This week starts the VBS at our church. It started last night and goes through Thursday from 6 to 8 each night. We have classes for children starting at age 3, a youth class and even adult classes. Let me take this opportunity to invite everyone out to our VBS! We would love to have you all join us! My sister and I have taken on the task of teaching the 3 and 4 year old class. We have always been known to have a lot of patience (Emily definitely more than me) and therefore always volunteer to teach the younger children. When teaching the younger kids you can always expect the funniest, sweetest, and most stressful things to happen all at once haha. Just a glimpse into our time last night includes: 12 three and four year olds at one time!
During story time our children were so excited to shout out the answers to the questions asked (I was so impressed with the childrens knowledge of the Bible). The teacher in the story room brought out a belt and asked the students what this object was. Of course all the kids shouted "BELT!" The teacher then began to talk to children about how we wear a belt in church, it is called the Bible. She brought out a Bible and showed it to the children. "Boys and girls, I know you can't read yet but one day you will be able to and I 
hope you all decide to read the Bible. (Hold up Bible) Do you know what this is?" Child: "We don't know...we can't read!" Next we went to the activities room. In order to get the kids from room to room we designed the "hand holding train line." First line the kids against the wall. Have the children hold the hand of the person in front and the person behind you. One teacher at front of the line other at the end of the line. Of course this method takes time to master with 3 and 4 years olds, but was the best method we could think of. If you have never worked with younger children, they tend to want to run away from the group so staying in a simple line doesn't appeal to them. The theme for our VBS is Bible Boot Camp. The student were given "dog tags" to decorate. The students were given foam stickers to decorate their tags. Of course the majority of the time was spent pulling og the white paper to get to the sticky part. Our dog tags were definitely unique; covered in fish, seaweed, random letters and animals. We then went to games. We took the kids outside and the "game drill sergeants" gave each child a bottle of bubbles. They also have three large bubble wands for the children to share (By the end of our game time we have managed to break two...). One of our childr
en simply took their bubbles and dumped them onto the ground. Other students did not understand the concept of holding there bubble container up while they blew through the wand...which resulting in wearing more of the bubbles than were actually blown. Other children liked the taste of the bubbles, managing to lick the bubble wand and/or lick the bubbles off the ground. Other children were obviously champion bubble blowers, standing in their designated spot blowing bubble after bubble beautifully and without help. Chris even came out to help with the bubble blowing, although like the children, managed to wear more bubbles than he blew due to having difficulties opening bubble packets. After games Chris and Cory Becker took the four boys to wash their hands while Emily, myself, and one of the moms took the 8 girls to the bathroom. The bathroom in itself, with 8 girls, is an adventure. Three sinks, eight girls, lots of soap, paper towels, and of course potty breaks. I do believe more soap and water ended up on the floor than on the hands of my girls. And yet again some of the girls liked the taste of the soapy water from the sink. We then moved on to refreshments. We lined the children up and by this time had halfway mastered the idea of the hand holding train line. We walked into the "Atlas Mess Hall" and seated the kids. They were given red fruit punch along with white and chocolate cream filled cookies. Each child was given two cookies. I was shocked to see that the red punch actually stayed in the glasses and not in the laps of our children or floor of the church building. We soon found out some of the kids like the inside of the cookies more than the actual cookie. Other kids had more of the cookie on their mouth instead of in their stomach. The older kids had fruit roll ups but we opted ou
t of giving each child their own. Instead I tore pieces off for each child. After snack we went to class time. Each child has their own coloring book with Bible verses of what we are learning this week. The kids did a great job staying on the two designated pages they had to color for the night. One of the kids decided the taste of the crayons was better than actually using them to color with. We then ended the night with singing where it was announced that the class with the most kids by the end of the week, the teachers would receive pies in their faces. At this time I think our group is in 5th place. One of the little girls came up to me, tapped me on the knee with a very serious look on her face and said, "Ms. Sarah, I don't want a pie in my face." It was all i could do not to laugh as I explained to her that Ms. Emily and I would be the ones receiving pies, not her. She simply looked at me at said, "Oh...." Then quietly returned to her seat. All in all it was an amazing night! At least with the threes and fours there is never a dull moment and I can not wait for Day 2!!!
hope you all decide to read the Bible. (Hold up Bible) Do you know what this is?" Child: "We don't know...we can't read!" Next we went to the activities room. In order to get the kids from room to room we designed the "hand holding train line." First line the kids against the wall. Have the children hold the hand of the person in front and the person behind you. One teacher at front of the line other at the end of the line. Of course this method takes time to master with 3 and 4 years olds, but was the best method we could think of. If you have never worked with younger children, they tend to want to run away from the group so staying in a simple line doesn't appeal to them. The theme for our VBS is Bible Boot Camp. The student were given "dog tags" to decorate. The students were given foam stickers to decorate their tags. Of course the majority of the time was spent pulling og the white paper to get to the sticky part. Our dog tags were definitely unique; covered in fish, seaweed, random letters and animals. We then went to games. We took the kids outside and the "game drill sergeants" gave each child a bottle of bubbles. They also have three large bubble wands for the children to share (By the end of our game time we have managed to break two...). One of our childr
en simply took their bubbles and dumped them onto the ground. Other students did not understand the concept of holding there bubble container up while they blew through the wand...which resulting in wearing more of the bubbles than were actually blown. Other children liked the taste of the bubbles, managing to lick the bubble wand and/or lick the bubbles off the ground. Other children were obviously champion bubble blowers, standing in their designated spot blowing bubble after bubble beautifully and without help. Chris even came out to help with the bubble blowing, although like the children, managed to wear more bubbles than he blew due to having difficulties opening bubble packets. After games Chris and Cory Becker took the four boys to wash their hands while Emily, myself, and one of the moms took the 8 girls to the bathroom. The bathroom in itself, with 8 girls, is an adventure. Three sinks, eight girls, lots of soap, paper towels, and of course potty breaks. I do believe more soap and water ended up on the floor than on the hands of my girls. And yet again some of the girls liked the taste of the soapy water from the sink. We then moved on to refreshments. We lined the children up and by this time had halfway mastered the idea of the hand holding train line. We walked into the "Atlas Mess Hall" and seated the kids. They were given red fruit punch along with white and chocolate cream filled cookies. Each child was given two cookies. I was shocked to see that the red punch actually stayed in the glasses and not in the laps of our children or floor of the church building. We soon found out some of the kids like the inside of the cookies more than the actual cookie. Other kids had more of the cookie on their mouth instead of in their stomach. The older kids had fruit roll ups but we opted ou
t of giving each child their own. Instead I tore pieces off for each child. After snack we went to class time. Each child has their own coloring book with Bible verses of what we are learning this week. The kids did a great job staying on the two designated pages they had to color for the night. One of the kids decided the taste of the crayons was better than actually using them to color with. We then ended the night with singing where it was announced that the class with the most kids by the end of the week, the teachers would receive pies in their faces. At this time I think our group is in 5th place. One of the little girls came up to me, tapped me on the knee with a very serious look on her face and said, "Ms. Sarah, I don't want a pie in my face." It was all i could do not to laugh as I explained to her that Ms. Emily and I would be the ones receiving pies, not her. She simply looked at me at said, "Oh...." Then quietly returned to her seat. All in all it was an amazing night! At least with the threes and fours there is never a dull moment and I can not wait for Day 2!!!During VBS, as with other church events, it is easy to feel uplifted! I have been inviting anyone I can think of and truly hope they all show up. I want to continue having this feeling of being uplifted and closer to God even after VBS is over! Life can be stressful and tough and is constantly throwing obstacles at you. Through God anything is possible. When I am closer to God I feel like I can do anything I set my mind to. It is also amazing to have the feeling that someone is always there at your side with you no matter what. God will never leave you! We just all have to remember not to leave him in the process of life!
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