I've had many conversations recently that have gone like this:"Where are you going next week for Bible school, Allison?"
"Woolstock!"
"...Woodstock??"
I think Woolstock should capitalize on this confusion and have a wool festival, like knitting for hippies. It's a pity people don't ask me to community plan. In real life, WOOLstock, Iowa is home to 168 friendly people and is the birthplace of George Reeves, TV's Superman.
On a Sunday, roughly nine people worship at the United Methodist church. Given that figure, this site had probably the highest percentage of its congregation come out to help of anywhere I've been! They hadn't had VBS in a very long time and were very nervous that no kids were going to come. We were all thrilled with the seven that came. These were some wonderful kids, too- the sort that remind me why I love working with kids in the first place. They loved to make things, to be creative, to sing. We need these people in our churches. That is the beauty of VBS- as illustrated in the following conversation:
Little boy: Home! Oh. Church.
Me: I like that answer, because church can feel like home.
Little boy, eyebrow raised: How can church feel like home?
Me: Well, the people are like your family. We're all children of God, so this is our church family.
Little boy, proudly: I live in Woolstock.
Me: How many people live in Woolstock?
Almost every hand went up. Lots of faces were surprised. 168 people, but that doesn't mean you know all of them. A common theme in the places I visit is the expectation that living in a small town means you know everybody, but they find the reality is that people move in and out so much there are many strangers. I love having people meet their neighbors at Bible school!
Fun kid moments:
We're eating lunch, and one little boy observes, "There are lots of Poppies and Grandmas here." True story- every one of these people was retired. "And moms," he added, "that's you."
"Actually, I'm not a mom," I said.
"Are you a kid?" he asks, puzzled.
"No, not a kid."
"What are you?"
Another boy told me about his plan to go into business by collecting worms to make sushi.
Like most kids, this bunch adored the puppet. During closing time, one boy really wanted Romper to talk to him, and he kept calling out, "I love you, Romper!"
