VBS: Day 1
by Ted Slater on 06/01/2009 at 9:24 PM
I'm tired.
I was up till past 1 a.m. last night, working on a freelance project, updating my iPod, listening to RED at high volumes, and reporting problems with our homepage to our IT department. Five hours of fitful sleep later, I awoke to get ready for VBS.
I arrived at the church and started getting myself familiarized with the schedule. The kids started arriving: Sarah, Ryan, Mike. I introduced myself and helped them make name tags. Thad came next, along with Andrew and Julia. The "student crew leader," Michael, showed up. Shy Ellie and her friend Abby were the last to arrive.
Over the course of a few hours this morning, we sang a number of songs (with motions, of course), had a Bible lesson (with costumed actors, of course), made crafts, had snacks, played some games, and wrapped up with a few more songs.
I think I'm connecting with my eight kids, aged 6 through 11. I thought so when I sat with Ellie during game time; she just wasn't feeling up to it, and that was fine. I thought so when I raced Mike to an event; I grabbed him a few feet from the finish line and twirled him behind me. I thought so when they watched me during singing, admiring my fumbling attempts at doing the motions.
But I knew it when Sarah and Ryan climbed on me during the last few songs, bringing me close to total exhaustion. During closing prayer, Ryan leaned over, smelled me, and said (a bit too loudly), "You smell like poopy." Sarah giggled in agreement.
Ah the joy of youthful fellowship.
I'm still feeling unqualified, acutely aware that this is outside my comfort zone. Part of me wants to skip VBS and all its relational demands tomorrow and just come to the office where I can stare at this computer monitor.
But the deeper part of me is looking forward to encouraging Ellie, joking with Thad, listening to Abby, affirming Mike, asking Julia what she likes doing, asking why Andrew is so excited about making waffles ... and letting Ryan and Sarah climb on me again.
1. BDB said the following at 9:31 PM on Jun 1:
Wow - mixing age ranges like that is more challenging.
It's good for parents to volunteer in their Children's Ministry. If they don't volunteer, at least part of the time, there likely won't be enough people to help. You'll get a certain number of single people, particularly women who want to be moms someday. But it would be difficult to get enough of them to staff an entire program.
2. brx said the following at 10:30 PM on Jun 1:
Dude; so, why are you smelling like poopy??
:O
3. Sadie said the following at 10:49 PM on Jun 1:
When I was a teacher's aid/taught it was always the observation that I have hairy arms. (Not very uplifting for a gal to hear) But I loved how comfortable they were with me, and I always turned it into "I am so glad that God made me the way I am" speech. I hope as those kids are now graduating high school that they remember to be glad about how God made them.
Keep up the good work.
4. DannieA said the following at 11:44 PM on Jun 1:
Hey Ted...out of curiosity, which is your theme this year? OUrs is going to be 'Rome'
5. Ame said the following at 7:31 AM on Jun 2:
I love that you're doing this. I think that we often think we're unable to make this connection with kids, but when we just be ourselves around them, we're just fine.
But they are exhausting ... building relationships is exhausting ... and you're building eight in a short, intense amount of time ... in hopes to give God an opportunity to work through you to draw them to Him.
My fifth-grader loves sleepovers, so I allow them a couple times a year ... one being her birthday. I just treat the girls like people, and it's really cool (and often surprising) how they relate to me.
This last year I asked them, "Okay, so what do parents of fifth-grade girls need to know about their kids?" They looked at me and said, "Are you going to tell our parents?" "No," I told them. So they began talking ... and I was shocked, SHOCKED, at what they said.
The first girl said, "My mom needs to know how special I am." She went on from there ... broke my heart. Then, being girls at the beginning of puberty, they wanted to talk about their bodies and the changes.
At the next sleepover, one of the girls said, "So, are we gonna talk about stuff again?" We did ... we talked more about girl-puberty-stuff ... the kinda stuff that they want to know but makes them crinkle their faces with, "Ewwww," written all over them ;).
I think you're doing great being there for these kids. You're giving them an experience of who God is ... and that is priceless.
6. Kimberley said the following at 8:40 AM on Jun 2:
I feel the same way the girls I teach dancing to at my church. Fellowship is so important. They need to know God from someone who is familiar to them and someone who loves them! Connecting with them on a personal level makes all the difference.
7. Anna said the following at 8:59 AM on Jun 2:
This is a really encouraging post. I can be the same way about relationships and new children sometimes. I'm an introvert, therefore it is rewarding but very draining.
I don't think I'll be able to do a VBS because of my new summer job, but I might look for other, similar venues . . . it is good to be around children, and I think those of us in college/early 20's can get so caught up in our own new world of adulthood that we forget that.
Thanks for posting, Ted!
8. Andrea-Elena said the following at 10:46 AM on Jun 2:
Ted: Are you the only teacher in the room, or are you part of a team? Do y'all have all the activities in the room; or do you rotate to other sites for crafts, rec/snack, and music (and missions, if you have it)? (Or do teachers come in to work with your kids in the other "subject areas"?)
And which curriculum are you using? (Or do y'all write your own?)
BDB: You're right -- it is challenging to mix ages, especially in the Bible study portion of VBS. (For crafts, recreation, music, missions, and snacks, it's a little easier to do more broadly-graded groups.) Age-appropriate activities are a lot more difficult to plan. Kids' thinking varies widely from 6 years to 11 years old. (By 11, kids are more likely to be developing abstract thinking. Whereas, 6- and 7-year-olds are still highly concrete, literal thinkers.)
It's not impossible, and with a small overall attendance at VBS, forming more closely-graded groups is cumbersome (who wants a room of just two 1st and 2nd graders?).
VBS 2009:
This is my sixth year to teach VBS officially. (I used to help out as a teenager.) I'm teaching 5th graders -- rather, kidaroos -- in the Bible study rotation. Ours is later this month. We're doing Boomerang Express: It All Comes Back to Jesus -- a railroad adventure through the continent (and country) of Australia! No worries!! =) We'll be looking at the life of Peter and focusing on life applications from what we learn of his life -- following Jesus, worshiping Him, confessing Him, serving Him, and obeying Him. I'm excited!!! w00t!!!!
9. obewan said the following at 11:32 AM on Jun 2:
I can relate to having culture shock and fear of working with little ones at VBS.
When I was laid off one summer past, my church talked me into working at VBS with something like 500 kids. They were merciful and gave me a job I liked though. I was in the kitchen getting all the food ready. It took nearly all morning.
I did work with tykes (kindergarten to 3rd grade) at AWANA once. I was the memory verse guy. I sat at a table/desk, listened to their memory verses and signed off their books. It was a humbling experience to see how much they could learn. For some of it I had to use the book since I did not have it memorized myself. LOL
10. Eliz said the following at 11:50 AM on Jun 2:
I was part of a mission team to a Central American country this spring,and helped to teach VBS there.
I felt sooo inadequate... It feels reassuring to hear that someone like Ted can have fears as well. I am now looking forward to helping out with VBS at my church this summer!
Thanks for all the articles Ted, I enjoy reading them.
God Bless your work!
Eliz
11. Rachael said the following at 11:55 AM on Jun 2:
I used to help with AWANA. At least the last time I did so, for the most part, it wasn't something I was enthused about, and for most or all the time I went to a different church than where the AWANA was held.
Anyway, there was a girl there who my heart kind-of went out to. Her behaviors would often be problematic. But I also saw a different side of her. I used to help with a ministry her grandma (who she lives with) headed up. And the girl would come along. And I babysat her once - I think she was fine, that I remember.
Anyway, this girl sang a song at my wedding this past January, while her grandma played the piano. She was the only soloist I had in my wedding. And you know what? She did it! I hope that was a special memory for her...
I don't know how she'll 'end up'. I hope God will bring her to Himself.
She's a special girl.
It's just interesting. I don't know that much about 'problematic' kids from first hand experience, but I know they have hearts and that there is more to them than their problematic behaviors. I wonder if them having 'roles' can be helpful...
12. Julie said the following at 5:49 PM on Jun 2:
I really like this and look forward to the future installments. Thanks for sharing this part of your story, Ted!