Developing a Theme

Decorations

Jungle Tree Instructions: Go to a carpet store and get leftover cardboard rolls (9 -14 feet tall depending on the size of roll). Then take rolls of brown craft paper about 1 1/2 feet wide and wrap the cardboard roll at an angle all the way up, overlapping the previous layer by 1 foot. Tuck the paper inside the roll at the top all the way around. Then start at the bottom and rip and pull the paper down about 6 or 8 inches in different widths so that the paper sticks out and hangs down a little—like a palm tree trunk. Then cut out huge palm leaves using green paper and tape them so that they are coming out of the top of the tree, some leaves hanging down and some going straight up. You could run a rope from tree to tree and drape a bunch of paper leaves across the ropes. Every now and then, you could crisscross a rope from one row to another so there were a lot of “vines” running through the room. Another idea for vines would be to make them from streamers or the twisted paper ribbon found in a craft department.

Monkey Making Instructions: Cut monkey shapes out of dark brown felt, 2 shapes per monkey. Using duct tape, put one piece of floral wire along the inside of one of the felt shapes and staple the second felt piece on top of it. Cut out a lighter brown or off-white circle and draw a monkey face on it. Then glue or staple that onto the monkey. You can hang these from the trees or from the rope “vines.” You could also crumple paper and wrap brown duct tape around it. Using a black marker, you can add the holes of a coconut and hang those in your homemade trees.

Possible sign/poster wording for around the room: “Missing Safari Members: Ben Eaten, Ima Goner, U R Next”; “Hippo Crossing”; and “Crocodile Alley.” Don’t forget to finish off your décor with rainforest music in the background!

Table Décor and Centerpiece

• Clusters of bananas, floral arrangements using a coconut shell as the vase, safari hats, or stuffed animals make great table centerpieces.
• Use grass skirts for table skirts, especially for the serving tables.

Nametags/Invitations

Nametags could have little plastic creatures (snakes or bugs) glued on the corner of the tag or paper with paw print designs. Another nametag/invite idea is to use white cardstock (stamped with jungle leaves) with ripped green construction paper on top, layered with another white card (ripped edges as well). Foamy animal stickers could be glued to the corner. These nametags also could be used to divide the group for a game later on as well (all the lions in one group, all the monkeys in another, etc.).

Refreshments

• Spaghetti labeled “monkey brains”
• Chicken fingers labeled “alligator tail”
• Celery with peanut butter and raisins or cream cheese and raisins labeled “bugs on a log”
• Chocolate-covered frozen bananas
• Animal crackers with several different kinds of dips or even served with a fondue
• Zebra Cake
• Pineapple Pulled Pork

Zebra Pudding Cake

For this fun and easy dessert you will need the following:

• 1 (3.4 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
• 1 (3.4 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
• 2 cups milk
• 1 (8 ounce) container whipped topping
• 16 graham crackers
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

In separate bowls, prepare each pudding mix, using only one cup of milk per box. Let stand for about 5 minutes until slightly firm then fold 1/2 of the whipped topping into each one. Place a layer of graham crackers in the bottom of an 8×8 inch pan. Spread half of the chocolate pudding over them, then layer more graham crackers over the top. Spread half of the vanilla pudding over the crackers, then cover with more crackers. Repeat, alternating the chocolate and vanilla.

Chill at least 6 hours or overnight. This will cause the graham crackers to fluff up and taste like cake. Melt chocolate chips over a double boiler or in the microwave oven, then drizzle over the top. Cut into squares and serve!

Pineapple Pulled Pork

• Pork roast
• Pineapple juice
• Light soy sauce (Tip: It is important that it is light – otherwise the meat gets too salty with the seasoning salt, but it doesn’t taste quite right if you leave the seasoning salt out)
• Seasoning salt
• Minced garlic

Put the roast(s) in a crockpot or roaster, and pour just enough pineapple juice to cover the roast(s). Add soy sauce (about 1/4 cup per roast), and sprinkle with seasoning salt (gently cover entire surface area). Add minced garlic (at least 2 cloves per roast).

Cook on low for 8-10 hours and shred. Put shredded pork back in liquid until ready to serve. Serve with rolls or over rice. (Tip: If you cook the rice with chicken bouillon instead of just water, it adds a lot of flavor. Just add 1 tsp. powdered bouillon per cup of water when cooking the rice.)

Games/Stunts/Icebreakers

Ostrich and elephant relays: ostrich relay— you run with a balloon between your legs; elephant relay—you put one hand out in front like a trunk and the other back through your legs like a tail; a teammate holds your “tail” with his “trunk” and you run. Could be a chain of several folks.

Safari slurp: Place animal crackers in a pile beside a small bowl. Have straw available for each player. Use straw as a vacuum and each person must pick up the animal crackers and drop them into the bowl. First one finished wins a door prize (or a coupon for a free banana split from a local ice cream shop).

Monkey Barrel: Create a chain of hooked monkeys using the plastic monkeys. There are two people to a team. One person on a team holds a monkey, and the other holds the barrel. A timed event in which the winner is whomever has the longest chain at the end of 30 seconds.

Take pictures of friends or the entire group in front of a jungle mural with a large stuffed lion (or monkeys hanging from trees) and hand the pictures to the ladies the following Sunday.

Devotional

Topic: Packing for an adventure of a lifetime — You could talk about what to pack for the “adventure.” The adventures could be defined as raising kids, the Christian walk, or any other topic for women; and how you prepare for each adventure. Survival techniques could also be addressed, like watching out for predators, staying on a pathway, using the buddy system (all from Scripture). The speaker could dress in camouflage and pack a backpack, placing real or representative items in it as each point is made (such as Band-Aids, a compass, and a rope). The dangers of quicksand (getting bogged down), malaria (the poison of bitterness), or getting lost (spiritual aimlessness) could be addressed.

Topic: A safari guide leads, no exceptions—show how the jungle guide has to educate people on how to survive in a jungle. Moms are safari guides. How can they help lead their children through the jungle of life?

Topic: “It’s a Jungle Out There”

It’s a jungle out there, and God wants you to be prepared to go on a safari. He’s called you to prepare to conquer the vicious beasts Satan sends our way. If you are to handle this safari well, your job is to do four things: know your equipment, know your enemy, know yourselves, and know your God.

I. Know Your Equipment – Ephesians 6: 13-17

In order to have a successful safari, we need to know our equipment and how to use it.

1. Stand tall in truth.
2. Stand perfect in peace.
3. Stand fearless in faith.

II. Know Your Enemy – I Peter 5:8-9

Just as a person on a Safari knows his prey, it is important that we know our enemy.

1. The enemy is watching.
2. The enemy is waiting.
3. The enemy is wanting.

III. Know Yourself – James 1:2-8

It is important that we know our strengths and weaknesses and let God perfect us.

1. Grow in patience.
2. Grow in wisdom.
3. Grow in faith.

IV. Know Your God – Ephesians 2:4-10

We love to quote Psalm 46:1, which states that God is a very present help in trouble, but we need to really know Him.

1. He is rich in mercy.
2. He loves us.
3. He created us.

In conclusion, with God as our Safari Leader, we can face the lions of life and come out victorious!

Devotional Author: Kathy Becker