This term with the Pebbles and Rockies (grades 1-6) at church we have been learning about the armour of God in Ephesians 6. Each week the kids were learning so much which was displayed in their recall when answering Lyles questions. Here's an example:
Lyle: why do soldiers wear helmets?"
Ezra (10yrs):"so we are protected from the fiery darts that Satan throws at us"
Lyle: . . . (moving on to ask a younger child who hopefully would respond more simply) This last
Friday we had our last meeting for the term (we're quite excited for our Friday nights over the next 3 weeks!!) and we made the armour of God that we've been learning about. I must say, I have SO much admiration for teachers! We (I) made paper mache helmets, which, due to 2 days of freezing weather and rain I needed to dry in the oven. We started with hair dryers, but it wasn't effective enough.
In the midst of blowing up balloons, Steve (our parrot) was a little jumpy. At one point he flew off his perch, only to land beak-first on the floor and break it (his beak not the floor)! THANKFULLY it was only about a millimetre so it didn't stop him from eating and he was absolutely fine. I did take him to the vet the next day and the vet cut it off and Steve's fine. However, in the same afternoon, one of the balloons (on which the paper mache helmet's were being made) popped! Steve FREAKED, he jumped/fell off his perch, landed in the middle of the balloons, (keep in mind that a blown up balloon is the same size as an African Grey parrot...) and with wings lifted high was squawking madly at all the evil balloons...now if he's ever making too much noise and we feel irritated with him, we blow up a balloon and he 'growls' then remains silent. It's quite hilarious.
SO back to Friday evening. Lyle rented some Roman armour and the kids were so impressed. I have to admit he did look quite similar to Gladiators actors.
Yes, that is a brush on his helmet...
Colouring the breastplates of righteousness
Ezra and Harley Rose posing in almost all their gear
Wearing the complete armour of God
(that's tin foil on their feet for shoes)
