Well, this is hard to believe - but this will be the final post for this year's Happy Project. It is currently Friday afternoon and we are in the middle of finishing our final day of VBS. Today's topic is Grace. Our team is trying hard to explain to the Happy Church kids exactly what the word Grace actually means. At the closing celebration, Katie Jackson will be sharing the Gospel with the children. We are praying that God will use us to help these precious children gain a better understanding of God's grace as demonstrated in the Gospel story.
It's anticipated that our team will say a tearful goodbye to the kids at the conclusion of today's VBS. It's amazing to see how quickly a bond can form between a child and their shepherds. The final goodbye is always a tough time for our students.
Once the children are gone, our team will begin cleaning up the church and tearing down the VBS. This is usually the point where our students begin shifting gears and the longing for home begins to emerge. We have a celebration bonfire planned for tonight. Our team will debrief this experience for a final time. Everyone will receive their trophies (a Happy Project T-Shirt).
Before arriving home tomorrow night, we plan to celebrate our week by hanging out around the Red River Gorge. It will be a fun day enjoying God's creation. I know the team is anxious to see each of you. Since it is the final night of our trip (with no work scheduled for tomorrow), we usually let the students party hard into the late hours of the night. By the time they arrive to you, they will probably be sore, hungry, wore out, and a bit cranky! We work for YOU! ;-).
I know the team will be eager to be home and enjoy some Suburban comforts. I know a few can't wait to fire up their cell phones.
Everyone remains healthy & whole. Weather has been fantastic. We are escpecially proud of this year's team. They have had wonderful attitudes and hard work ethic. They were flexible, servant hearted, and very engaged in the mission here at the Happy Church. We have had very neat times opening up scripture and receiving from one another. Everyone has participated and made a helpful contribution this week. Our leadership is greatly encouraged to have a week long trip with little to no drama! What a breath of fresh air.
If you have a child on this trip - you should be very, very, very proud of them - even if they arrive home a bit cranky :-).
Students will be calling you from our cell phones on the way home tomorrow night to let you know what time we will arrive. Can't wait to see you all!
Friday, June 24, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
I write this post from the Happy Church sanctuary, where Timmy C and Olivia M are currently organizing the Happy Church students to perform a skit. Timmy is dressed as a King & Olivia is shouting director's orders. It's VBS Day 3.
Unfortunately, we haven't had more children show up to our VBS. Of course, their is a positive side to this. It enables our students to give more special attention to certain kids. I think just about every team member has a Happy Church kid that they have taken a special liking to. I have a friend Dillen who refuses to leave my side. He gives me hugs about every minute and calls me his 'special buddy'.
Like all of us, kids here at the Happy Church are desperate for love and attention. We are priveleged to lavish it upon them for one week!
A few highlights from the past 24 hours:
- Around 35 kids have been attending our VBS each day. Our team has done a great time leading crafts, games, skits, music, snacks, etc.
- We put an extra amount of responsibility and accountability upon our High School student leaders this year. They have done a really good job leading the Jr. High students. Last night, a Jr. High student called out the HS leaders for the fantastic job they are doing leading and modeling.
- We had a woman from the Happy Church share her testimony with our group last night. She was a 15 year drug addict who came to Christ a year and a half ago. God has rescued her from her addiction. She has been sober for 14 months and has led 9 people to Christ since her conversion.
- We participated in more service projects this morning. Jr. High students got to paint. As you can imagine, that is always memorable.
- Pastor Brian got our rental van stuck in a muddy ditch on the side of the road. A stranger w/ a pick up truck came along and towed him out.
We still haven't had any significant illness or injury. Weather has been great. The days have been sunny - the nights have put on some great Lightning displays! From what I can tell, unity is extremely strong. Some of our veterans even commented that this year's team seems to have a special bond that hasn't been a part of previous trips.
After our VBS today, our team plans to go on a special outing. We will travel up the mountain and enjoy some time taking in the view and feeding some wild horses!
Today is Shannon Hart's b-day (one of our HS leaders). Be sure to wish her well!
We are looking forward to seeing you soon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)