Manna from Heaven Preschool Park (Lar Maná) + 

Mozambique Update

We're so excited to have the preschool park ready for use.

The only equipment lacking is a saucer swing, which we have been unable to get here. Our plan is to bring one in from the USA. We also still plan to put tiles on the back wall as well. 

The children can do sensory activities, paint in the covered area, and play on the outside toys. 

This covered space is equipped for sand and water sensory play and painting in the rain or sunshine while outside in the fresh air.

MOZAMBIQUE UPDATE from our attempt to send 

Bible class materials to the church in Mozambique...

This was a test we did a few months ago to see if we would be able to send teaching aids. Books have been sent successfully so we were hoping for the same result. To date the materials are registered on the postal site as having been received, however, Armindo, our contact, has not seen them. He has the option of using our website:

escolabiblicainfantil.com.br 

Downloading and using a printer or copier are complicated where they live in Africa. We are talking about sending another test from the USA and see if that works for them. 

Bible Classes for Children...the heartbeat of a church

 

The church in Candeias has been meeting in rented, large one-room facilities that have not been conducive to children's Bible classes for some years now. They are one month into a spacious new place and are excited to get their Bible class program set up. Last Saturday Edneia (middle in orange), a teacher, held a workshop to train those interested in being involved.

Amanda said it well this morning in her post about their new congregation:

"I believe you can see the heartbeat of a church through the way they love your children."

Manna from Heaven Preschool (Park Update + Mozambique)

 
We've started with Phase Two of the Educational Park for Young Kids.

First step: Painting the wall. After getting that sealed, the next step will be a shelf in the pavilion to store materials and then furnish it with tables and chairs for outdoor learning activities.

The plan is to have the park finished by May.

The rainy season (winter) has started early this year so everything will have to be done when the weather permits. Rains not only hamper the actual work but also there is the logistical side of access to the children's home when the rains cause flooding and huge potholes on the roads. 

Mozambique...

    Because most of you reading this know that my ministry in Brazil has a lot to do with children I will add this opportunity that we have been given. We had a student at EBNESR from Mozambique (a Portuguese-speaking country). He graduated and after he returned home he was able to negotiate a building to use to teach the Let the Bible Speak course and start a congregation. Recently he asked if I could send him Bible class materials. They do not have a copy machine convenient to where he lives and he only has a small printer for his computer. It has long been my dream to develop a children's Bible class curriculum to be made available in these cases. I would love to have culturally sensitive material available to the congregations who need it. Meanwhile, I put together some things to mail to them as a test of the mailing system. I downloaded materials from the site that I have contributed to together with Evelyn, one of our evangelists' wives from the church in Boa Viagem. She is a tech genius!   www.escolabiblicainfantil.com.br  

Children in Bible class/Mozambique

 Materials for Bible class

Preschool Maná do Céu 2023

 

The Maná do Céu preschool on the children's home campus develops more each year. Ana, the director, actively seeks for and applies for grants to pay most of the expenses incurred and donations cover the rest. 

2023 will see the expansion of the program to include an afternoon session for the younger children. The "older" ones (2 1/2-3 years old) will continue in the mornings. This allows for differentiated teaching and more opportunity for appropriate developmental activities.

Included in their afternoon session for tutoring and doing homework the school age children will have a time for reading one-on-one with a teacher twice a week. The purpose is to promote reading for fun and thus increase the children's desire to read as well as fill gaps in their reading skills. We also have a devotional time for the children each week to introduce them to the Bible using stories, songs and activities.

There was a training session for the teachers last week with tips on how to work with the children's reading program as well as ideas for the preschool curriculum. This program will begin when public school classes start on Feb. 2. (Brazilian school year is by calendar year). 

Educational Team of the LAR Maná

Young Children's Educational Park

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