VBS Wrap Up

We had a great week of VBS this year. The children were attentive and they did a wonderful job learning their verses.

The new sound system was a useful asset. The sound effects worked well in the drama. The actors did an entertaining job, as usual!

The last day there were 94 children. The junior class had 34 children. No one was absent. They had a fun time with all the outdoor activities. One day, all the games fit the Egypt theme by being about mummies.

The children wrapped one another in toilet paper. This team had the winning entry.

The closing program was very well attended by the children and parents. The gospel was clearly presented We did have a couple children come this year because their parents found our website. These families came to the closing program also. Many of the first time attendees seemed very excited about coming to AWANA in the fall.

We do praise the Lord for this opportunity to share the gospel with our community. I believe that only about 35% of the children came from our Fellowship.

~Mom

VBS 2010: The Egypt Files

This post is especially for our Filipino Readers.
(Pun intended)
This is the 41st VBS at our church. We welcome the children every day at the registration desk. My Mom, sister, and I are doing registration. Our VBS has always been free. Behind is the craft area.

The Pre-school class has 10 little ones. They have a puppet show along with other things every day for the children. This year they are using the window as the stage rather than building it in the room. It has worked really well.

The new director's wife seems to be everywhere. Making sure that everything is running smoothly. We have a slightly smaller school this year than last year. 79 children the first day and 74 today.

Each teacher is responsible for decorating their own area. This is the Pre-primary area. It is a smaller room, but they fit about 17 children in here. Joan is co-teaching in this group.

It has been warm, but the children seem calmer this year for some reason. The teachers have been commenting and appreciating about how well the children are listening.

The children always enjoy the crafts. Yesterday, they made a game out of clay and beads. Today, they made a picture frame to put their photo in. They used a CD (jewel) case.

The Primary class is a busy group. They are the second through fourth graders.

Mr. Boots and Michelle are helping here. Michelle is teaching the verse and Mr. Boots is doing the puppets and some other teaching. He is really enjoying it. Thomas is helping with the outside games.

They are serving the snack outside at the 'oasis' area. Everything is following the Egyptian theme. It is working nicely to have all the snacks outside. Less mess inside.

The Juniors is the largest group this year. The first day they had 30 children. There were a few missing today. Mrs. Nan, showed the children that simply mixing the ingredients for a cake in a bowl, shaking it up, does not result in a cake. The children are learning about the logical fallacies in evolution. The gospel is being presented clearly.

The VBS is going well. I have to admit, I keep thinking I hear my sister, Mir's voice. I keep turning to look and she's not there. It really makes me miss her, more than I ever thought I would.

~Mom

Honoring a Godly Woman

At the VBS closing program last night time was taken to honor a godly woman. This was the 40th year we had done a VBS and Cherry D. has participated every summer. She started off teaching the preschoolers and did that for many years. Children all over the community remember having Mrs. D as their preschool teacher at VBS. Her delightful Scottish brogue has enchanted us all. I know she has prayed for each one of us as young people and now as we are adults. Her most fervent prayers were first, for our salvation and then, for us to find a godly spouse. We all grew up measuring ourselves against her petite stature and we were sure we had arrived at a major achievement when we passed her up. But no matter how tall we got, she always treasured us as her 'wee ones'. She has been an example to me in her faithfulness in loving us all and in her prayers. Even when we felt like straying, her hugs expressed God's love to us and kept us persevering. She is a great encouragement to me. We knew she wasn't perfect but we always felt perfectly loved by her.

Karl R. Did the presentation, and noted, in his typical three point fashion with alliteration, her help, her hugs, and her happiness. What a heritage! Even now, as she has passed 80 years old, she was there at VBS every day helping the 'wee ones' make their crafts and then cleaning up. She is faithful. I have been truly blessed to know her and have her for an example in my life.

On a personal note: When I was growing up, my mom would be frequently incapacitated with low back pain and have to be on bed rest for 4-6 weeks at a time. Mrs. D would come over almost every week during that time and bring a meal and help us children clean up the house. She was a tough taskmistress and I wasn't very excited to see her come with her cleaning supplies (yes, I was lazy), but as an adult I know how helpful it was to my parents to not have to worry about that. It was a sacrifice for to come so often and she had her own house and family to take care of. But she did it and there was never a complaint. Thank-you Auntie Cheerio for your ministry to our family.

~Mom

"You got to to go by the Book" or else....

Every morning, at the end of VBS, 6 people pulled together their talents, skills, and creativity to perform a drama (that doesn't include the sound guys).

Disclaimer: These videos are not edited and were taken with a camera. Thursday's video is dark, because the SS Intrepid had lost power. Also, some days, it took a minute for the children to quiet down and the actors to be ready. If you have problems viewing or any other questions, please leave a comment.

Monday (part 1)

We are having trouble uploading the videos directly so we'll work on other routes. More later...

~JoAn

VBS

This week our mornings have been consumed with Vacation Bible School at W___ Bible Fellowship (where we fellowship :)). The theme has been outer space (what we know of it) and the children have learned a lot about the Bible and how it should affect their lives.

The Lord has blessed us with many children. Everyday more than 90 children have attended. Thursday was a record with 101! The Lord has also blessed us with many staff.

I had the privilege of teaching the verse and briefly sharing the gospel each day. C, one of the girls in my class, talked to my uncle (the director) and made a decision to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. All the children diligently learned and recited Bible verses throughout the week.

Today I illustrated the wise man/foolish man parable to the children. I also emphasized that Christ is the rock of our salvation. Pray that they take to heart what they learned this week and that those who aren't saved will be convicted.


The best news of all....so far, to our knowledge, C and M,a young man, have decided to trust in Christ.


"Praise the Saviour ye who know Him, who can tell how much we owe Him, gladly let us render to Him all we are and have!"

~JoAn