This is a celebration post as I FINALLY finished a children’s curriculum for our teams to use on ministry this summer. I emphasis finally as my husband expected it 2 months ago…I really used to be very efficient. This might be the time to explain my role in our mission venture. Besides blogging…oh, I guess that doesn’t qualify as ministry… ministry to myself perhaps?? Hee! Well, with 3 little ones and being the Family Research Assistant for Childhood Development (aka mom) it leaves me with little time for much else (I think most of you can empathize). Especially since one of the kiddos is not yet in school, I am pretty much chained to my desk so in turn do a lot of the administrative work for the ministry. That would include or did include “writing curriculum”. (In case you were wondering)This curriculum correlates the famous, evangelistic, children’s ministry tool, the Wordless book with the South African flag. The SA flag has all the same colors so it is a cool cultural link that might help open the hearts of the African children to the Gospel…that and the Holy Spirit.
Anyway, I thought I would share what I learned about the SA flag and country. In case you are unfamilar with what the SA flag looks like you will see it portrayed above the obnoxious guy’s head as well as painted on his face. No, he is not related to me but I am convinced somehow there is a genetic link to Karen. Karen any Dutch in the genes by chance?
The SA flag was adopted in 1994 when the country achieved full democracy.
Yellow represents the country’s natural resources such as gold.
Red symbolizes the bloodshed it took to bring about that freedom.
Black represents the African people; White (White) the European people.
Green reminds us of the lush land and large farming industry in the country.
And blue is indicative of the blue skies that hover over the country most of the year.
The Y formation on the flag signifies the convergence and going forward as one unified nation of previously disparate groups in South Africa.
And lastly, did you know it is the only national flag in the world made up of 6 colors? Oh, the things that make you go hum.....hum!
If you are familiar with the Wordless book you can see how easy it is to bring in the flag colors. (Okay not sure why it took me 2 months) The color black drew the most difficulty as you don’t want to draw a correlation between sin and the majority color of the nation’s skin.
Anyway, just wanted to give you a glimpse of my culture and hey, if your child happens to have a school report due on foreign cultures/flags just delete my silly comments, press print and walla, a report to be proud of….not that I am encouraging plagiarism in anyway.
15 comments:
How interesting Michelle! We were at my in-laws church yesterday and a girl who has a children's orphanage in the Congo spoke. She is needing help to fund her orphanage and had pictures of these poor, beautiful children. She also had a video clip of a place where girls can go that have been raped by the soldiers to be free and to worship as they please. Sorry, not sure if they are Christian or not!!! In the video clip they showed footage of a 5 year old girl that won't hardly talk because at 3 years old she was gang raped!!! 3 YEARS OLD!!!! I had tears in my eyes. I applaud you and your family for your ministry over there. A person just never realizes what goes on around the rest of the world! God bless you and your family Michelle!!!!
Thanks for the incredible history lesson. It makes me wonder what the colors of other flags mean.
By the way, I think blogging allows you to get feedback on what your ministry is doing, so really I would classify it as "work."
Thanks for sharing this interesting piece on the SA flag. Boy, how pretty with so many colors. I love bright, pretty colors. I think you're blogging is a great help in your ministry because you are making us aware of things there we would never know. Keep up the good "work". It's always more fun when work seems more like play!
Susan
Su
am i the only moron that didn't realize that you wrote for Everyday Woman mag? geesh, i was thrilled to see your beautiful mug in the issue i just read! wowza, i didn't know i was blogging with such talent:-)
love the history lesson too.
Yea yea so the guy in the photo may be a relation! I feel proud of that, quite frankly. ;-)
Loved the post! You are definetly gifted, my friend. I'm so glad that you do take the time to squeeze in the blog time.
Thanks for the education... I love non class room learning. And you have so much to share and teach those of us spoiled ones that are still stateside!
Happy Monday to you!
Jane
Thanks for sharing about he SF flag. IT was interesting to learn.
I didn't know you wrote for Everyday Women either. That is neat!!
Have a great week!
I didn't know I wrote for EDW either...just kidding! I've never "met" anyone until now that reads it.
K, you know I love you and meant that genetic thing only as a compliment!:-)
Oh yes indeed! I took it as one.
That is really cool. I never knew there was so much significance with the flag. I mean, of course there is, but I guess I never considered it fully.
You're quite the little teacher too. Thanks for the lesson. I enjoyed learning about this.
Cool Michelle but then couldn't expect anything less from my cool daughter.
I'd be interested in reading your wordless book.
Mom
Very interesting!!
I remember the wordless book for the summer 2000 jr missions program!
so now you've got me curious -- how did you use the colors to relate the Gospel story differently than the typical way?
I am assuming the 2nd anynomous is from you mom (I know your curiosity) w/o reiterating the 20+ page curr (are you sure you want to read it). I just pulled in the colors of the SA flag as a lead in and parallel to those of the wordless book. We had little beaded pins of the flag made (like the AIDS ones) and each team member will wear one as a visual when talking about the curr. Why don't you come out and visit and see it all first hand. :-) Don't I wish!
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