Covenanter Witness Vol. 55 - Rparchives.org

Vacation Bible Schools in CyprusDear Friends:By Elizabeth E. WeirEvery student in the Academy of Larnaca aswell as Nicosia is taught the Bible but, to the best ofmy knowledge we have never had aDaily VacationBible School as so many of the churches at homehave. However, this year we decided to have one ineach town. We had received the promise of quite alot of handwork material from America so we placedthe order and waited. After a while it became evident that if we expected to have any material, wewould have to find it or make it. I'm sure the Lordwanted it that way, for we began to pool our resources and found that we had more than we wereusing.We are fortunate to have in Cyprus now a ladysent out by Child Evangelism. She stays most ofher time in Nicosia and works among children wherever she gets the opportunity. So we asked her tocome to Larnaca once a week to hold a class in ChildEvangelism. She did, making it an eight-weeks courseVery fortunately she had with her some materialuseful in organizing a Daily Vacation Bible School.When we felt reasonably sure that our own materialwould not be here in time we got some from her andplanned our work around the theme "Learning toGrow the Bible Way." Everything seemed to fit together so well. She had some handwork for theyounger children and we were able to use some ofthe flannelgraph which Mrs. Hutcheson had andsome Which had been given us in America.It is customary for parents who can take theirchildren to the hills to go as soon as school is out.We took one week's vacation after Closing Exercises,started our school on June 27 and closed it on July 8.Since Mrs. Thomas Hutcheson had worked in D.V.B.S. in America, we asked her to be in charge. Undiscovered talent appeared from various places. Mrs.Garabet Chopourian who had had a couple of yearsat art school was able to copy the flannelgraph backgrounds we already had, and keep a day ahead ofthe stories no small task when you have a tenmonthsold baby to care for. Miss Fimie Gulesserian,one of our Academy primary teachers, had had alittle Bible School of her own in Larnaca and alsoin Pedhoulas for several summers. So she was ofgreat help with the small children. She sent out attractive invitations to her pupils and they broughttheir friends. We had no idea how many would comeor what the response would be. But on our firstMonday we were rewarded with 21 pupils. On thelast day of the school we had 75. The children wereGreek, Armenian, English and American. The classeswere divided as follows :Mrs. Giragos ChopourianMrs. Garabet Chopourianin charge of the 5-6 year oldsMiss Fimie GulesserianMiss Ani Yenovkianin charge of the 7-8 year oldsMrs. HutchesonGrace Houry, Cecile Keheyanin charge of the 9-10 year oldsAugust 3, 1955Mrs. WeirCarlene Hutchesonin charge of the 11-12 year oldsOur school began two days before the Greekelementary schools closed. The very day of theirclosing Mary Edgar volunteered to take a class inGreek if she could have someone to help her. Wefound Mrs. Euclid Panayiotides, a busy mother, whobrought her little boy along and came every day tohelp. This was certainly a class we had not countedon having, but it turned out to be the largest one ofall, having 18 members.We also got a sprinkling of 3 and 4 year olds.Our first morning started off with a worship serviceduring which Mrs. Manuel Kassouni gave an excellent message on rebirth. I'm going to list for you theprogram of the oldest group, for it is at hand andeach teacher arranged her own work.8:00- 8:20 Worship8:25- 8:55 Flannelgraph story9 :00- 9 :30 Bible memorizing and missionary story9:30- 9:50 Recess9:55-10:25 Handwork10:30-11:00 Play practiceEach day the teachers provided lemonade andthe mothers provided biscuits which were served atrecess time. The motto which we all kept before usthroughout the two weeks was II Peter 3:18, "Growin grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." The children seemed to understandand respond to the motto and the Bible teaching ingeneral. The spirit was excellent and several of themgave their hearts to Jesus. One great blessing wasthat many of the children had already given theirhearts to Christ and they were helpful toward theothers.Our closing Exercises were held in the earlyevening so the fathers could come, too. The motherswho came looked happy because their children hadbeen cared for, and one asked if we wouldn't continue it all summer! The program was as varied asthe ages of the children. The singing of the tinyones was as sweet as that item always is. The memorizing had been accomplished with enthusiasm,and a surprising amount of it. The oldest group puton a Parable Play called "The Talents." It was theBible story of the master who gave to his servantsaccording to their ability and asked them to make"grow."the moneyScarfs, flowingrobes and beardsadded color and impetus. After the program therewas a display of hand work which was well examined; and the children went home with theirtreasures whichthey themselves had made colorful and woolley lambs etc.Needless to say we are planning for "next time."Miss Fimie Gulesserian has already left for themountains, taking with her material to use up there.We have visions of other classes to be held in villages in the future, and in the towns. By the way,part of the material has arrived from America, sowe can say that next year's theme will probablybe "Building Citizens for Christ." 71