VBS 2012 - Day 1

Well, I have been completely MIA on the blog scene for the past month and the reason why is that great and exciting time of the year called Vacation Bible School! You can begin thinking and planning months in advance and the planning still increases in intensity the few months before you schedule the big event! I plan on going into more detail on another blog where I guest post from time to time called, Baptist Missionary Women, so you will soon be able to read all about the behind the scenes work that goes on in the weeks leading up to VBS if that part of it all is something you need to know more about or are interested in. But, for now, I want to share with you the fun part...photos of the children having a blast and learning more about God and His free gift of salvation. That is the best part of it all!

This year an Olympic theme was chosen with plans to reward the children with gold, silver, and bronze medals for the team with the most points at the end of the week, as well as, individual medals for Bible verse memorization and to the child who brought the most guests during the week.

We shared the theme with the children in Sunday school weeks ahead of time and encouraged them to invite their friends and be prepared for a fun week!

Posters were printed and hung throughout the village.

Invitations with the dates and permission slips printed on the back
were handed out to parents and children.

We were thankful for several missionaries from the Krasnoyarsk Baptist Church who came out to help with VBS this year. They held VBS in the city at the church last week, they were with us this week, and they plan on helping with VBS in two other villages (where ministries already exist) in the coming weeks. We have noticed a difference in how the children behave when there are more people and especially more men present during the lesson and game times. Even if the adults are not able to speak Russian well or even at all, their presence is definitely a benefit. In addition, this summer two college students were visiting missionaries from the city and they also came out to help in whatever capacity needed.

Matt and Hannah (visiting college students) helping to prepare decorations.

During the first 30-45 minutes of each day we begin VBS with registration time.

This time allows us to listen to the verses the children have memorized and record their attendance and participation in order to tabulate their points earned.

Registration of children.

One of the missionary ladies from KBC, Nancy, is my right hand help with this registration. This year was even more involved since we awarded the children with medals for Bible verse memorization and guests invited. Registration and point tabulation is a very time consuming task but it helps us keep things fair and recorded so that the children can use their points at the end of the week to spend in the "store" to buy toys and other items as a reward. They love this part of VBS and look forward to it each year!

Nancy and I discussing permission slips as the children gather each morning.

This year we were also privileged to have Ryslan, a Ukrainian man who works with youth camps and VBS programs each year be a part of our VBS program and teach the daily Bible lessons. Ryslan often flies into Krasnoyarsk during the summer months to help out with the summer ministries here in Siberia. David usually teaches the older children and I teach the younger children but this year all days but one Ryslan was a great help in teaching the entire group. This allowed me to be able to watch the smaller, toddler children so their siblings could be in the classes. Almost every year we have several older children who must come to VBS with their younger siblings in tow since the parents are at work or in the city.

This first day of VBS was so windy we had a difficult time keeping everything in it's place!

Once the Bible lesson is complete, Nancy does a great job of playing a review game with the children to check how well they listened during the lesson and to allow them another chance to earn points for their teams.

During the review game, the two college students helped set up Kool-Aid and snacks for the children to enjoy. For this first day, a lady from KBC who works in a cafeteria was so kind to prepare special muffins for the children's snack.

Girls first!

Boy's turn!

Once the snacks have been swallowed it was off to the relay races! Katie Northcutt, a missionary wife, was so kind to be the photographer for the week. She was able to get some great shots all throughout the week. Seeing these huge smiles on the children's faces is such a blessing!

The race is on!

Timothy (our son) running the three-legged race with his friend, Sasha.

Determination!

Some of us just needed a little help!

Pop the balloon relay.

Run to the end of the line.

Sit on the balloon to pop it.

Get back up and run back to the others!

Balloon between the heads relay!

Then, last but not least...tug of war!

Then the adults jump in to help for another round!

Left side ready!

Right side ready!

Victory for the left side!

First day done, the workers returned to our house for lunch. 

Everyone drove home to rest up for the next day! 

(I unfortunately had to go the dentist for a root canal! 

Something is just not fair about that!)