Preparing for Vacation Bible School 2011

Within a few days after finding out that we would no longer be able to hold services in the cultural building, we found out who to talk to in order to find out the reason for this decision. We prayed about this decision to talk with the administration and along with finding out the reason for the decision we wanted to ask permission to use the building for VBS as it was then only a week away. The village leadership has changed in the last 6 or 8 months and now a lady holds the main position. We also recently found out that the previous leadership had written a letter which they kept on file in the office of the cultural building stating that he was aware of the fact that we held services in the building and was for it. In this meeting with the new lady in office, she expressed that this was a decision made from the regional administration above her. The members of the commission who made their rounds through the village happened to remember that five years ago when we met for our first VBS in the school, there was a complaint from one of the mothers. (Some of you may remember that situation from our prayer letters.) When we inquired as to why after five years we are being told to stop holding services and as to if there had been any complaints, we were told "Yes, there was a complaint. Remember when you met at the school five years ago?" So, even though that was the only reason she could give us, we explained that we understood about Sunday school not being held there anymore and that we would respect her decision. She told us we also could not use the building for our upcoming VBS, but that we could use the soccer field, where we have already been meeting for Sunday school. In years past, we had used the soccer field for games only. In order to hold the whole week of activities there we would need to figure out some way to provide shelter in case of rain.
Praise the Lord we found out about two "gazebo" type tents that another missionary had purchased to use for Sunday school at the church in the city. He agreed to let us use those which would provide some shade and rain protection. Once we were sure about where exactly VBS would be held, we got to work on printing out the announcements and invitations we would use to invite the children as well as the other materials necessary during the week which we had already been working on including; songbooks, daily worksheets, coloring sheets, etc.

Dee printing and Rebekah cutting the VBS  invitations

Cutting invitations and stuffing the larger posters into protective covers.

Preparing the songbooks

Our theme for this year is "Keep thy Heart" from the verse in Proverbs 4:23, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." We ask you to pray with us for the Lord to do great things this year. David and I will be teaching the lessons and three other missionaries will come out each day to help and assist with games and other activities. Please pray for safety and a good week for everyone involved!