Answer: Capes, Extension Cords, and Ice Cream

Super Cherie models the crown craft!

Attendees check out the stained glass cross

Question: What are some things God can work through?

No, I'm not kidding.  Keep reading. You'll see.

My Jeopardy-clue-a-day calendar is still on May 15, if that gives you any indication of how fast this month has gone! I warmed up for VBS this spring with some wonderful planning fairs in each of the districts we serve. We shared craft ideas, went through a sample opening session and Bible lesson, did a science demonstration, and Bob Dean with Cokesbury showed us all the curriculum choices for the year, including our choice of Hero Central. It is hard to turn down a curriculum in which you get to wear a cape. If you missed this event, don't worry- we'll be doing it again next year!

After a good end to the school year at my new school, it was time for Annual Conference. I wasn't a delegate this year, which left me plenty of time for the MUMMs booth. I love seeing friends, neighbors, and pastors, some of whom stopped by to tell about their plans for VBS this year and how they've carried on once we got them started. My favorite Annual Conference story, though, was when God used an extension cord to set up a Bible school.

Perhaps I should back up a bit.

I was sitting at the booth, minding my own business, when I heard a noise behind me. I figured it was from the other aisle of booths. Then the noise became a voice- "There's no way of doing this without scaring you...sorry. I followed the cord." The curtains parted behind me to reveal a lady with a stole and an iron. She was from Needling God, two booths down.

This is a stole from Needling God- check out the other gorgeous work she does here!

Now we had not requested electricity for our booth, but somehow we had gotten it anyway, so I was happy to share. She proceeded to plug in her iron, smooth out the most beautiful stole I've ever seen, and talk to me. Eventually she asked what group I was with, and as I started talking about MUMMs, she said a friend had just told her she should come talk with us. Her husband had a church with a lot of kids but no VBS. I asked where, and she told me, saying no one ever knew where it was. I knew where it was. It was 15 minutes away from where I used to teach. She went and got her husband. He called his volunteer. We set a date.
Done.
Reminder number 1,378 that God plans things far better than I do.

For the first VBS of the summer, Paige, Cherie, and I all went to Randolph. ("Where IS that?" asked all my friends and family.) In this town of under two hundred people, 18 kids came the first night. The next night we had 31!  My highlight from this site was a little girl who came up to me after our class time and asked if she could take home a Bible to read the story we had learned today. Absolutely! This led to a good conversation with the pastor where we learned that hardly any of these kids here at VBS attended the church. What a way to reach out into the community! This was even more evident the last night. Parents were invited to the closing time for a short program and ice cream. Many parents came, and church volunteers met people in their community they didn't know before. It is easy to assume that everybody knows everybody else in a small town, but I have spent enough time in small-town Iowa to know that's not the case. Events like this are so important in bringing people together.

Pastor Jan helping during Bible study

The pros of duct-tape shields!

Capes. Extension cords. Ice cream. The church. God can use anything.