We were short handed in VBS this year (more than usual, I think). As a matter of fact, I did not have any firm assistants until Sunday. I found out then that I had an assistant on Monday & Tuesday & we'd work out the rest of the week as it came. Also, I needed a Pharaoh for Tuesday. On Sunday, I finally got a firm Pharaoh! I thought the remainder of the week would work out... hopefully... or I'd do it alone. Surely I could do it all on my own!
Well, Monday & Tuesday went great! My behind the scenes assistant, Caleb, did an awesome job. He is headed off for college this fall! He couldn't do the rest of the week because he had college orientation! With his help on Monday, we pulled off a pretty cool burning bush complete with crackling sounds & a mysterious voice.
One of our pastors (Tim) was Pharaoh! He endured a lot of torture from the kids & plagues. Again Caleb was behind the scenes providing sound effects for the first 9 plagues. This was a wild and crazy day! We had so much to do in 20 minutes. Tim was great & flexible & appropriately MEAN to the Israelites! I felt like I was running around like a crazy woman on Tuesday (which happened to also be my birthday).
Tuesday afternoon a group of youth "young men" helped me by stuffing paper bags that I needed to build the house for Wednesday! That saved me so much time! Yea!
Well, Wednesday was coming. It was a day that an assistant would have been very helpful. I figured I'd just make it work. Plus with each group, leaders come in with the kids, so I thought they could help. Well, God had a different plan.
Olivia's leader was encouraging them to bring more friends. So Olivia was wanting to invite some friends to come. Honestly, most of her friends are church friends or MOPS friends. We don't live in a neighborhood. All our neighbors that we've met are senior adults. She REALLY wanted to invite some MOPS friend. I was hesitant to let her call her friend Olivia (yes gets confusing) because Olivia is active in her church and she lives in another town and they also have 5 kids in their family from ages 10 years to 6 months. But as kids can do, she bugged me enough that I let her call! =0)
The next thing I know is that my Olivia is coming into my room on the phone talking to Olivia's mom (who happens to be my very wonderful friend Cindy I've mentioned before). My Olivia is giving Cindy all the details about VBS and hands me the phone! Well, Cindy is telling me that she thinks they'll come. In the conversation, we're talking about the Bible room and how it has been going and that I don't have an assistant for the rest of the week (there was no complaining... just the facts) besides... I knew Cindy would pray! HOWEVER, Cindy did more than pray, she volunteered to come and help me! AND she did! I didn't even think to ask HER! She doesn't even come to our church!
After Wednesday went so well, she volunteered to come Thursday and Friday, too! Also, on Wednesday morning, a youth greeted me and asked me if I needed help with anything. Of course I did! He did this on his own... no one sent him to ask! How awesome is that? He did this on Thursday & Friday, too. He'd even ask in the afternoons, too! Servant!
So here I was in great need, but GOD DID WHAT HE SAID HE'D DO! He provided for me... He provided for our Children's Director & VBS Director by providing an assistant for me... He provided for all the kids by providing an assistant for me! The amazing thing was that this was the phrase we were teaching the kids on Wednesday... God Does What He Says He'll Do! Fear Not! So all day Wednesday, as I said that... I just almost wanted to cry because GOD HAD provided exactly what I NEEDED just as he said he'd do! I just love the way God works! =0)
Okay, on Wednesday, I could NOT have done all I needed to without an assistant! Cindy was exactly who I needed. We were experiencing the first Passover in Egypt. We had houses in the room with doorways for the kids to paint "blood" on to protect them from the death angel. Well, between each class, the paper had to be changed for the next class. Cindy was able to do this while I was outside in the hall with the class preparing them to enter the room! She was also able to help with passing out unleavened bread, the painting, and the sound effects!
On Thursday, we celebrated the Passover in Jerusalem with Jesus & the disciples. We tasted some of the items that Jesus would have eaten. We remembered what Jesus did on the cross for each of us. We remembered that God Gives Us Life as we accept that gift! Again Cindy's assistance was priceless so that I could focus on telling the story. She passed out paper towels, parsley in salt water, unleavened bread, grape juice, paper, and pencils!
And today, we were back in Egypt just after the original Passover. We left Egypt and began our journey through the dessert. After a journey through the church following the pillar of cloud (polyfill) by day and a pillar of fire (lantern) by night, we made it to the edge of the red sea. As we were resting, we heard the Egyptians coming to attack (thank you leaders). Just in time, Moses obeyed and didn't lose faith (although the Israelites did). As he raised his staff, the strong wind (2 box fans) blew, and the red sea parted! As we crossed over on dry land, we could feel the ocean mist (thanks Cindy)! Once safe on the other side, we were reminded that GOD CARES FOR US! FEAR NOT!
What a fun time we had! More importantly, I think the kids learned things this week they didn't know or hadn't experienced quite this way! My prayer is that when they think of VBS they will remember our five points this week:
GOD IS WITH US...FEAR NOT!
GOD IS POWERFUL...FEAR NOT!
GOD DOES WHAT HE SAYS HE'LL DO...FEAR NOT!
GOD GIVES US LIFE...FEAR NOT!
GOD CARES FOR US...FEAR NOT!
Thank you for praying! Thank you for supporting us through prayer!
BTW, Virginia did GREAT at home with Dano. After Dano put her down for her nap, she would sleep til I got home to nurse her! AND on top of that, Dano has pretty much potty trained Wesley! Wow! What a great Daddy! =0) Thanks, Dano, for giving up your week for serving our church and our family!
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