by David Fawcett
Another Vacation Bible School at All Saints’ is in the books.
And another week filled with numerous blessings.
There were 87 children registered to attend VBS with 39 percent of them coming from All Saints’ (34 total), 20 percent from Storytime and MomCo (18), and 40 percent from the community (35) who have no connection to All Saints’.
To capture the experience, volunteers were asked to submit testimonies where they saw God at work in a specific situation, and what it meant to them and why.
Here they are in no particular order. Enjoy!
· Many of our Storytime and MomCo regulars came to VBS. They were so excited to participate and have their children involved. It’s such a blessing to share the love of Jesus with these families, especially those that don’t yet have a church home. The best part is that we are blessed as a church to meet, and begin friendships with, new families year-round at Storytime and at MomCo during the school year.
· A comical story. God really showed us his humor when we came across a REAL snake in the Heaven Room during Take Down Friday! Yunny was taking down some of the decor and out crawled a snake in one of the large colorful paper flowers. Of course, she screamed at the snake as it slithered across the Heaven Room floor and received lots of attention from the cleanup volunteers! Father Scott rescued it and took it out to the woods. This was a reminder that the wild world has REAL surprises around every corner! It’s a good thing. We are training our kids to know that the love of Christ is unconditional and never-ending…even when we think we are out of the wild jungle!
· A good reminder in general about how God blessed VBS with the weather: sunny skies, tolerable temperatures. Usually at least one day, that’s not the case during this week due to the time of the year.
· One of the elementary-age groups had only two kids. One of the kids was the designated line leader who held the sign to direct the kids where to go. On the last day, though, the line leader gave the sign to the other child in her group so he had the opportunity to lead.
· During the closing, one of the children in the elementary group was still healing from a lingering bee sting. One of the adults in the group prayed for healing over the sting. The next day, the adult checked in with the child, and it had been healed.
· When it was time for a group of preschoolers to come in from the playground, one of the girls didn’t want to come in. Noticing this, one of her group-mates took her by the hand as they walked inside and asked her if she was OK. The girl was upset, so her group-mate followed up by saying, “You are not OK” and proceeded to talk to her. It worked. The girl calmed down and continued her day. As a side note, these were 5-year-olds.
· This came from the grandmother of a young man who attended VBS as a kid but has wanted to help as a young teen helper since he aged out. Tara sent an email Wednesday asking for help from anyone who could stick around after the final session Friday to take things down. The grandmother's response to Tara was this: “He is really enjoying being a helper at VBS. In fact, tonight at dinner he said he’s sad it’s ending in two days and then I opened your email and started reading it to him. He stopped me and said: ‘I don’t need any details, just let her know I’ll stay to help!’ Count him in! Congratulations on another wonderful VBS experience and thank you for including him and helping him to feel needed and for being a strong positive influence in his life story.”
· There was a girl having a hard time following directions, I saw the crew leader having a hard time too, since day 1. She took her aside to talk to her. Instead of letting her frustration show, I saw her showing the girl such kindness. When they came back to the group, the station leader, at the crew leader’s urging, led everyone in singing Happy Birthday to the girl. It was beautiful.
· From a crew leader who is in her late 70s: “Every session is such a treat. I’m having a great time.”
· There was a mom new to the area who checked the All Saints’ website and saw there was a wait list for VBS. She followed up with Tara about availability later in the week. Tara told her there were spots now open, so the woman came Wednesday so her 3-year-old could attend the pre-school portion. The woman was extremely friendly and outgoing as she talked to everyone and made herself at home. She was happy to be here.
· The three young female worship leaders telling each other how they can’t wait to do what Susannah Pedersen is doing this year in leading the intro and closing sessions for VBS.
· One of the boys who helped with the games was in my crew in 2019. It’s so good to see him now helping out and leading. He was a sweet boy then and that hasn’t changed a bit now, He’s a fine young man.
· There was a boy during the group time who at the end of VBS said at first he didn’t want to come, but now he does because he’s having fun.
· A 5-year-old girl said she had a nightmare the day before. One of the VBS female leaders asked this girl Monday if she wanted to pray about it. The girl said yes and immediately extended her hands out without being asked. She knew God hears our prayers. The VBS leader prayed a simple five-word prayer: “God, take her nightmares away.” The VBS leader asked the girl Tuesday if she had any more nightmares and she said no. She slept well.
· One VBS crew leader only had one child in her group Monday. As they were participating in the opening, the young girl kept looking for our other crew members. She said she was sad that it was just going to be the crew leader and her. The crew leader asked her why that makes her sad and she said “because they are going to miss out on having fun. VBS is so much fun.” Then at closing, she told the crew leader it looks like she’s going to be stuck with the crew leader all week! The crew leader said “We’ll be best friends by the end of the week!” The girl said “Yes, but I wanted to make new friends too.” The crew leader said she was thankful for the one-on-one time she and the girl had together. They shared a lot of things they like/dislike and what they like to do.
· A child told her crew leader she didn’t want to be at VBS and kept asking if she was in trouble (she tested the limits but was not naughty). This same girl then volunteered to lead the closing group prayer. And it was holy and beautiful.