VBS - Day 5 {last day}

This is the wrap-up post for a great week given to the Lord!  We had 42 {in all} today, great spirits, happy kids, tired workers, and most of all, a Lord who was pleased with His name being lifted high, taught, and praised all week long.  We give Him all of the glory!

{Below}  Another game similar to yesterday's.  Today's game, called "Lion Tamer" was another hit with the kids.  I bought several of these full-colored, laminated games complete with velcro a couple of years ago in a bookstore at a supporting church, Heritage Baptist Church, pastored by Scott Hanks.  What a fun addition these games have been to our VBS each day!

 {Below} Micah (16 months) entertained himself in this little crawlspace between two doors.

{Below} Pastor Bob and Mrs. Judy gave this "Tennessee" t-shirt to Igor, and hubby felt like it needed some adjusting.

  

{Below} Micah did not lack for little mothers this week!  Here he is being petted on and babied by two precious little orphan girls (and he did NOT like it one bit!)  Personally, I'd just like to take all of his little Mommies home with me, though I'm not too sure he would go for that...

{Below} A fun outdoor game for hot weather: freeze coins into colored ice cubes and have the teams compete with each other to see who can reveal the most coins within a chosen amount of time.   

Children came forward each day wanting to be talked with about salvation.  Our workers were careful to deal with them discreetly and make sure they were given a clear understanding of what it means to be saved, and how one can be saved.  We do not know an exact number of how many accepted Christ this week, but we give God all of the glory for what was done in these precious little hearts.  For those who did not accept Christ or who did not fully understand Christ's redemptive story, the seed was certainly sown in their little hearts.  And that is what it is all about, my friends.

{Below} So, I asked Nate what he thought about this week, and here is his answer for you:

To see some fantastic videos from the last day of VBS click on these links and you will be directed to Simferopol Baptist Church's Facebook page, which is administrated by our pastor's wife, Mrs. Judy:

1.  Song "We Are a Family" - favorite song of the week! (1 minute, 45 seconds)
2.  Song "Noah's Ark" (59 seconds)
3.  Song "How Can I Get to Heaven?" (1 minute, 25 seconds)
4.  Game time (20 seconds)
5.  Memory verse review with my hubby! (8 seconds)
6.  Craft (44 seconds)
7.  Snacks (43 seconds)

Thanks for praying for us!  Now we're off to get a little rest before Sunday...

VBS - Day 4

We had 39 (altogether) today, despite temperatures soaring to the upper 90's.  And speaking of those temperatures, I want to insert here that our workers walk to bus stops, ride on non-air-conditioned buses, and then walk from the bus stop to our church back and forth each day.  Talk about dedication to the cause!  All of them are volunteering their time, some of them even taking off from work, to serve this week without being paid.  The eternal rewards are going to be worth it all!

{Below}  Our fearless leader and director of this entire week, Nelya.  Day 4 and she is still smiling!

 {Below} Bible lesson on the story of Ruth

{Below} Question and answer time after the lesson, which we have done each day, using a variety of games.  In this particular game, if a child answers a question correctly, they get to take a grape off from the cluster and look at the back to reveal the points (usually plus, but sometimes minus) for their team.

{Below} The Pineapple Story, told in Russian.  Here is Amazon.com's description of the story: A firsthand account of how God used a pineapple garden to teach an angry missionary the unexpected results of applying God's secret to conquering anger. Recalling the immortal words of martyred missionary Jim Elliot, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

{Below} Real, fresh pineapples waiting outside!

 {Below} The Wordless Book 

 {Below} Today's craft... an angel made from just one paper plate!

  

 {Below} Daily 20-minute "quiet time" - Christian cartoons, "Superbook" 

{Below} More than likely, the first time ANY of these kids have ever tasted fresh pineapple!  Pineapple does not grow in Ukraine and it is very expensive to buy fresh.  We were blessed by a man in our church today with four pineapples to give to the children.  What a kind gift!

 {Below} Orphan kids heading home on taxis.

Another great day for the books, and we're looking forward to seeing what tomorrow, our last day holds!  Please keep praying for us as we continue sharing God's Word and encouraging these kids to live for Christ!

VBS - Day 3

Already into our third day of VBS, and it just keeps getting better and better!  We had 48 today.... 10 workers and 38 kids {23 from the orphanage}.  Our young lady (Nelya) who is in charge had prepared for this week with 15 in mind. :-)  But, you know what?  This gal has talent!  She has the "more guests? add a little water to the soup to make it stretch" kind of attitude.  I love that about her!  We have definitely seen this girl's talent shining this week.  And, if you count our numbers without orphans, we would have had exactly 15.  And we would have missed out on so many blessings.

(Fuzzy pictures, I know, but you already know about that and have forgiven me for the headache, right?)

{Below} Starting out with daily registration...

{Below} Our talented church pianist, Marina.  I could really seriously listen to her play all day long.  She has a soothing, romantic style of playing but also knows how to play really well for children's music - all by ear.   Sometimes Nelya starts into a song without waiting for Marina's introduction, but super-talented Marina can just start playing right on the note that Nelya is leading on.  Some people get all of the talent, ya know?!

  

{Below} Homemade penants here, folks!  Nelya found tent material and gave it to our super-talented seamstress Luda who made several strips of these penants for our special outdoor events.  Girls, you're amazing! So much talent overflowing in our congregation...

{Below} The kids who came yesterday were able to work on part 2 of their angel craft while the first-timers made the fish you see above.

{Below} Want to gain instant friendship with kids?  Just give 'em paints and let 'em have at it... with paper and their own bodies!

{Below} I love this picture!  The green team "Children of God" is conspiring on how to beat the purple team "Children of the King"!

{Below} Each day we pin the memory verse to the children's shirts just before they leave.  Even the bigger kids, who are given the option to just stick theirs into the sleeve of their badges prefer to have them pinned on too.  Love it!

We're more than halfway through and looking forward to two more days of God's goodness!  Stay tuned, my friends...