Friday 17th

Friday 15th unedited
This day began very. Last evening Gretchen and Nancy joined us for dinner and presented their work in Cameroon with a power point presentation. I had had an idea from the VBS DVD to do a treasure hunt. We were talking about it earlier but then I started playing Spite and Malice with Gretchen and Nancy and that lasted till after 10. I went back to the room and worked on the treasure hunt clues and the ways to send the teams so that they would all be going in different directions. I didn’t get too far and went to sleep. I awoke in the night. There is a light right outside our window that shines on the desk so I managed to get what I thought was a viable plan. The clues were to be placed in plastic Easter eggs but there were not enough colors so I had to mix tops and bottoms. I went back to sleep and woke in time to get to breakfast a little early. I checked out the clues and revised them slightly, cut them in strips and started putting them in the eggs. Some thing was not working out and I almost gave up. Then it all came clear. Glenda was helping me put the strips in when I discovered another mistake. In the process I ended up with a banana for breakfast. I was not too happy a camper when things got started but a little time by a big tree in prayer started to get the attitude changed and soon the day was starting to click. This was our last full day at the VBS and so we planned a lot of special activities. We watched some videos, played some games and it was time for lunch. I ate quickly and walked back to get the treasure hunt organized. When the children arrived we got it started right away and it was a lot of fun. There were a couple of glitches but I would do another one in a heartbeat. Next we did relays and the hit was the clothing race. I put two tee shirts, two pair of my shorts, two of Rhonda’s bandanas and two of my hats. The laughs were side splitting with these kids starting from 1st grade and up to sixth running around holding up the shorts with the tee shirt nearly on the ground. We took a break to cool down inside while a couple of kids helped me fill balloons with water for the piece de resistance, Water Activities! We started with a couple of balloon tosses and some variations and then opened it up for free time. I had the hose but I had made a wise decision to leave the phone and watch in the room and put on a bathing suit. My flip flops were so wet and slippery I took them off and went barefoot like the kids.
I went in to get a shower but Chris had the same idea so I got dressed and went down to the Commons for dinner. It was still 20 minutes away and so I napped in a big arm chair until I heard Marceline say if anyone is not too sleepy supper is ready. I think a couple of others might have been nodding. By 7:00 we had walked over to the Center for fun night, a combination of local videos and stills and skits and music and went on until 9:30. I was really glad I had had a nap. Gretchen had asked us about coming and she and Nancy were in several acts.
Yesterday was the day my class and the one next door were to put on a puppet show directed by the local puppet master. They had already started on some smaller productions for the younger kids but were not really following through. I gave them a little pep talk the day before and by 9:30 we had three productions written practiced and ready to go. The battle of Jericho was one. A grandmother telling grand children how she and grandpa became Christians was another and a skit tying eating fruit as healthy with the fruits of the Spirit. By the time those were presented another one was ready about kids learning to share. I was really pleased with the kids’ talents and work ethics. The other teachers were very happy we invited them because their kids really enjoyed.
Last thing in the afternoon I surveyed the class for their opinions about the success of VBS and the reactions were very positive. After school some of the parents stayed for the puppet show and they were very complimentary too. I started typing. Then Marceline and I played Spite and Malice and now since I can’t remember anything else from yesterday or today it’s time to end. I have not been able to get my email for a couple of days. I will try again tonight!