Wonder

My last VBS of the season was in Bonaparte. It was a good way to finish big, as we had nearly 30 kids each day- 37 counting teen helpers on our biggest day. Also, this was the best load-in I've had all summer. One of the volunteers ran a daycare, so she brought her students with her when she arrived early to help. We found things for even the littlest ones to carry, and they loved being helpers! I am thinking about possibly changing the format a little for places where we have that many kids. The opening time gets a bit long for really little ones, so maybe we could move the Bible lesson to a separate station they rotate through. Things to think about for next year.

Since I was staying in Farmington, one of the VBS helpers suggested I walk around Indian Lake, which has a neat trail. It is gorgeous, and a nice place to decompress from the noise and excitement of 37 kids. I must just have a kid-friendly face or something, though, because after a few minutes of absolute solitude, I met three girls who were trying to find their way back to the trail. They asked if I could stick with them because I was, "you know, kind of like a grown-up." So much for solitude, but it turned out to be nice to have company. They had a sense of wonder about everything ("Oooh! A deer!") which was rather what all summer of Workshop of Wonders VBS was about- appreciating what God does that we don't always notice. (Also, because teachers never really go on summer break, we read every informational sign there was and learned some vocabulary, like "momentum" when we rushed down a hill.)

Now I'm focused on making preparations for JOY camp. I followed up on some kids from my Vanderwilt VBS who seemed really interested in camp but hadn't registered yet. Between those visits and a couple phone calls, we went from 25 campers to 31 campers in a couple hours. Wonderful.

Independence

This past week took me to Kirkman, IA- a bustling town of 64 people, according to the last census- for four enjoyable evenings of Bible school. Not too many of those 64 are children, so the VBS attendees were mostly grandkids of members of the congregation. My hostess for the week did spot a family pulling kids in a wagon on the last day of the week, though, so they plan to dig even deeper into the community next year.  It's easy to tell that VBS is important to the life of the church, and I was happy to work with so many grandmas who provided food and encouragement to the 15-16 different kids that came during the week. 

It was appropriate to celebrate Independence Day this week, as Kirkman UMC is getting ready to be far more independent with their Bible school next year. This was the third year I'd been at this site, and next year they'll be on their own. The idea is that MUMMs comes in and models for a few years, and by that time the congregation gets in the routine of things and feels more confident that they can do this on their own! This is a highly appreciative group, though, and one I'd gotten to know fairly well, as I've stayed with a host family there each year. The helpers were so sweet that they got me flowers as a thank-you for my time there.

I was glad that the kids got to leave a momento behind. One of our crafts this year is decorating canvas quilt squares and tying them together to create a reminder for the church. Apparently this isn't a brand-new idea, as the church basement housed a few quilts from 1990 where our VBS kids' parents had done the same thing. It was about time for an update.

There were some great kids at this site, and we got to review some of what they already knew while learning new things too. While I was explaining that the next story (Walk to Emmaus) took place after Jesus came back to life, one girl interrupted, really surprised- "Wait, he came back to life?" Her friends looked at her like she was a little crazy, and they tried to assure her that she knew that ("Remember? Sunday school?") but she certainly didn't look like that was clicking. How wonderful to be there to see someone learn something important for the first time (or maybe the second, having forgotten in between...and don't we all live like we've forgotten it sometimes.)

Another fun first was a boy learning about the feeding of the 5,000.
"So- did they get full?"
"Yes, they sure did."
"They just ate like two little bites of fish, and they were full?"
"It didn't run out. They just kept reaching in the baskets and there was more and more. In fact, there was a lot left over. We can't do that, but Jesus can."
He was quick to share his new knowledge at the parent program the last night. I started telling the story, and at just the right time, he shouted out, "And there were leftovers!!" Sometimes things stick.

Good things come in threes

We started off at Silver City with several smiling helpers and….three kids. Half-joking, one of the helpers asked if we were going to go knocking on doors. That inspired our 8 year old- “I can go ask…” and listed off all his friends. I volunteered to go too, since he decided his 5 year old sister wasn’t old enough to go alone with him. :-P How wonderful to hear an 8 year old holler across the street to his friend on a bike- “Hey! Wanna go to church?”

We got no takers that day, but by Wednesday we were up to 8 kids. And that's why it’s important to knock on doors. 

We had a good week. On the last day, I was worried again about turnout, because it was pouring down rain. It was a heart-warming sight to see two small raincoats come in the door, followed by a few brave others. We dried off, ate breakfast, and had a wonderful day. 

Would the real Rivet please stand up?

I was amazed by their creativity. The craft the last day is decorating a bag to carry the other crafts home. Some of them requested a second bag so they could make a puppet. So, we had Rivet the plush puppet meet many Rivet the paper puppets. 

As always, it is the little things that are important. Little moments like:

• the kindness of a 12 year old girl reassuring a boy who had "messed up" his craft
• the 5 year old girl giving a dandelion to one of our helpers
• sidewalk chalk art projects
• the helpers cheering for Esther all week long like we did in our interactive story the first day
• a boy absolutely beaming as he was given the job of PowerPoint slide mover- and did it well.

On being mobile (or, how to put a Bible school in a car.)

Did you know you can fit 95% of the MUMMs van's VBS materials into a Buick? This was an important lesson I learned this week as the van was in the shop being uncooperative. My grandparents were gracious enough to lend me their big car, so Dean Martin and I rolled down the highway to Van Buren County.

Kids put together quilt squares for the church as a VBS souvenir

We had eleven kids the first day at Milton and were up to seventeen by the end. We wound up doing lots of camp songs at first because while I was absolutely certain I had taken my copy of the Workshop of Wonders CD, do you think I could find it? Not until the second day when my craft volunteer brought it to me- right from the box I had set it in a few days before. Over and over God teaches me that things will not work out the way I plan them, but they will work out. I must be a slow learner at this concept. I'm getting plenty of practice this summer.


We were all pleased to have lots of older kids come. I pulled out the karate song right away, and it seemed to pass the "cool enough for middle school boys" test. But later on, I was also thrilled to see them doing the actions for (AND SINGING) "Jesus Loves Me" that a first grade girl requested we sing. We sang that a lot this week. I told them if that's all they learned at Bible school, that was ok.

This church had a very small congregation, but that meant a fairly large percentage of them turned out to help. Some volunteers also came from outside their congregation, which was great too. Lunches were so wonderful that I had to include a picture of our cooks. They knew how to put together a tasty, healthy meal in a place where hunger really is an issue.

I hope to get some JOY campers from this week. Many seemed interested. One boy was so excited about the idea that he snatched the flier out of my hand as soon as I told him it was free. ("Free?! My mom loves that word!") He then proceeded to give me a big hug.

Sometimes a problem with being mobile is that you feel a little rootless. Luckily, this was not the case here.  I got to enjoy lunches with my little cousin who came to VBS (and chat with his mom as she picked him up.) I got to stay with a dear friend, Karen, whose picture may well be next to "hospitality" in the dictionary. And I got to go with her to a supper and Bible study at her friends' house, where the food and conversation were so good I look forward to going back next time I stay with her- which will be soon!

 

Double the Fun!

Dear Mr. Ed Wilson,
You said it was going to rain this afternoon. 8:30-12:00  is not afternoon. That is all. 

"Allison, what is your rain plan?" -Sharoll
"Stay under the canopy and don't talk about Noah." -Allison 


So, despite being a little damp and chilly, we got off to a great start at VBS in the park Tuesday. Last year at this site, we averaged about 6 kids and as many helpers. Today, we had nearly 20 kids (awesome!). While this was slightly overwhelming when confined to a canopy tent, we still sang, learned the story of Esther, made an accordion book craft, played with a parachute, and finally enjoyed some warm pigs in a blanket.

My favorite part: I asked the kids how they
can be brave like Esther even when they're scared. One little girl raised her hand and said we could pray to God. The girl behind her disagreed- "He can't hear us clear up in the sky!" So we had a good discussion about that. Most importantly, though, we got to learn about God firsthand, as volunteers got soaked while putting up tarps to keep us dry, helpers gave up their own raincoats to warm chilly children, and we all showed extra patience with each other. I am oh-so-thankful for the wonderful people who let God's love shine through them. That made it a beautiful day.

I am enjoying having Cherie Miner, new director of MUMMs, travel with me as we do not one, but TWO Bible schools this week. We're getting immersed in the music, lessons, and crafts before we each head out on our own. This way we'll do twice as many VBSes this summer- look for us soon in a small town near you!