This Week I Soared.

This week has been one of the best weeks of my life. I was able to be the Bible Day Camp director for my home church, and this year I was able to enjoy it, because the stress was shared. The most stressful part of VBS for me is being in front of the kids in the morning and informing them of everything that is going to happen that day, because I panic and fear that I won't remember everything. This year my pastor shared that burden with me. He used one of his strengths (sharing important information with a large group of people) so that I could focus more on making sure people knew where they needed to be. 

My highlight of the week was getting to know the kids and building relationships with them. My relationships with the leaders were also strengthened. By the end of the week kids were fighting over who got to sit next to me, who was chosen to be in my group, and who could stand by me during singing. This didn't make my heart happy because it could inflate my ego, no. This made my heart happy, because it made it 10 times easier to share with them how much God loves them. I took the time to listen to them when they told long......drawn out.....stories. I asked them their favourite color, and when their birthdays are, and because of this, they then listened to me when I told them alllll about the  glory of God.

Perhaps the happiest time if the week was when one of our "busiest" little guys repeated the bible stories back in full....THREE times. It just goes to show that kids are listening even if they are moving, talking, running, etc. If you give them a little free time, they are much more receptive to a message. Another happy time was hearing from a new girl that her FAVOURITE part of the week was bible story. This goes to show that kids really pick up on enthusiasm. I made SURE to express that my favourite session was bible story and songs....and by the end of the week, the least favourite activities of the kids turned out to be their favourite! Bible story and worship for the win!

The saddest part of the week was realizing that I only have two hands. I'm pretty sure that there is a picture of kids hanging on my arms and legs, because God only gave me two hands. Maybe God only made me with two so that we learn to share. Whatever the reason, it was the saddest part of the week.

This week I learned the benefits of going above and beyond, (aka soaring in the clouds). On my most busiest and more tiredest night, I stayed up really late baking and decorating cupcakes for the kids. On my most tiredest and sickest days, I spent the entire 1.5 hour bus ride listening to a girl that just really wanted to talk. I had a HUGHMUNGO head ache, and was the most tired I've ever been.... but I kept listening, and nodding, and through this my patience was stretched.

One of my proudest moments was when I witnessed a boy be content. He was supposed to sit with me on the bus and be my partner, but a girl with special needs plunked herself down right beside him before I was able to. This boy didn't look sad, he didn't complain, and he didn't even roll his eyes. He simply pulled out a book and read. I made sure we could sit together on the way back.

One of my most frustrating moments was when one of the parents tried to take advantage of what we were offering...a few times. She completely disregarded what we clearly asked of her, but we didn't let that affect the child. We made the best of the situation, after sharing a large communal sigh.

One of the funniest moments of the week was when our busiest four year old took my cardigan and wore it for a few hours. She exclaimed to everyone, "I like it cause it cozy, it happy, and it smells good." I like that she thinks my clothes are happy. I'll wear my bright blue cardigan more often.

My most heart-felt moment this week was seeing a best friend of mine come out of her shell. During a magic trick, one of our leaders made funny noises, did funny things, and had a good time while doing it. She also helped out and spoke out during bible story by helping the kids to connect Jesus with Easter. I can see her directing VBS one day, I just have to teach her to dance ;)

These are just a FEW of the many marvellous moments that I had this week. I'm sure I'll remember more once I've had some sleep.  As usual a lot of time, money, and effort went in to this event, and seeing the lives of EACH child change, was TOTALLY worth it. It would have been worth it even to make a difference in one life, but the other 18 lives were an awesome bonus! If there's one thing that I want you to know it is this: Kids are not merely the Future of the Church, they are a vital part of the present church, and God is working in them!