VBS- Wilderness Escape

We have successfully survived our first VBS of our summer.  It was at the Lynchburg Seventh Day Adventist Church.  (The church associated with my kids school) As is quite typical the kids LOVE it--- all 12 of the kids I've been transporting along with another friend Alisa (and her hubby Cory on the last night)-- mom to the youngest VBSer!  We went from one vehicle to transport to Cory's van and Grandma and Poppy's van too on the last night!

This year was a big change for me.  I haven't been a VBS teacher since I had kids!  So a 11 years later I am back to being a VBS teacher--- this year known as "tribe leader".
I began being a VBS teacher 17 years ago at Olivet Baptist Church and did 2 years there.  Then I did several years at Thomas Road-- both were for the youngest preschool age (2-4 at Olivet and 4 y/o at Thomas Rd)

I spent from 3-7:30 Thursday and Friday setting up, decorating and preparing for VBS.  Our theme this year is Wilderness Escape

This VBS is a neat set-up.  It's a great deal different than any I ever did.  Usually VBS is seperated by age groups--- all the preschoolers 1 group, kindy 1 group, each grade their own group.  This one is multi-aged 3y/os through 5th grade (so 12ish y/o olds).  Each group has about 6 kids.  Our groups are names after the tribes of  Israel. The twelve tribes are as follows: Reuben, Simeon, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Ephraim and Manasseh.  My Group is Gad.

We start together for celebration time of singing and the bible point with Miss Keena.  (Oh she has a career in communication and kids!  She is great at getting their attention by playing the role and engaging them!). 

one of the groups of kids during worship

 Then we have a tribe time where we go over any God sitings for the day.  Everyone learns to look for evidence of God all around them-- I get the most simple answers like trees to their family members to my 3y/o was thankful for popcicles when it was 95 degrees ;-)

Our God Sighting Map that some of our AMAZING volunteers made-- far more impressive than the map they could have ordered from the VBS Company.  The white trail is the God sightings the kids had this week.

 Then we head to dinner-snack.  It is a light dinner.  I am bringing many low income kids.  This is likely a huge meal for them and they are allowed refills.  Then you have my picky kids who you are lucky if they eat one thing off that plate.  You can't please them all but no one has to leave hungry!

Then there are 3 stations:
Fun and Games with Mr. Doss

Moses' Tent with Moses, Malachi and the third actress (her name/role changes nightly)

lesson on the 10 commandments and a memorable picture lesson using mouse traps to compare the effects of not obeying the role book God has put in place for our well-being and safety

Israelite Camp that has 10 stations of activities for the kids.  The camp is what I helped set up last week.  The stations are:
Baker-- where they knead dough and taste bread

Butter-- where they learn to churn butter via shaking

Rope Making-- where they braid their own rope

Sandal Making--where they make their own flip-flop style sandals

Musician-- where they make their own bell shaker instrument

Weaver-- where they make a God's eye art project

Kid-to Kid Oasis-- The missions project booth where they learn about clean and unclean water and money is raised for children to get 2 years worth of clean water.  As well they make a cup out of paper and drink water from it

Camp Cleaner-- they learn how to wash clothes prior to washing machines

Camel Hearder-- where they measure 35 gallons of water b/c that's how much a camel drinks a day

Sand Artist-- where the make and decorate a clay necklace

The kids get to go to two of the Israelite Camp tents a night.


Then it is time for closing celebration, with a hands on object lesson in your tribe, closing bible lesson and songs

Night 1

We, as usual started with minimal kids.  I always like to feel out any program before I start to allow the kids to bring all their friends.  We did have cousin Kierra with us since the kids were playing and swimming together before VBS.

Meet Mo the Mouse

Day 1 game with Mr. Doss-- balancing a sponge on your head-- wet of course... to be like the fat that they used in the Egyptian times to "cool off", and "make you smell good".... ummm I'd take the wet sponge ANY day!
Day 1 lesson in Moses tent was following the cloud through the wilderness and then God parting the sea for us to get across.  Amusingly a lot of kids found their favorite part of the whole night crawling through the "tunnel" the fan created in parting the sea.

Night 2

Tonight we tripled our kids from just Jayna, Anthony and Kierra to Alisa, Jayla, Alonza, Diamond, Alexus, Tabitha and Mateo!

Meet Humphrey the Camel

Day 2 game with Mr. Doss-- shooting a cotton ball off of your partner's head with a spray bottle
Day 2 lesson was praying and asking God for food during the famine and he provided quail (aka peeps at VBS) and manna (aka frosted flakes at VBS)

Night 3

Tonight we added two more to our list of kiddos with Will and Payden
Meet Chase the Leopard

Day 3 game with Mr. Doss-- the large parachute thing I know everyone has done in PE.Class at one time or another and then water balloon toss
Day 3 lesson was a mixture of God gives us strength and teamwork makes the task at hand easier

Night 4 

Again tonight we had 11 kids myself and Alisa (13 Total attending)
Meet Isaac the Goat

Day 4 game with Mr. Doss-- "garbage toss" trying to get all the garbage on your opponents side and of course they are doing the same.  And then we played the water version of duck duck goose.  We called it wet, wet, dry (on field day the school called it dribble dribble drop)
Day 4 lesson was teaching the kids about passover, sacrificing the lamb, putting it's blood over the door

Night 5

Our group grew again tonight from 13 total to 15 total--- 3 adults (we added Corey) 12 kids (we added Jesse)!

Meet Rocky the Rock Badger

Day 5 game with Mr. Doss was first balloon basketball and then the lemon roll relay game.  Both are pictured above.  The balloon one was a hit for all the ages :-)
Day 5 lesson was on the 10 commandments and how they are a role book not because God wants to control us but because he is looking out for what is best for us and wants to keep us safe.  Moses also explained what each one meant and allowed the kids to give examples too.

In Closing
We had a great week!!  We couldn't have asked for a more thoroughly put together program!  My non-believer friend and daughter attended all week and they too loved it!  11 of my kids gave to the Kid-to-Kid Oasis (or they better have!  I gave them each a baggie of money!)!  I was annonymusly gifted a jar with many coins last Christmas Eve.  There was about $90 in it.  I have ensured not to spend it on US but to donate it to this in need, so this was the perfect chance.  My coin jar is now depleted with the final baggie of money coming from my purse.  The other money had been already donated to other causes.

I even survived a week of working 3rd shift and being a tribe leader and an excessive amount of transporting!  I usually started picking up people for VBS at 4:15 and got to church at 5:30/5:40.  Then VBS ended about 8:30 and I got home about 10 and gulped down supper and to third shift by 11.
Every kid was also given a Card with their tribe's picture within it on the final night!  Another perfect touch!!  I gave each of the kidlets in my tribe two packets of gummies to go with their picture!  We had a wonderful week together!!