If you can't take the heat...

For my last VBS of the summer, Paige and I went to Vanderwilt Park in Oskaloosa. Since last summer, the playground here has been torn down. I thought the kids would really miss getting to play while they were at VBS, but we had so many other fun things that I'm not sure anyone really noticed.

On the first day, we had a special visitor. Gaylord the donkey (and his friend Pat) came to share a story with us. After everyone got to feed and pet the donkey, Pat shared about how Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem- not a high horse, but a low donkey, so he could be right at the people's level. She also showed us the cross markings on his back, and how if he could carry a cross for Jesus, all of us could too- no one is too small to carry a cross.

We had a small group- eight different kids came at least once throughout the week- but these heroes had heart! They were also a pretty musical bunch, so they had fun with the box of instruments and the boomwhackers.

By the end of the week, it was hot. This is the downside to outside Bible school. We drank lots of water and stayed in the shade. We did the "stick pencils in the water baggie" science activity just so we could get wet when we pulled them out. The game drip-drip-drop was fun and practical. We were extremely grateful for the air-conditioned school where we ate lunch. For the first time in my VBS memory, we sent kiddos home early.

On the last day, our caped bunch of superheroes sang the Batman grace to the summer lunch program volunteers. I saw the effects of their super powers. They'd been making me smile all week long, but they made everybody in the kitchen smile too. Never underestimate this super power.