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| We have been running VBS for the past decade |
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| Youth Leaders' participation is invaluable to VBS |
However, I was not sure how this year's summer camp would work out as we seemed to have more leaders than children registering for the church camp.
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| Number of Youth Volunteers broke our record this year! |
Without much advertising but depending mostly on word of mouth, the VBS usually has a decent turn out every summer. This year was different; it was the slowest in terms of registration. With less than two weeks prior to the camp opening, only eleven children had registered.
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| Children's registration for VBS was slow at the beginning |
'' Is God telling me to finish my work here? Is it time for me to move on to do something else?" I wondered when the church elder told me about the registration number. I prayed to God for His guidance. I prayed to Him to give me a sign if this would be the last year we should be offering this program here.
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| A painting activity idea by one of our youth leaders |
I asked for a sign - if the VBS had less than 20 children, then it was a clear sign that God wanted me to stop and move on to something else.
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| The children and teens both enjoyed the many activities at our VBS |
Three days before VBS, the registration number jumped up to 19 children! I said to God, but I asked for 20 children as a clear sign. The day before VBS, a parent called and asked me if there was still space for his daughter
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| We had to move the children on the 3rd day of VBS. |
We hit 20 when the camp opened, the exact number I asked for!
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| We had to modify programs and activities. |
1. The pastor of the church that lent the most support to VBS had to go overseas for a family emergency.
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| Our youth leaders were flexible in their programs and instructional methods. |
2. One of my 4 main leaders had to drop out at the last minute, also due to family illness
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| We moved our Fair Fair to indoor this year. |
3. The original site where we were supposed to hold the camp could only accommodate us for 2 days out of the 5 due to fire inspection procedures
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| Grateful for our youth leaders' assistance and contributions! |
4. We had to move the camp after 2 days to a new site which was not ideal for the operation of the camp
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| We added a Kids' Cooking Class for 2019 VBS |
5. I didn't have a car as I left the car in Toronto for my husband and J.
Despite of all these challenges, God looked after us well during the camp. He sent a team of volunteers to help me shop, cook and look after the volunteers' lunches and the children's needs.
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| Grateful for the parents and local church's support |
Because I didn't have a vehicle, I| could not do any shopping at night therefore I could rest. Cindy, one of the leaders' mother did an excellent job organizing everything!
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| The children were well behaved! |
The team of volunteer mothers learned that I left J. at home for a week and he was leaving on Friday evening, they urged me to leave on Friday afternoon to see him off.
I felt confident enough to do just that. Chuck arranged a ride for me to Toronto so that I had door to door service to our house.
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| 2019 VBS went well despite of many challenges! |
I was able to spend some time with J. before he departed Canada.
VBS went well as well as the presentation on VBS Sunday.
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| 2019 VBS Waterloo, Ontario |
God is great! Everything worked out at the end. He gave me a clear sign - keep going and serving the children in the Waterloo community!
R.T.
Week of VBS, 2019
Waterloo, Ontario
Canada
19082019
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