MEET KYALONGUI F R O M K E N YA

LESSON 9

BIBLE TRUTH: God has a plan for what our lives can be.

KEY VERSE: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

(Jeremiah 29:11)

LEADER GUIDE

NOTES FOR THE TEACHER

As you prepare for this “GO Reach Kids” lesson about Kyalongui and his life in Kenya, here a few ideas for adapting the experience to your particular situation:

• Today’s “Focus on the Key Verse” activity involves a relay race where kids write the verse on a large sheet of paper one word at a time. In addition to securing the necessary sheets of paper and markers, make sure you have enough space to let the kids run without bumping into one another. Be sure the area is clear of any obstacles that might pose a danger to the kids.

• In the “Focus on the Bible” section we provide a Bible story based on the Bible truth and the key verse. You might consider extending the study over two weeks with the first week looking at the “Focus on the Nations” emphasis and the second week studying the “Focus on the Bible” information. If you decide to split the lesson over two weeks, make sure to emphasize the Bible truth and the key verse in both lessons.

• In addition to the core lesson, we also provide some optional activities. This lesson includes options for the “Focus on the Video” and “Focus on the Key Verse” activities. If you choose these options, keep in mind the resources required for the activities and the time that should be allotted for each option.

• The PowerPoint slides we have provided can help you during the “Focus on the Nations” piece of the activity. These extra tools can enhance the learning experience.

• We have provided a downloadable parent handout related to this lesson. Simply makes copies of the handout and distribute them to your parents.

1. Focus on the Nations (About 5 minutes)

Prior to the lesson, gather several strips of paper and write a job or occupation on each one. (Examples: doctor, actor, athlete, mechanic, teacher, pastor, and so forth) Put the slips of paper into a bag.

To start today’s lesson, explain that you will be playing a special game of charades. Show the kids the bag and tell them that it contains several slips of paper that list particular jobs on them. You will ask some volunteers to draw occupations out of the bag and act them out as the other kids try to guess.

Play as many rounds of the game as you have time for. When you’re done, ask the kids: What do you want to be when you grow up? Allow a few volunteers to share their answers and why they like that profession.

Show kids the map of central Africa. Explain that today’s video focuses on a boy named Kyalongui who lives in Kenya. Show the kids the “Fun Facts” about Kenya on the slides. Share that even though Kyalongui comes from a poor village, he believes God has a plan for his life. He has a vision for his future, and he believes God will use him in the days to come.

Point out that it’s OK if kids don’t know what they want to do yet. But it’s just good for them to remember that God has a plan for them, and He wants them to rely on Him to guide them.

ESV® Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) copyright ©2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

2. Focus on the Video (About 10 minutes)

Prior to the lesson, set up two tables. On the first table, include a recipe and ingredients you would need to make brownies. Don’t put anything on the second table.

Show the video of Kyalongui telling his story.

After the video, allow several kids to share some things that stuck out to them. Talk about the hope Kyalongui has for his future, especially as he plans to study engineering and build better homes for

the people of Kenya. Discuss how God will be able to use him to make a real difference in the world as he seeks God’s plan for his life.

Show the kids the two tables you have set up. Point out that one table has everything you need to make a batch of brownies, while the other table has nothing. Ask: If you were going to make the brownies, which table would you choose? Why?

Affirm that the most people would choose the first table because it has a plan for making the brownies—the recipe—and the

KENYA FUN FACTS• Kenya is located in central Africa

and is named for Mount Kenya, the nation’s tallest mountain.

• Kenya shares a border with Tanzania. The border is marked by Lake Victoria, the second largest freshwater lake in the world.

• The equator divides Kenya roughly in half.

• Kenya’s population is around 43 million people, and about half of the residents live in poverty.

• Kenya was a British colony from 1895 until 1963, which is why Kenyans drive on the left side of the road instead of the right.

• Most of the power in Kenya is generated using water in a process called “hydroelectricity.”

• Kenyans are famous for their world-class distance runners. At the 2012 Olympics in London, Kenyans won 11 running medals—including two golds.

• Kenya is roughly the size of Texas and its capital is Nairobi.

• Some famous Kenyans include runner Kip Keino and Nobel Prize winner Professor Wangari Maathai.

ingredients already in place. Share how having a plan and all the tools you need to do something just naturally makes things easier.

Explain that God has a plan for each one of us. In a sense, He has a recipe for what He wants to accomplish in our lives. Encourage kids to suggest some of the tools God gives us to discover His plan for our lives. (Possible answers: reading the Bible, praying, going to church, talking to adults you can trust, and so forth).

Enlist a volunteer to read today’s key verse: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). Emphasize that kids can develop a stronger relationship with God and seek His plan for their future by doing the things that will draw them closer to God. Highlight the things Kyalongui does to stay connected with God. Challenge them to consistently practice the spiritual disciplines that will grow their relationship with God.

3. Focus on the Bible: Philip on the Move

Ask the kids to share their favorite subject in school and why. Point out that many times we like subjects that we do well in, but we tend to stay away from classes that we don’t enjoy or struggle with. Share that this is natural, but sometimes God’s plan for us involves moving away from what we’re comfortable doing and into something we aren’t sure about.

Explain that the Bible shares a story about a man who had to do that in Acts 8. Encourage a volunteer to read Acts 8:4-6. Emphasize that Philip left Jerusalem because Christians were being persecuted. He went to a town in Samaria and had a lot of success sharing the gospel. Say: That was great, but then God told him to move somewhere else.

Instruct a volunteer to read Acts 8:26 and encourage kids to identify where Philip needed to go. Ask: Which sounds better to you, a city filled with people eager to hear about Jesus or a desert road out in the middle of nowhere? Why? Discuss responses. Point out that while a successful ministry sounds good, following God’s plan for our lives is more important. That’s why Philip chose to go.

Briefly summarize the story of the Ethiopian in Acts 8:27-39. Point out that even though Philip travelled all that way to reach one person, he was following God’s plan. Share that the Ethiopian most likely

took the message of Jesus back to his homeland and

had a ministry of his own which would not have been possible if Philip hadn’t obeyed God.

Read today’s key verse again. Encourage the kids to ask God to show them His plan for their lives and to follow His plan in every situation.

4. Focus on the Key Verse: Jeremiah 29:11

Prior to the session, hang a few large sheets of paper around the room. The number of sheets should correspond to the number of teams you will make for the kids during the game. Make sure each sheet of paper has a marker with it.

Write today’s key verse on the board or on a large sheet of paper: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). Direct the kids to read the verse aloud a couple of times to get familiar with it.

Remind the kids that Kenya is famous for its world-class runners, so the kids are going to do some running as well. Divide the kids into several teams—one team for each of the large sheets of paper hanging around the room. Explain that the first team member will run to their sheet of paper and write the reference to today’s key verse. Then, that kid will run the marker back to the next team member. That kid will write the first word of the verse on the paper. The relay will continue until the entire verse has been written on the paper.

Place an adult near each of the sheets of paper to help kids if they get stuck on a word. When all the teams are done, tell

them to read the verse aloud again. If time allows, play additional rounds with the kids doing different things, like running backwards or hopping on one foot.

To wrap up the game, remind the kids that God has a plan for their lives. Encourage them to find out what He wants for their lives and to pursue that plan.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES:

“Focus on the Video” Activity: Testing Your Friends

Show the video of Kyalongui telling his story.

After the video, allow several kids to share some things that stuck out to them. Talk about the hope Kyalongui has for his future, especially as he plans to study engineering and build better homes for the people of Kenya. Discuss how God has a plan for each person, including the kids in today’s group.

Point out that Kyalongui really enjoys coming to church and learning more about God and the Bible. Share that today each kid will help one of their friends learn some things—by giving them a test. Give each kid a piece of paper and pencil. Instruct them to create a five-question true-false test based on things from the video. Explain that the questions can be about Kenya or Kyalongui’s life. They just need to highlight some important things we need to remember from today’s video.

When the kids are done making their test, tell them to swap papers with a friend and take the test they are given. After

a few minutes, allow the pairs to work together to “grade” the papers. Allow a few volunteers to talk about the questions on their tests and what they learned from the video.

Highlight again the fact that Kyalongui knows that God has a plan for his life and that he wants to follow that plan. Encourage the kids to do the same in their lives.

“Focus on the Key Verse” Activity: What’s the News?

Prior to the lesson, collect several newspapers or old magazines for kids to use in the activity. You will also need some clear tape and sheets of construction paper for each team in the activity.

To start the activity, write today’s key verse on the board or on a large sheet of paper: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” Jeremiah 29:11. Direct the kids to read the verse aloud a couple of times to get familiar with it.

Group the kids into several teams and give each team a stack of newspapers or magazines, a roll of tape, and a piece

of construction paper. Direct the teams to look through the newspapers and magazines to find words or letters from today’s key verse. Tell them to tear out the words and tape them to the sheet of construction paper. Challenge them to include the reference to the verse. (Note: If they can’t find a word, they can cut out letters to form words.)

After all the teams have finished, hang the pieces of construction paper around the room. Allow a few volunteers to discuss what the key verse means and why it’s important to know God’s plan for their lives. Close the activity by quoting the verse aloud together as a group.

FOCUS ON THE HOME: DIG DEEPER

(DOWNLOADABLE HANDOUT)

For the Parents

During this week’s GO lesson your children learned about a boy named Kyalongui, who lives in Kenya. He lives in a very poor village where just getting the daily needs of life met can be a challenge. But he enjoys going to church and learning about

Kyalongui knows that God has a plan for his life and he wants to follow that plan.

God. He also believes God has a plan for his life that will make a difference for him and for others like him. To learn more about Kyalongui, you can view his story at awana.org/stories. You also can use these questions to start a conversation with your kids about what they learned from Kyalongui and how they can start to learn about God’s plans for their lives:

• What are some of the challenges Kyalongui faces each day in Kenya? How does he deal with those challenges?

• What does it mean to have a plan for something? Why is it important to have a plan for your life?

• What do you think God wants you to do today to learn more about His plans for your future?

Family Activity: What Do You Do?

In today’s video, your kids learned that Kyalongui has a dream of being an engineer who can build better houses for

those around him. That’s what he believes God has planned for his life, and his example reminds us that God has a plan for everyone.

To learn more about how God reveals His plans, encourage your kids to interview two or three people they believe are following God’s plans for their lives. This could include a teacher, coach, church staff member, family friend, or someone similar. Encourage these individuals to share how they came to understand God’s plan and what advice they would give your child for finding God’s plan. (Note: You also need to be prepared to share your story since kids look up to their parents and want to follow their examples above others.)

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