VBS: 27 days ago

The title is kind of self explanatory. VBS has to do with being with kids for a good part of the day and doing all kinds of things with them. This week was no exception. If I remember right, I think there were a few more than twenty kids every day, including some of the kids who came last year. Over half of these twenty came all five days. This was great and meant that we didn't have our hands over full.

We were able to borrow a school yard/track which is nearby to the A's house. This worked out fine and placed us near a bunch of apartment buildings so it was easy for kids who lived there to come. Since we were on school property we were also able to borrow tables from the school cafeteria, giving us good working space for crafts, etc.

We played a lot of games, all different kinds, and usually started a new one when everybody got tired of the one that was being played. It was really hot, though, and this always kind of makes games in the sun short lived. Everybody always seemed to be soaked in sweat; I think the high for the summer was hit that week.

Every day we had a lesson (Bible story) of some kind. I was quite surprised that the kids stayed as attentive as they did, what with everything there was to distract them. After the lesson, questions were asked of the kids and if they answered they were rewarded in some way. It is always interesting to hear the kid's answers, some of which are right on the dot, even if it was something that wasn't mentioned before in the lesson.

We sang songs, and for those of us who speak English, we got to learn songs we are familiar with in a different language. Most of the kids sing when it's time, but every once in a while, throughout the day, I would here them humming the tune or singing it under their breath to themselves. This is what we want: to put something in their thoughts and minds that will one day have the chance to flourish and make a change in their hearts and lives.

Overall, I think this week went just great and gave us many more contacts with kids from around the city. It also gave us the opportunity to meat the parents of some of the kids, and who knows, maybe we'll see some of the younger brothers and sisters in our upcoming Manna program which will be getting under way this fall.