Vacation Bible School

We just completed the the first ever TMFI VBS! Last week Mimi took Jackson & Maia trough the neighborhood inviting all 7-13 year olds to VBS. They thought the white kids might draw the crowd in! They expected 40. Our first day we had about 30 kids come in our target age group and about 10 kids between the ages of 2-6. We didn't want to turn anyone away so we left them stay. We also noticed that a lot of moms came and either stayed with their younger children or sat outside. Beng decided we'd have Skip & Chad (Miller) alternate days and speak with the moms while their kids were attending VBS. I had brought prizes and play money with me. We handed out money as rewards for memorizing verses, attendance, good behavior, participating, etc. The kids had fun and started inviting friends. Everyday we had more kids. Their was also the theory that kids heard we were handing out money & prizes and wanted some, too. Whatever it was, we grew. By the end of the week we had 25 kids between 2-6 and 48 kids between the ages of 7-13. PTL!

Belle and I were in charge of crafts. Being on a tight budget, we didn't have many extra crafts-if any. On more than one day we were scrambling to make more! On our last day, we made a key chain with a cross and beads with a kit I had brought with me. We had one left over! The beads on were a wordless tool to tell the gospel story. I told the kids about salvation as we assembled the key chain. It was probably the first time many of the kids had been presented with the gospel.

The redeeming of money for prizes was a big hit. The prizes we had left over we gave out to the kids who could say a memory verse. The kids crowded around, trying to be the first to win more prizes! Most of the prizes were school supply type items: pens, pencils, scissors, ruler, erasers, etc. I'm glad that's the types of things we had because one girl told me what her mom had told her. "Don't get any toys, get school supplies." I think for many the basic school supplies are luxury items! Most of the leftover prizes were the toy items: jump ropes, water colors, markers, colored pencils, etc.

The last day we had a graduation ceremony. Most of the kids got some kind of reward: good attendance, good listener, good at memory verses, most cooperative, etc. Lots a rewards. The mothers were invited to attend. They were proud of their kids as they received rewards. I was also the graduation speaker, again, low budget event. I presented Christ to the moms as well. We think it was the first time any of the mothers had heard that as well.

Overall, it was a great week! The kids made a few new friends. Jackson told me one of the boys might come up to play tomorrow. I hope so. Maybe more language will rub off on the kids. We are all learning a few words. My problem is, I can't remember them! They group letters together that we don't group to together in English. It makes it difficult to remember and pronounce! I was going to say good afternoon in Cebuano, but, well, I can't spell it!

Tonight is a good bye party for Chad. We're having a bonfire and a bar-b-que. Can't wait!

Off to another part of Asia

I'm off to another part of Asia within the hour. For security of our contact, I can not post on the blog where we're heading but most of you know. I wanted to post why I'm going. The short answer is because God said yes. The long answer starts last year. Lilet, a TMFI staff person, went there to do a natural farming demonstration. They normally start in Genesis with God creating the perfect garden. Due to circumstances, they could not mention God at all. After a three day seminar, someone in the group yelled out, "Tell us about your God!" I was amazed at God's show of his glory and was intrigued about a trip there as well. Lilet was planning a trip in November and her and I talked in length about me joining. As an American, it may require me to move about at night and be disguised in local attire. The adventurer in me was ready to sign up! But, my mind told me I could be a liability to their team. If caught sharing the gospel we could be deported. Once deported, you may not enter the country again. For TMFI who is trying to help in this area, that's a great risk. I did not want to be a liability to there team and so I know I could only go if God said yes. I prayed about it and asked others to pray for a decision I needed to make. I didn't tell them details, which drove them crazy, because I didn't want outside influences. Only God's influence. I never got a yes from God. At the end of November I was sitting in church and I don't even remember what was said but I thought to myself, I should be on that trip. This was the time the trip was scheduled. Several days later I got an e-mail from Lilet saying the trip had been post-poned to May. My answer from God had come! Not only was God saying for me to go but he made the details of my trip so much easier and cheaper. Praise God! I'm now asking that you lift me up in prayer this week. May we be shining examples of Christ so that even if we can't proclaim Christ "even the rocks will cry out." Pray as well for our contact's family and for a softening of there hearts. Forty minutes until we leave for the airport-let the adventure begin!