VBS 2023 - Judges

 

We structured this year´s VBS differently from previous years.  Knowing we would have fewer volunteers, and that the helpers that would be joining us would be mostly teenaged, we chose to keep all the kids together for all the activities rather than dividing into two groups.  In that way, volunteers could be available for whatever area most needed help.  

The ages of participants ranged from 2 to 14. On our busiest day, we had twenty-four kids and teens attending.

We decided to start an hour earlier than we had before, beginning at 10.  We also scheduled for a half-hour less than other years, planning to end at 12:30 each day.  We learned many VBS´ ago that it´s best to start on Tuesday and go through Saturday, because Sundays are generally very occupied for us, preventing last-minute preparation.

As in past years, we provided transport for a number of the participants. This presents a challenge, since Abraham and I are the only drivers, and that means one of us is not present at the VBS for the time it takes to pick up and return the kids.  Abraham chauffeured in the morning, so I began the VBS with review, Bible verse practice, and songs with the kids who arrived on their own or were on our route to Huejotzingo where we held the VBS.

Once all the kids were present, Abraham began games, an often riotous and crazy time.  At the end of the game time, the kids lined up to wash hands and dig in to their light meal which Six, Abraham´s mother, had prepared the night before. 

While the stragglers finished their food, I gathered the kids together to review and practice their Bible verses, and then Abraham taught the Bible story of the day.  He told the story of  Joshua on Tuesday, followed by Ehud, then Deborah, Gideon, and finally Samson on Saturday. 

After the story, Abraham stayed with Six and a couple voluteers to wash and store dishes while I took the kids upstairs to work on their crafts and worksheets, with the assistance of three or four teen helpers.  The difficulty with having young helpers was training them at the same time as we did the activities.  Two of them were actually younger than the oldest VBS participant.

Although we had planned on having a closing time of review and songs after the craft and worksheet, we only did that once during the week.  The other days, we had to race to finish the projects.

Some time soon after 12:30 the kids requiring transport stuffed into our car, and I drove them to their homes. Some of the young volunteers stayed to help clean up, while one had to hurry off to her factory job.  

It would make a tremendous difference in future VBS´s to have someone besides Abraham and I who could drive, and also to have more volunteers in general.  Some of the ones who assisted this year came only one or two days, and others worked every day, but needed quite a bit of guidance.

the VBS team

We are thankful for your prayers and support.  Throughout the week, God protected us from accidents and other problems.  We were blessed in every activity.  See all the pictures and videos here.