What to expect when doing kids ministry in the jungle...

We had such a blast teaching the kids in the village. It was absolutely exhausting, lol, but totally worth it! This was our (Crystal’s and my) first time running a kids program solo in the jungle, as well as our first time teaching jungle kids in Spanish! Really, there were a lot of firsts with this trip. J Because of all that we have learned over the last couple of weeks, I felt like it might be good to share some of them.

So here’s what to expect when doing kids ministry in the jungle:

1. Packing tips – Here’s a quick easy guide to help you know what to bring when preparing and packing for a jungle trip and a week of children’s ministry in the jungle. Just ask yourself: if I had to carry everything I brought…
   
   
   1. all at once (multiple trips are not allowed!)
      
      
   2. up a mountain of rickety stairs with missing or loose boards (as a rule, always proceed assuming they are loose!)
      
      
   3. through mud that comes up to your ankles and effectively sucks off your flip-flops or boots (if you were brave or stupid enough to pack the extra weight)
      
      
   4. across a long bamboo stick (no more than 6 inches thick) that acts as a bridge crossing a 10ft drop into snaky water
      
      
   5. in the dark (this implies you have to have a free hand to also carry a flashlight – very important if you don’t want to step on a random snake on the trail)
      
      
   6. across the river (sometimes involves wading through the murky water hoping you don’t step in a hole or better yet, you just have to walk across in a canoe (…that would take too long to explain. Just assume you have to be a gymnast not to fall in)
      
      If you are unable to successfully perform any of the above while carrying your supplies in the dark and all at once…you’d better repack and cut back to the absolute necessities. Maybe start redefining the word “necessities.”
      
      
2. Get creative – Because of the reality of #1 on our list, you are going to have to get creative! So plan your games by asking yourself, “What kind of games can we play with a bamboo pole, banana leaves, water, stones from the river, fruit…etc?” You may be laughing, thinking I’m joking…but I’m not. Just to prove it, here’s some effective, proven methods we use:
   
   
   1. Memory verse supplies – don’t have paper? No worries. Take a class field trip to the riverside (if there isn’t a beach, dirt can work too) and write the verse in the sand with a stick. You can even “erase” words as a game to see if they can remember the whole thing without seeing every word. The kids can later divide up into teams and see who can write the verse out first in their own patch of sand. It works!
      
      
   2. Just think of all the games you can play with a soccer ball, buckets, and things you can find in the jungle! The options and varieties are limitless!
      
      
3. Water games cross cultures – It doesn’t matter what culture you are in, every kid loves games that involve water and getting wet. The more water that gets on the kids the better! Expect lots of genuine laughter, competition, and getting the left over water from the bucket poured over your head (it just means that the kids love you and are really good at sneaking up behind you).
   
   
4. Killing lunch – don’t be surprised or frustrated if in the middle of your lesson, one of the boys pulls out his slingshot and snags dinner from a nearby tree, and as a result you loose your whole group, as they run outside to help the proud hunter snag his prize, kill whatever it is, and proceed to pluck or skin it. This requires the whole group to run out and participate: first, because it’s a mini-party to celebrate, and secondly, because, it’s fun to watch. Don’t be alarmed if this happens! It’s totally normal, and it means several of the kids will actually eat a decent meal that day. Just go with it!
   
   
5. Second language problems – unless you speak their unwritten, complex tribal language (that sounds more like Chinese than anything else), you are going to run into language problems. The good news though is that if your 2nd language is also their 2nd language (i.e. Spanish), it is possible to communicate! It actually works great! You only know practical, daily words and basic grammatical structures. And guess what? They only know practical, daily words and basic grammatical structures. You’re golden! Unless you want to explain something complicated…like the trinity. Then you’re toast.
   
   
6. Age limits – Only want a certain age group to attend your kids program? Hmm… yeah, you’re just going to have to adjust your expectations. Because their parents are in the chacras, the only way the older siblings can come, is to bring their younger siblings. Does that create distractions during the lesson (crying babies and little kids just wandering around the room) and challenges for the types of games you play (make sure your 8-year-olds can play the game while wearing a sling across their shoulders with a real, live baby in it)? Definitely! Just be a bit more creative!
   
   I could go on, but that should get you started planning your next children’s program in the jungle. Remember, flexibility and creativity! And just go with it!