DR: Day 6- VBS x2!

We just ate lunch – so delicious! Moro – mmm! (rice and pigeon peas). VBS went well. We started a bit late and there were only 30 kids, which made it a bit easier. We had planned on our teens leading the songs, but several were playing with and holding kids, so Jeremy got things started and led the songs. Later, he apologized because he felt bad for taking charge, but that was honestly the best thing – our kids don’t know all the songs they usually lead and he did.

Tengo Paz como el río, Sí, Cristo me ama, Cast your burdens, Tengo gozo, gozo, Aunque no marche la infantería, El amor de Dios es maravilloso. Actually, I started the last one as the Dominican teens taught it to me and said they sang it all the time, but the kids didn’t seem to know it. I felt like I got played lol! The kids’ skit went really well, and the kids were really engaged.

With my station, where I was to read the Joseph story from the children’s bible stories book Jim bought, I quickly realized it was way too long and boring to hold their attention, so I started summarizing. The second time through, I tried more to tell the story, using pictures from the book to illustrate and asking them personal questions to draw them in.

By the third time through, I was telling the story with excitement and dramatically, barely referring to the book and it went much better. We put the life-size puzzle with the crafts station since they already had plenty of games at that station and the craft didn’t take long (markers on coffee filters, spray with water to make a tie-dye effect – supposed to be like Joseph’s coat).

 

 

This afternoon is when we do VBS at the community center in Río San Juan. There will be more children and it will be crazier. At least we didn’t start by doing VBS in Río San Juan- I feel like we’re ready to go!

This afternoon was fantastic! The songs at the beginning were so fun – and Meredith even videoed them. I’m so glad! (when she gets them uploaded, I'll include them here!)

 

Then, the teens did their skit and we divided into 3 groups. We were going to do the story upstairs, but there was so much water and it was just impossible to mop it all up. So, we had the story in the main room, the games in the gym and crafts outside. It worked really well. I told the story with ease this time, involving them in it with personal questions, and also taking a moment to recognize their “coats” from the last station. I felt like I was so in the moment and the kids were captivated.

The kids were adorable and sometimes hilarious. We were talking about how Joseph was taken far from his home, to Egypt. One little kid stated knowingly, “I’d just take a plane.” When someone else noted they weren’t even invented yet, he said he’d invent one real fast and then fly there J The only thing was I was sooo sweaty! I didn’t feel hot, just into the story, but couldn’t deny I was dripping everywhere.

 

When it was time for the kids to leave, we stood in a line and either gave them high-5s or a hug, and I felt really sad, knowing I wouldn’t see many of these kids again, although glad we’d see many again at movie night tomorrow. I felt full of the Holy Spirit and believe God used me today, truly. I felt prepared for this afternoon, but never dreamed that with these inner city kids, who prior to VBS were violently play-fighting so rowdily, would be so into the activities and engaged in the story. God is good and can do more than we ever imagine. I was just in a state of euphoria afterwards. Also, Kailey, Keelia and Kylie commented that I wasn’t old enough to be their mom – bless them! They’re only like 15.

Later on, several Dominicans joined us for devo, including Jeffrey, my friend from the bus. I forgot to mention, during dinner Jarisa, Jeffrey and I talked about what it means to be a leader. He is so wise and has so much to say about being a leader, about how there are so many ways to be one- not only by speaking but also by your actions. I praised him for the way he led the kids at VBS in Río San Juan – he was so amazing with the kids leading them in song and a prayer where he had them repeat. It was very effective and special. He’s going to spend the night with the interns and help with church tomorrow morning I’m going to miss him a lot. He’s such a talented and sweet kid.

After devo, the missionaries and interns gave us feedback about VBS today. Jeff R. told us that our skit was the most well-prepared they’ve seen- the kids memorized and pronounced their lines really well, the activities were fresh, different, fun and they had never thought of doing a story before, and it’s something they may do with future groups. They were also very impressed by the book I made. I was so proud of the teens and it seemed all the hard work paid off after all. Most of all, the children left both feeling happy and loved, knowing a little more about God’s love and forgiveness.

 

I had a lovely chat with Zach tonight, about books – he recommended The Noticer and I’d like to read it! After chatting more about other books, like Elisabeth Elliot’s Passion and Purity, Keep a Quiet Heart and Discipline: The Glad Surrender, he shared with me that his weakness is the same as Jeff’s, and for the first time, I shared that with someone. I only acknowledged it, no more, but  I’ve just always felt it’s not mine to share and had such embarrassment about it, I’ve never told anyone. It felt a little good to share it, and it felt neat that he would be so transparent about it. He marveled that his fiancé, when he confessed to her, told him it only made her love him more. He, of course, couldn’t believe it and that made him love her all the more. They’re getting married on September 21^st and they are putting God at the center of their lives, above them. He writes her a letter every day and plans on giving them to her on their wedding day, but hasn’t decided when exactly he’ll do it. How romantic! We came to a good stopping point in the conversation and I was heading to bed, but the girls convinced me to stay and chat with them and Jeffy a bit. He shared that during the devo, he cried a little, he just loves the worship songs sung a cappella, in harmony. We decided that very moment to go to the upstairs of the school where we painted and sang several songs. One side of me, was like- almost everyone else is in bed right near us with the windows open and we’re so loud, but I just couldn’t stand in the way and went with it. It was such a special moment! If anyone had any complaints, we never heard about them.

Tomorrow will be fabulous – worshiping God and a sermón from a Costa Rican who is the director of the children’s home. Then, we will climb a mountain and afterwards to the children’s home, then it’s movie night. We will have our devo before dinner. Good night!