56 CHILDREN ENJOYED THE EGYPTIAN EXPERIENCE
This year’s Vacation Bible School reached out to some fifty-six children from the surrounding community with the message of hope and forgiveness from “Joseph’s Journey from Prison to Palace.” The Preschool through Kindergarten age composed three groups of 10 children, while the group of 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders had a whopping 18 children. The older aged group composed of 4th – 6th graders formed another group of 8.
Each day, the children got to visit Joseph, played by Pastor Ron, where he engaged the children in the telling of his story. During the VBS first night, the children saw Joseph in his dark, cold prison cell and heard about what Joseph’s mean and jealous brothers did to him and how he ended up in prison because of a bunch of lies told against him by his Egyptian master’s wife. They learned that Joseph kept his hope in God in the midst of terrible situations. For the next four nights of VBS, the children learned from Joseph that God gives us all special abilities and wisdom that we could use to help others and serve God, that God forgives all our sins so that we may also forgive others, and that God gives us all a big family since all of us who believe in the One True God are called children of God.
Other highlights of the Egyptian experience was a visit to the Pyramid Playground where the children played games that taught them some ancient Egyptian way of living, and to an Egyptian Marketplace where the children were received as apprentices by “shop owners” and allowed to learn how to weave baskets, finish up a blanket, and make their own toys and hieroglyphics name badges, Egyptian collars and headbands. On the fourth night, children were treated to a time at the Salon and the Photoshop where they had their eye make up done, dressed up in Egyptian costumes, and had their souvenir pictures taken. In the Marketplace was a Food Shop as well, which the children visited each day to try on some Egyptian-themed snacks.
The children also enjoyed our Opening and Closing Celebrations where they sang fun and memorable worship songs. “Family Times” gave children a great chance to participate in the lesson discussions and express themselves as well.
All in all, it was a great week to celebrate and share the love of God to our VBS participants and their families. The Family Night Celebration, held on the last night of VBS week, was well attended by parents, grandparents and friends of our participants. The children performed their favorite VBS songs for their guests and Joseph appeared to share his “lived-happily-ever-after” story. Other highlights of the night included 2 groups performing their family cheers, a drawing of free tickets for a family of four to see Sight and Sound’s “Joseph,” and a fellowship over snacks.
Many thanks to all our VBS helpers: Trina Armstrong, Kelly Armstrong, Pastor Ron Bohannon, Darartu Boyer, Kathy Bucher, Tina Davila, Don Fenestre, Chat and Lita Gajes, Paul, Liza and Cobi Garcia, Shirley Gochenauer, Lee Griffin, Vickie Groff, Vicki and Jim Haines, Kathy Hohenadel, Mary Lingo, Nadine and Rodney Lingo, Doris Morrison, Linda Overley, Dot Rineer, Miriam Rorabaugh and all those who helped moved furniture the Sunday before VBS. Many thanks to all who donated or lent us stuff for decorations, and money towards the children’s souvenirs and the Sight and Sound tickets. A big thank you goes to the whole congregation for all the prayers and support. All honor to Jesus Christ, the One True God!
