Two days in ancient Egypt and we are getting to know our fellow travellers quite well.  Fifteen children have joined us and seem to be getting along well together.

I am always fascinated by the assumptions about children's spirituality and understanding.  never more so than when it is assumed that "churched" (horrid verb, 'to church') have so much more insight than those who have not had this process done to them.

Today the video extract began with Benjamin and Jacob expressing their sadness over the loss of Joseph and Rachel; Jacob even had a good psalm-style rant at God.  Not very accurate Bibilically, but I'm sure with a ring of authenticity.  This brief scene obviously struck home with one little girl, who when we got to prayers at the end of the morning asked if we could pray for children who don't have Mummies or Daddies.  She has no church background, unlike one boy who knows the answers to every question and, after bouncing about happily all morning asked that we could pray for him as he has a cold.  Maybe he had, but I'm not convinced!  I know which one I feel had the depth of understanding and had grown through being with us today.  But then there is the additional challenge of how we help our churchy children move from head knowledge and even professed faith to spiritual growth and maturity.  Answers on the back of a camel please!