground. Not only Little Xu, but also his family has to work hard at these speaking exercises every day. Little Xu is cared for by his grandparents because his parents have had to leave the province to find work. His grandparents take care of the farm and four of their grandchildren. Little Xu is the oldest. Like farmers in many places around the world, farmers in China are finding it increasingly difficult to provide for their families without finding work off the farm. This makes for many changes in families and communities. On many farms, the only people left are grandparents and children. Like some of the others who leave home to find work, Little Xu s parents are able to send back some money. Mennonite Church Canada Witness is partnering with the local government and Mennonite Central Committee to help children like Little Xu. Teachers are trained to teach simple speech therapy skills to parents, grandparents, and even to the neighbours of children with hearing problems. Hearing aids are also provided for these children, and instructions for their use passed on to families who could never afford this kind of help. Little Xu may speak like a one-year-old but he is beginning to write and do math just like other 6- year-olds. He was able to enter kindergarten this year because he could understand simple instructions from his teacher. When he showed off his homework notebook, he was grinning as widely as his grandfather. Mennonite Church Canada KidsPak

14 Activities: Traditional Chinese Orange Lantern Lanterns have played an important part in Chinese festivals for centuries. Lanterns are made from paper, cloth, wood, and other materials in many different ways. Follow these directions to make a lantern using an orange. You will need: One Mandarin orange One sharp knife Three lengths of bendable wire (each about 30 cm long) One chopstick (or pencil) One tealight candle Directions: 1. Roll the orange between your hands to separate the peel from the pulp. Do not rip the orange peel. 2. Using the knife, carefully cut a round hole in the top of the orange. The hole should be a bit bigger than the candle. 3. Using the knife, cut one of the wedges inside the orange loose and carefully bring it out through the hole. Repeat until all of the wedges have been removed. 4. Take a break and eat the orange wedges. 5. The orange will hang from the chopstick by the three wires. Carefully poke one wire through the top of the orange near the hole, but not too close. Twist the wire around itself so that it can t come loose. Space the other two wires evenly around the hole. Gather up the three loose ends and wrap them tightly around the end of the chopstick, making sure that the orange hangs evenly. 6. Place the tealight into the orange. 7. Carefully light the candle. If You Have Ears (based on Mark 4:26-29) Words and music by Bryan Moyer Suderman Copyright 2004 Bryan Moyer Suderman. All Rights Reserved Chorus If you have ears, listen! Listen! If you have ears then listen up good If you have ears, listen! Listen! If you have ears then listen up good 1. Seed is scattered on the ground If you have ears, then listen up good It starts in secret, without a sound If you have ears, then listen up good Soon those seeds sprout and grow If you have ears, then listen up good How they do it, I don t know If you have ears, then listen up good Chorus 2. You sleep all night, you re up all day If you have ears, then listen up good Seeds keep growing anyway If you have ears, then listen up good First the stalk and then the grain If you have ears, then listen up good Then it s time to gather in If you have ears, then listen up good Chorus 3. (Optional) You may plant and I may hoe If you have ears, then listen up good But God s the one who makes it grow If you have ears, then listen up good Chorus Words and music by Bryan Moyer Suderman. Copyright 2004 Bryan Moyer Suderman. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission. Permission is granted for congregations of Mennonite Church Canada to reproduce this material for one-time use within the congregation, or for multiple uses related to KidsPak projects. Permission to reproduce this material for permanent use can be secured through Elsie Rempel, erempel@mennonitechurch.ca, toll free , fax: All other users may obtain permission to reproduce this material by contacting the same address. 14 Mennonite Church Canada KidsPak

15 If You Have Ears mm = 80 Words and Music: Bryan Moyer Suderman If you have ears, list- en! List- en If you have ears then List- en up good. If you have ears list- en! List- en! If you have ears then list-en up good. Seed is scat- tered on the ground If you have ears then list-en up good. It starts in sec- ret, without a sound If you have ears then list-en up good. Soon those seeds sprout and grow, If you have ears then list-en up good. How they do it I don t know If you have ears then list-en up good. Copyright 2004 Bryan Moyer Suderman, All Right Reserved. Mennonite Church Canada KidsPak

16 Awareness Raising Activities: QUIZ: What do you know about CHINA? WORD LIST Rice Bamboo Yangtze Panda Emperor The Middle Kingdom Tea Coffee Paper Noodle King Beijing Kite Chopsticks Calligraphy McDonald s The Great Wall DEFINITIONS Match each definition below with the most suitable word from the list above. 1. comes from cured leaves and leaf buds of a white-flowered shrub widely grown in eastern and southern Asia. This beverage is consumed by more people and in greater quantity than any beverage except water. China, where this plant is grown in family plots, is the largest grower in the world. This was cultivated in China in prehistoric times and was probably first used as a vegetable relish and also medicinally. 2. The is an endangered mammal that is indigenous to the province of Sichuan in southwestern China. (Sichuan is where Canadian Mennonite mission workers Jeanette and Todd Hanson and their children, Claire and Kate, and Canadian Mennonite Mission worker Cari Friesen live and work,.) Bamboo is the primary food source for this animal. 3. Cultivation of this plant that produces an edible grain originated as early as 10,000 BC in Asia. is the main staple for people in the southern part of China. People in the northern part of the country eat more products made from wheat, such as noodles and dumplings. 4. are utensils that Chinese and some other Asian people use to eat food. Many of today s disposable form of this utensil are produced in Canada and sold in China. 5. is a pliable substance made in thin sheets from rags, wood, straw, or bark and used to write or print on, to wrap things in, or cover walls. Special squares of this are used to fold into interesting shapes. This substance was invented in China. 6. The River is the longest river in Asia and the third largest river in the world. It is located in southern China. A huge dam is being built on this river to divert water to the northern part of the country. This huge building project will take almost 50 years to complete. 7. This type of handwriting or lettering is an ancient art form in China. Centuries ago, people used brushes made from animal hairs, tied together with fine silk threads and glued in bamboo tubes for this type of writing called. Children now learn to paint this with large brushes using special ink and paper. 16 Mennonite Church Canada KidsPak

17 8. This structure was said to have stretched a distance of 10,000 li (a Chinese unit of length) at one time, but much of it has since eroded. Built to keep out foreigners, is now one of the most famous sights that foreigners visit in China. 9. The civilization of ancient China began about 8,000 years ago. It became known as to the Chinese people because they thought it was the center of the universe. 10. The city of is the capital of China. It is the city in which Canadian Mennonite mission workers Rod and Kathi Suderman and their children Chris, Stefanie, and Jesse live, work, and attend school, along with more than 12 million other people. 11. Today people in China dress much like people in Canada, and can generally wear any colour they wish. In ancient times, however, the colour yellow could only be worn by the. 12. Today a favourite leisure activity is flying a in the sky. In cities on a windy day, one can see hundreds of people gazing up at these from parks, or even from Tiananmen Square in downtown Beijing. Thousands of years ago, Chinese people made it out of silk and bamboo, but once paper was invented, it became lighter and more elaborate. 13. This treelike grass has a hollow, woody stem, but is very strong. Furniture can even be made from it! It grows in China and is called. 14. There are 566 branches of this Western fast-food restaurant located in the larger cities of China. Like many parents in Canada, most parents in China don t like to go to, but sometimes take their children because the children do! SAY IT IN CHINESE A Chinese child who speaks Mandarin, the official language of the People s Republic of China, calls his/her mom ma-ma, and dad ba-ba. More formally, mother is referred to as mu-qin (pronounced moo-cheen ), and father as fu-qin (pronounced foo-cheen ). An older sister is called jie-jie, but a younger sister meimei (pronounced may-may ), an older brother ge-ge, but a younger brother di-di (pronounced dee-dee ). The difference in terms used for older brother and younger brother, older sister and younger sister, comes from the traditional emphasis on respect for those who are older than oneself. Also, there are many more terms for family members in Chinese than there are in English due to the strong emphasis placed on family relationships in Chinese culture. 1. Tea 2. Panda 3. Rice 4. Chopsticks 5. Paper 6. Yangtze 7. Calligraphy 8. The Great Wall m 9. The Middle Kingdom 10. Beijing 11. Emperor 12. Kite 13. Bamboo 14. McDonald s Answer Key Mennonite Church Canada KidsPak

18 Craft: Chinese Proverb Poster This activity can be done in Sunday school, at children s club, or at home. Make a poster of this wonderful Chinese proverb to help you remember how important learning is and to remind you of the way your donations are helping children in China experience, hear and learn about God s love and God s good world. Write the proverb in fancy lettering. Decorate the poster with Chinese lantern designs. Then trim it with a border made of cloth, wallpaper, or wrapping paper that has an oriental pattern or make your own border design with origami. Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere. Game: Chinese Jump Rope Try this popular game at your next children s club or church retreat. The game of Chinese jump rope is reported to have originated at least 1,500 years ago. It was called jumping one hundred threads because the rope looked like a hundred separate ropes as it circled in the air. It was popular during the Spring Festival in the southern part of China. Today it is played by school-aged children in many parts of China as well as in other countries around the world. A Chinese jump rope can be made out of many different kinds of materials. To make your own, buy a piece of 7 cm (3/8 inch) width sewing elastic from a sewing notions/ fabric store. Three metres (approx. 10 feet) is a good length. Tie the ends together in a double knot, and it s ready! Alternatively, Chinese jump ropes can be bought at various toy and dollar stores in Canada. They are often sold in the party favour section of the store. Rules of the game: Like most jump rope games, this version requires at least 3 players, two to hold the rope, and one to play the game. The Chinese jump rope is placed around the ankles of two people, and they stand about 1½ metres (5 feet) apart from each other with their feet shoulder width apart so that a long rectangle is formed with the rope. The third player performs the jumps. The object is to successfully complete a series of jumps and tricks. (Actually, you don t need 3 people to play. It s possible to use 2 chairs to hold the jump rope.) The standard jumps are as follows: The child jumps IN the center with both feet and then jumps OUT with legs straddling each side of rope. The child then jumps from SIDE to SIDE with feet together 4 times. The child jumps ON each side of the rope, then both feet IN and then both feet OUT, straddling the rope again. Facing the rope, the child then takes one side with both feet and jumps over the other side of the rope. With her feet still in the diamond (what people call the X ), she should move and rotate around so that she is standing between the two end people. Then the child has to jump OUT and straddle the rope. She jumps IN the center again and then OUT of the rope once more. If a player completes the ankle level without getting tangled or messing up (i.e., landing on the rope when she is not supposed to, missing the landing, not completing a jump or not doing the steps in the correct order), she repeats the steps at each of the next levels (calves, knees, thighs, waist**, under arms 18 Mennonite Church Canada KidsPak

19 and then neck). Otherwise she is out and it s the next child s turn. A player cannot stop between moves. The best thing about Chinese Jump Rope is that there are no winners or losers in this game; if a child successfully finishes her moves at the neck level, she must stop and let another child take a turn. **If children have difficulty doing the moves at waist level, they can imitate the moves with their hands. Experienced players may want to ask the children holding the rope to loop it only around one leg or to spread their legs far apart; both modifications change the shape of the rope and make play more difficult. In Beijing, Rod and Kathi Suderman s children play Chinese Jump Rope. Other variations: 1. The child jumps IN the center of the rope with both feet. Then the child jumps back OUT with both feet to the same side or the opposite side. 2. The child jumps IN the center with both feet. Then the child jumps with both feet landing ON each side of the rope, then totally out. 3. The child does the diamond but jumps OUT over one of the sides. 4. Facing the rope, the child jumps ON one side of the rope with both feet. Then back OFF again. 5. Facing the rope, the child jumps ON one side of the rope with both feet and then jumps ON the other side of the rope. Then OFF. 6. Crossover: Facing the rope, the child then takes one side with both feet and jumps OVER the other side of the rope. Then the child jumps up to release the rope from their feet and land on the outside of the rope of that same side. 7. Crossover II: Facing the rope, the child then takes one side with both feet and jumps OVER the other side of the rope. Then the child jumps up to release the rope from their feet and land ON the rope of that same side, then OFF. 8. Facing the rope, the child then takes one side with both feet and jumps OVER the other side landing ON the rope. Then the child jumps up to release the rope from their feet and land back ON the rope of that same side, then OFF. Mennonite Church Canada KidsPak

20 KidsPak Mennonite Church MENNONITE CHURCH CANADA S ANNUAL PROJECT KIT FOR SMALL & TALL Canada Project for Lent Toast, Bannock & Jam Each of us has a story to tell. Some of our stories include bannock and some of our stories include toast. When those stories include jam, life is easier than when they don t. Resource Centre staff, Arlyn Friesen Epp and his children, starting the day with toast and jam. The daughters of Native Ministry staff, Donovan Jacobs, start their day with Bannock and jam. During Lent we re-enact the story of God s earthly journey with us in Jesus. We journey with Jesus who lived, suffered, was crucified and raised to help us journey to God. Journeying with Jesus opens our ears and hearts to the stories of others; others whose journeys through life have been marked by suffering and injustice. Jesus opens our eyes, minds, hearts and hands and frees us to celebrate the bread of life together as toast and bannock eaters. When this happens we can say, with our theme for Lent, This is the Lord s doing, it is marvelous in his eyes! Psalm 118:23. What Your Gift Can Do! 150 Toonies will help contract Native resource people for development of curriculum 100 Loonies will assist with the cost of publishing this curriculum which will help us build relationships with Canada s Native people 20 Mennonite Church Canada KidsPak

21 This KidsPak project invites you to journey with the children in First Nations communities across Canada. Did you know that one in three children in Canada is First Nations? These children love to have bannock and jam for breakfast or lunch. The story, Wilson s Bannock Lunch, will show you why these children sometimes have to choose between breakfast and lunch. Their journeys are often difficult. Many of them are placed in foster care because their parents suffering keeps them from providing a stable home life. It is hard for us to understand what it means for families and children when their people have suffered centuries of injustice. What does the good news and hope of Jesus Christ mean for Native people who are treated as second class citizens? What does it mean that Jesus came to announce good news to the poor to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free and to proclaim the year of the Lord s favour? Mennonite Church Canada wants to participate with Jesus as he opens our eyes and hearts to what it means to journey with the Native people of Canada. We want to help build relationships with the hearts and minds of toast and bannock eaters. The late Chief Dan George said something like this: How can we talk of relationship until there is a relationship between hearts and minds? Unless you have this, you only have a physical presence, and the walls between us are as high as a mountain range. But there are passes in that mountain range which Jesus wants to help us find and use. In the coming year, the Native Ministry program area of Mennonite Church Canada will contract native writers to develop educational Club, VBS or Sunday school materials. This material will help our congregations take steps toward healthier relationships with Native people. Native Ministries will continue to resource and assist Native believers and congregations in their efforts to bring hope to their communities through the sharing of the good news of Jesus Christ. Your support of this KidsPak project can help us all journey with Jesus to a place where white people and Native people will eat our toast and bannock together, maybe even with two kinds of jam. Story: The Bannock Lunch The wind blew into the church as little Wilson entered with his sack lunch under his arm. Smiling, Wilson ran up to Margaret and eagerly told her of the bannock that his mother had packed in his lunch. Margaret and the rest of the VBS team had been there for three days by now. They were having a week of fun and learning with the children of the reserve. Little Wilson was just four years old. From the first day, Margaret seemed to take special notice of his enthusiasm and friendliness. Every day seemed to be an adventure for him. Today was extra special for Wilson, because he had brought his own lunch. The three previous days he had arrived without anything to eat and Margaret had shared her lunch with him. Today, he shared his bannock proudly with Margaret. At the end of the day when Wilson and the other children had gone home, Margaret approached Nadine, a woman from the community who had offered her time to assist in VBS, and asked her why little Wilson and some of the other children did not bring lunches? Nadine told her that it was hard for some families to provide three meals a day because they simply lacked the money to buy enough food. She told Margaret that Wilson had most likely skipped eating his breakfast and had brought it with him to the church as his lunch. Mennonite Church Canada KidsPak

22 As Margaret was spreading jam on her toast the next morning, she thought of little Wilson and his breakfast bannock. She wondered how he could be so happy and excited to share his bannock, knowing that what he had to eat would not be enough to fill the average belly. Later that morning when the children arrived, they all sat down to watch the Veggie Tale: The Ballad of Little Joe. As usual, Wilson was sitting right in front, smiling as he watched. As the video played, Margaret wondered if Wilson s dreams were like Little Joe s. Did Wilson feel that God cared for him and was watching over him, too? After the video, Margaret led the learning time and asked if anyone knew why Little Joe was able to be happy even when it seemed that his dreams would not come true. Wilson spoke up first, saying, Because God promised Little Joe he would take care of him. Wilson had obviously understood the week s lessons about God caring for them. Maybe he did have dreams like Little Joe. She hoped so. When Sunday arrived and the weeklong VBS was over, Margaret and the others said their goodbyes. Margaret wondered what the future held for little Wilson and the other children. As she had worked alongside and become friends with Nadine, Margaret had learned many things about the history of Native people in Canada and how unfairly they have often been treated throughout the years. She now understood that the lack of money, food and clothing was often a result of this mistreatment. The lack of a clear way to help Wilson and other Native families have enough money and food made her sad. Doris Kozub, of Riverton, serving a bannock snack. As the bus rolled away, Margaret breathed a prayer, that God would help little Wilson and the rest of the children remember how much God loved and cared for them. She prayed for willing hands, hearts and minds to share God s love and fairness with Native families. She thanked God for the friendships that had begun and prayed that her new friends dreams of one day having enough would come true. Awareness Raising Activities: 1. Watch the Veggie Tale, The Ballad of Little Joe and then talk about what Wilson or other Native children might dream of for their families. 2. The following resources are recommended to help communicate the relationship between Native and non-native people over the years. The Department of Indian and Northern Affairs of Canada offers a basic curriculum called Learning Circles which spans ages Its focus is to provide activities that aid in understanding the culture of First Nations peoples. You can download this curriculum from the website: aincinac.gc.ca/ks/12010_e.html. The links to follow are Publications/Kidstuff/Teacher Materials/Learning Circles. The lessons on storytelling and seasons in the curriculum for 4 7 year olds provide a great starting point with stories you can read and compare with familiar Bible stories. Learning Circle material contains a wealth of well-described activities and well-formulated information and questions, 22 Mennonite Church Canada KidsPak

23 which are easy to build on. For people who can t download information from the web, Learning Circle materials can be reached at Publications and Public Enquiries, 10 Wellington Street, Room 1415, Ottawa, Ontario K1A OH4, by fax: (819) or learningcircle@inac-ainc.gc.ca Learn how to play Cat s Cradle in your Sunday school or Children s Club and remember that it is a game with a Native heritage. The project editor found excellent visual and written instructions at the following site: / chten_cats.htm Cree Bannock This popular and authentic Cree bannock bread is made with either currants or raisins! Bake Bannock using the following recipe. Serve it with wild blueberry jam (a Native tradition) and peach jam (it might come from an orchard owned by Mennonite farmers in BC or Ontario). Gather the following ingredients: 6 Cups of flour 1 Cup of lard 3 Tablespoons of baking powder 1 Tablespoon of salt 2 Cups of currants or raisins 3 ½ Cups of water You ll also need a medium sized mixing bowl. Elsie Rempel and Peter Duck play Cat s Cradle and win! Crafts Cup and Ball Many First Nations children and adults play and enjoy this popular game. It was a diverting activity that helped children develop as hunters and care-givers. Make a simple cup and ball game by attaching a short piece of string to a small ball (stapling and tying works best) and to the bottom of a cup or tin can. Secure the string by tying a knot in the end of the rope that is inside the cup. In the bowl, mix the flour and lard together by hand. Then add the baking powder, salt and the currants or raisins. Once this is done, add the water and work the ingredients into a dough. Next, you have two options: the campfire or the oven. To cook over a campfire, divide the dough into four lumps and firmly wrap each lump around the end of a four foot stick and prop securely over the fire until golden brown. To cook in an oven, spread the dough out into a 16" square cake pan. Bake at 425 degrees for about 20 minutes or until golden brown. The object of the game is to flip the ball into the air and catch it in the cup. The game is made easier or more difficult by the size of the cup relative to the ball. If the receptacle is small, the game becomes more difficult. If the cup is much larger than the ball, it is much easier to catch the ball. Mennonite Church Canada KidsPak

24 Puppets Some First Nations children played with puppets that they wore on their hands or fingers. These puppets were made by stuffing animal hair into hides that formed the shape of the puppet. Simple finger puppets can also be created with paper and glue. Cut out figures of Native and non-native children from construction paper. Glue two pieces of the same figure together to make a finger puppet. Ask children to perform a small play with the puppets where these children share in each other s lives and celebrate with a toast, bannock and jam tea party. 24 Mennonite Church Canada KidsPak

25 KidsPak Mennonite Church MENNONITE CHURCH CANADA S ANNUAL PROJECT KIT FOR SMALL & TALL Canada Faith and Friends at the Waterfront Ukraine KidsPak project Project Summary: What is life like for kids in a Ukrainian town like Mis (pronounced Meece ), a town on the outskirts of Kherson? Youth form about 25% of the population, but there are few jobs for them in Ukraine s collapsing economy. The community centre and clubs of the Soviet era are gone so they lack recreational facilities or other places where they can play and visit with friends. Some are attracted to the activities for children and youth at the new Mennonite church in town pastored by Cliff and Natasha Dueck. What your gift can do! $22.00 will support one day camp participant $25.00 will pay the bus costs for one Sea of Asov summer camp participant $60.00 will feed the campers as they ride on the bus $ will support one Sea of Asov summer camper. Cliff Dueck arrived in Ukraine as a single student in Natasha and Cliff met at the Tavriski Bible Institute in Kherson. They married and now lead a new congregation in Mis, on the northeast edge of the city. Mis was the site of a Machine Inspection Station for a huge collective farm (hence its name). Cliff, Natasha and their infant daughter live on the top floor of their building beside the main highway. The congregation worships on the main floor. The basement has classrooms and an office. During the week children and youth come to the church for clubs, Bible studies and choir practices and just to visit. Cliff, Natasha and Margarita Mary Dueck Mennonite Church Canada KidsPak

26 One of the favourite activities for everyone is the summer camp at the Sea of Azov. Since the camp itself is a fair distance away, they rent a bus to take them there. In the morning, the children come with their parents who see them off on the bus. As is the habit of Christians in Ukraine, they say a prayer for safety on the road before driving off. The ten days at the seaside camp are filled with swimming, sports, crafts, and of course Cliff (2nd from left) and campers enjoying camp. singing, Bible lessons every morning and chapel time every evening. Every game, every activity, absolutely everything is started with a prayer asking for safety and God s blessing. In 2003 the camp was held together with a church in Melitopol. They also conducted a day camp for younger children. A total of 55 children ages from 5 to 17 participated in the two camps. Story: Making a difference (Connect with the lives of children in Ukraine by sharing this story with your children before or after you do some of these fun activities.) When the children and youth return from summer Camp at the Sea of Asov, they keep talking about the great times they had playing baseball, archery, or jumping on the trampoline with the volunteers from the Mennonite Churches in Mis and Melitopol. Sports activities like this are not available as part of an intramural sports program in their school or at a local community club. Because of this, many children and young people without a Christian faith or family want to come to our summer camp. Our Camp closes with an outdoor concert. Many children sing songs, act out skits, or perform choregraphed numbers. The evening of fun ends with a grand display of fire works. Anna was one of our campers a few years ago. The fun and friendship of camp helped her learn more about what life could be like when God s love and fairness expresses itself through caring relationships. She also experienced God s love and truth as she heard the wonderful stories and teachings from the Bible for the first time and happily received Christ as her Savior during Bible camp. We kept in touch after we returned from camp. Anna and some of her camp friends visited us in our church. They attended Bible study groups and Sunday school. One year later, she was baptized and became a church member. Some youth, like Anna, are growing in their faith; others are struggling with the difficulties of making sense of life and faith. We are happy that we can offer them a safe and loving place to ask and sort through those hard questions. A slamming good time! Last year after Bible camp, we started two or three new Bible study groups for teenagers. Youth who had stopped coming to Sunday school returned and are now again enjoying Bible stories and are growing in their understanding of God. The faith of a few has grown to the level that they have committed their lives to following Jesus. Without the annual Bible camp, it is unlikely that Sunday school alone would keep them interested. Without the Sunday school to follow up, the message of the Bible camps would be lost too quickly. 26 Mennonite Church Canada KidsPak

27 Crafts & Activities: Noah s Ark Mobile The craft-loving boys and youth at last year s summer camp enjoyed working carefully and creatively at decorative illustrations of Noah s Ark. One of these now helps to decorate the Mennonite Church in Mis. Perhaps your club group would like to make one for your Sunday school or church nursery. You may want to sell them to families with infants and raise money for this ministry in that way. If you make these Ark mobiles, send digital pictures of your creations back to Cliff and Natasha so they can show them to their camp and club participants. dueck@hs.ukrtel.net Materials: ¼ in plywood. (about 30cm x 60 cm per mobile) or poster board sheets cut into 8.5x11 paper. These sheets can be fed through a photocopier. 1 jigsaw per participant (or scissors) 1 copy of Noah s Ark Pattern template per participant Sand paper Non toxic paints (or crayons, pencil crayons) Paint brushes Non toxic verathane (optional for a finishing gloss) Rags & paper to cover and clean your work surface metal rings Begin this activity with a Ukrainian style prayer of thanks and asking for God s protection, guidance and blessing as you work with this project. Cut out each item in the mobile. Enlarge the designs on a photocopier to the size you desire. (Their rainbow was 30 cm wide. The Ark was 20cm wide and 15 cm high. The animals were about 5 cm wide.) After sawing and sanding the edges of each piece, carefully and creatively paint the pieces. After they are thoroughly dry, drill holes as indicated on the pattern and tie them together into a mobile with fish line. Add an appropriate length of fishline and a small metal ring to the top for easy hanging purposes. Finish the activity with another Ukrainian style prayer, dedicating the mobiles to sharing the good news of God s loving covenant. Mennonite Church Canada KidsPak

28 28 Mennonite Church Canada KidsPak

29 Noodles with Milk This favourite is part of a long tradition. It was a favourite of the KidsPak editor s inlaws who grew up in Ukraine in the 1920 s and 30 s. It was the only meal her father-inlaw could cook. Ingredients: 1 cup noodles, 3 cups milk, sugar, salt, butter Boil noodles, spaghetti, or alphabet noodles with milk in a heavy saucepan until done. Stir constantly to prevent burning or cook it in the microwave, stirring every 2 minutes. Serve hot as a thick sweet soup with sugar. Add salt and butter to taste and east with crusty bread. Ukrainians like to add a good helping of butter to each bowl for extra flavour. Skits: Camp at the Sea of Asov finishes off with a talent night that includes many skits. Have a talent night of your own at clubs or at your next church retreat and plan one according to this scenario. Pretend you and your friends are living in Mis. You are bored because there are no sport facilities where you can play. One friend tells you about the activities that are going on in the little new Mennonite church in town, so you decide to try it. What happens to you and your friends as you interact with the fun, the people and experience God s love in their activities for children and youth? Outdoor fun, Ukrainian style: Next time you are at the beach with a group, try out this favorite of the youth from Mis. King of the Mountain Use a huge inner tube from a tractor. What do you do? About 5 to 15 people surround the tube with the main goal of getting up on the tube. If you make it up onto the tube, stand up on both feet, raise your hands and scream I am the king of the mountain. The other goal of this game is to make sure that no one else gets onto the tube. What happens? The tube flips upside down, right side up, over and over and over. Occasionally somebody gets on top, just to be thrown back down into the water. How can you make it onto the tube? The strategy that works best for Cliff Dueck is to swim under water. Once the tube flips over, get into the center of the tube. Then, with a huge burst of strength propel yourself up and stand up on the tube. Who wins at this game? Those who are in shape, are determined and strong. This is not a game not for the weak. Those who co-operate and secretly help each other have a turn to win. Song: When God s in Charge This song is good for celebrating what God is doing in Ukraine as well as in Thailand. You can find the words on page 8 of this booklet. Mennonite Church Canada KidsPak

30 More Activities: 1. Write a short story. If you were in charge of a kingdom, a country or the world, what kind of decision maker would you be? Extend this idea to if God was in charge of me Play games like Follow the leader, Simon says, and skits on being the boss. 3. Play games where kids line up for something special (e.g. a treat), but start with the last one in line or play regular games, but switch rules for winning! 4. Play a chase-the-tail game, where you join hands and make a line where the first person tries to tag the last one. 5. Discuss what God wants...when people are hungry/sad/made fun of? 6. Create a mural that shows how God wants the world to be. Clues for this can be found in Genesis 12, Ephesians 2:11-22, Isaiah 2:2-4, 25:6-8, 65: or in Mission- Focused Congregations A Bible Study available from Faith and Life Resources, or Then write new verses for the song, that are based on what you found in your Bible search. 7. Plant seeds and watch them grow. While you wait, make a kindness tree on which you show signs of God at work among us. 8. Tell stories about the small things some people have done that have had a big impact (example: Cliff Dueck going to study Russian). Brainstorm about what God could do with our efforts. 9. Read or sing Scripture texts about all creation singing, trees of the field clapping hands, etc.: HWB #427 is a great place to start. 10. Draw pictures or develop a pantomime of every living thing praising God. KidsPak in Review Soul Food Guide - Resource Centre, Resources Commission Trees, treasures and time capsules - Mennonite Heritage Centre Coins for Camp - Native Ministries... 3, God, guns and guerilla - Ministries Commission... 3, The forest is my worship place - CMBC service internships Total... 8, Reach around the world - training pastors, Formation Our world-wide Family - Sharing faith through art - MHC Gallery Planting peace - peace packets for resourcing congregations, Formation...2, Watering God s Garden in Cuba, Witness, International Ministries...3, Tell me the stories of Jesus, Witness, International Ministries... 2, Ancient Echoes, Witness, Native Ministry Total... 10, God s Love is for Everybody Motorcycles, ministers and a message... 4, Macau Family Life Centre...4, Our Family Grows (World Conference brings global Anabaptist family together) Our God is an Awesome God (First Nations project)...7, Total... 17, (total up to April 2004) God s News is Good News... 1, Families: Like Stars in Heaven... 2, Total...4, Find KidsPak info on the web site at 30 Mennonite Church Canada KidsPak