I was asked to bring a sheep to a vacation Bible school in Nashville this week. I chose Meadow, a yearling ewe that is friendly to go. After putting the large dog crate in the car, which has to be taken apart to get it in, I drove to the city with baa-ing in my ear the whole way.
This was not the usual VBS. The church is ministering to Bantu children, whose parents came from Somalia and now live in the poorer part of town. The children are from Muslim families and the church does not yet speak to them about Jesus, only about God. They tell them stories about sheep and shepherds and play shepherd games. I shared with them from the shepherd's perspective about keeping the sheep safe from the coyotes, shearing, and using the wool to make yarn. I had the sheep that they could actually see and put their hands on; and Meadow was a trooper. One little boy was especially interested in all parts of the sheep. Many of the little girls were afraid of the sheep. They would jump, that would startle poor Meadow and she would jump; and the girls would fall on the ground laughing. Many of them asked if the sheep would bite!
This girl loved Meadow and did not want to stop hugging her.
