Vacation Bible School @ CovCom ...

We just finished up a great week at our church's Vacation Bible School. The theme of the week was "Growing in the Fruit of the Spirit" and it was awesome! I am in amazed at how much work goes into putting together a week like this for 100 kids (that's right, we had 100 KIDS!) and was blown away by the excellence in which our church does everything. Seriously, people, if you would have seen the snacks these kids ate every day and the crafts they participated in - it was amazing!

The program was great and the timing ironic, because it was a particularly tiring week for me. I can safely say the Lord used the entire week to grow ME in the fruit of the spirit - an area in which I have been weighed and found wanting. The scripture memory for these little ones was intense, but they absolutely rose to the occasion.

How intense? Well .... here is what they memorized in the 5 day span:

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ²⁴And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

²⁵If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-25) ⁸Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Phil 4:8)

I had the pleasure of co-leading the group of 4 year olds. I LOVE 4 year olds and would you believe I had TWENTY of them?? We actually had 23 or 24, but moved a few up so as to keep the number "manageable". We had a great team with 2 adults and 3 teen helpers, so it went pretty smooth. Suffice it to say, though, that after 3 hours corralling that many small children, I happily joined the boys in their afternoon naps!

Here is our group in craft time
(2 of the 3 tables full of children shown)

Here's Jared in one of our "recreation" times. We had to split the kids and put 10 outside with the water table, while the other half played a game indoors or did another activity - in this instance it was shaving cream on the table. Serious fun for a 4 year old! Holy Cow - what a mess!

Will was in childcare with the other children of volunteers under 4 yrs. He didn't notice missing out on anything though since he still was able to participate in the drama and hear "Farmer Frannie" tell her stories. The only "drama" we had at home with this arrangement was on the last day when Jared came home with his seriously cool crafts and Will realized he didn't have the fruit of the spirit cup, frame, or stamped paint shirt! I'm definitely on the hunt for a cool mug for him to do himself so they both have special cups.

I love hearing the boys sing for us the Fruit of Spirit song! ;-)