VBS - Day One

Our morning started off with prayer at the White Parrot around 8:45.

Then we had an appointment with Korogwe’s District Commissioner. He is the big wig in the area. He wanted to say hi and welcome the team to town. After, we picked up supplies and headed up the mountain.

(Here we are on the bus. The bus would go as far as the road conditions allowed and then we would hike the rest of the way.)

By the time we made the trek up the hill (I was so happy I made it to the top …at 35 weeks pregnant, thank you very much!), it was close to 12:00. The kids welcomed us with a song and then we split up into two groups. The guys were off to work on construction projects and the girls were off to do VBS with the kids.

The guys want to finish Herbert’s office, put up shelves and screens in the kitchen and do a few other repairs around the home. Quickly they assessed what needed to be done and came up with a list of supplies they needed. Then they headed back down the mountain to purchase the supplies.

Meanwhile, we headed up to the church to do VBS (Vacation Bible School). We had around twenty five of the kids in the home participate. A few of the older kids were preparing for exams and not able to come today.

To start us off, the team led a few songs and the kids decorated name tags.

Then Shannon taught about “Who I Am In Christ” while Herbert translated. That will serve as our theme for the four days of VBS. Each child was given a list of who God sees them as. She wanted them to know they were very much loved by their Heavenly Father.

Next up was a craft. They decorated crosses with stickers and markers. The room was so quiet as they worked! They did a great job.

Here they are holding up the finished products.

As we worked with the kids, there was a growing crowd outside of kids from the nearby villages.

In the past, they have been able to include them with the VBS, but this time we only had enough materials for the kids in the orphanage. (Unfortunately, in the container that is stuck in the port are more supplies that would have allowed us have them join along.) Although we didn’t have enough materials for them, they weren’t excluded. They listened to the lesson, sang songs and we passed out snacks and treats to them with the other kids were working on the crafts.

After a lunch break, we did more songs, games and handed out tons of candy. There was one game we played that is kind of like Simon Says that was a hit.

The village kids are a little shy, but with some coaxing (and bribing with candy!), they played too.

This little girl, Hepi, was hilarious. She is small but spunky. She had a candy trade going on.

We closed our afternoon with more songs. These kids (and the adults who were present) know how to Praise the Lord! It was really special to join with them (or listen and clap as they sang in Swahili). The kids are so cute and a blast to be around.

Close to 5:00, it was time to go and we headed down the hill. Just as we passed the stream, the guys returned with some of the supplies they needed to begin working. The timing was perfect and we all headed back to the White Parrot together for dinner and a devotion. Sarah led it this time and it was about spiritual warfare. It was a topic many of us needed to hear about and was very encouraging.

Overall, a good day. Tiring, but good. I am excited for tomorrow.