Gerdua with a group of kids
Joe, the 18 year old, in charge of the 40 six year olds
My craft room
Mrs. Berline's red scarfed kids with those awful glitter banners
Praise the lord!
It haven't been very prompt in sharing on my blog much about this past summer. I will share one more "story" or insight on what it was like for me. This time I will quote from my journal.
Tues. Aug. 11th 2009 (written a week later)
"... That was the last day of VBS. I was rose at 5AM. The generator was already on which means that someone was already up and working. I had time of prayer and scripture on the porch ledge of the guest house. From my perch I could see Fenel already starting the string mower which, Mr. Joe an American had fixed the night before with Fenel and I looked on. He waved real big... "Bonjou". To my left I could see Esta vida, the cook and Enel just starting up the fire for cooking lunch for all those children... they cooked a total of four huge pots that day... then they had all the dishes to wash! Thank God of those who work behind the scenes. Back to my perch, then up trudged Pierre to the guest house with a 4 gallon Culligan bottle of water balanced on his head. I said," Isn't that difficult for you?" in Creole
"Non, dificil for you." he replied.
The day had just begun.
By 8 AM all was prepared for VBS and the church was being filled up with children ages 0-14. All of us leaders and helpers clasped our hands in prayer, asking our Heavenly Father for His favor , protection and wisdom. Then started the regular 30 min. introduction time ...
"Papa Abraham bwa ou pepitit.. with the leaders Degazon, Didy, Philip, Cherline and Annlene all leading up front. Hands in the air, feet off the ground, head scarves waving, all praising the Lord with everything in them. Then it was time to split off into groups... I ran up to the craft room to meet Mrs. Berline and her group of 48 of so red scarfed kids. They had coloring books to color that day. All we needed were little paper books and crayons. What a breather compared to the previouse praise banners with glitter! The red scarves came and went. I had I had a min. to visit the other activity rooms. I poked my head into Ludy's class of 50 kids preparing for the parent's program tomorrow. "Koman ou ye Loudy?"I greeted
"Mama,"she insisted. When I had first arrived she called me baby because I was so young. I called her Mama and it stuck.
"Ok, Mama."
Souvenie was singing with a group of seven and eight year olds; Fenel was feeding his gang crackers; Claude was practicing a skit with part of his group; Philp was leading kids on their hands and knees in the field pushing lids with their nose while Yves was doing a sack race with the other part of Degazon's 56 big kids, then I went down into the baby room at the church, 114 Babies (ages 0-5). Here M. Edy was leading with about six helpers. Somehow everything looked amazingly under control.
Oh. it was time for me to receive another class the ends of my quick peeks. In marched Degazon's crowd of 50 twelve to fourteen year olds. I was happy this last day was an easy craft. Dega. was passing out water. I had Esther, the helper, assist me in passing out crayons. In this class was Haitian-American boy from New Jersey. The day before I had given him a "sermon" about watching out for girls vs. taking advantage of them/experimenting with them. Leaving him the challenge.
"Be a real man"...
"But I AM!" Today we talked about being a Christian ...
Now it was time for Degazon's group to head for the snack room. The other day the snack was popcorn. It had taken three- fourths of a 25 lbs bag of corn cernals to feed all the kids snack." ...
and so the day continued...and the week went... Fullfilling, busy and with much teamwork. During that week of VBS we had a few hundred children come each day. The theme was; 'Make a Joyful Noise' to the Lord. The whole Zion church worked together to make this possible for the children of the community.
My role in the VBS was crafts. I had to plan, gather supplies and lead the crafts.
My friends from America came during that week. There was a team of seven that came. On top of the VBS in the mornings, Aaron (my American friend) lead leadership/ teamwork training for the youth of the church. That in its self was a awsome, learning experience.
