At VBS we split up into 3 groups and had stations for Bible Adventure, Untamed Games, and Imagination Station. Kids went nuts over the pizza and ice cream provided for lunch, danced, played games, saw the VBS program skit and really opened up to our volunteers. The theme for VBS is "Weird Animals". This is the very first VBS that the C1 ministry has ever done, which is both exciting and a little nerve wracking for the children. As children began to arrive to camp some were excited, some were extremely excited, and others were more shy. Our goal is to include the children in as many activities as possible, and to love on them the way Jesus would. In multiple cases, crew leaders had a few children that were completely terrified and too shy to dance, sing, and be crazy with the rest of the group. However, some of the most rewarding parts of my day, as well as other crew leaders, were when the shy children came out of their shells and LOVED camp. By the end of the day we had all the kids talking and hanging out with each other as well as actively participating in the different stations. It was AWESOME! I think that we are all very excited to reunite with our children tomorrow for the second day of VBS, and we hope that the children will tell their friends and invite them to come. We had the honor today of having a lovely group of people join us for VBS from the Lexington group. The Lexington group is a local ministry for adults with special needs. For some of us, special needs holds a very special place in our hearts and to have the Lexington group join us today was a huge blessing.
For the remainder of the day we went out in groups around Gloversville and passed out flyers, making people aware of the VBS activities going on this week and the soccer clinic C1 will host next week and encouraged kids to come enjoy games, activities, and food for free. It was amazing how approachable and receptive so many of the kids were on the streets. We also split into groups with some local folks to go on a prayer walk around the town, which is always powerful. We are still processing the huge wealth gap that exists between some of the "haves" and the "have-nots" and that constructs considerable walls between groups of people in the community. Some in the town were very receptive of the prayers we offered them and many stayed shut in their dark houses. It is still very true that Gloversville is a place of extreme need and equally extreme potential. On mission trips it is much easier to energize a group of lethargic people than to have a good time when no one comes out to join. But if the people we HAVE met from Gloversville are any indication of the complexity of life and ability to feel God's true love, then there is immense hope for Gloversville hiding behind many closed doors. Our prayer today is that many of those doors will be opened by the children of the community and that one day the whole town will see the love of God pouring forth to combat the chains and walls that prevent joyful fellowship. We pray, more than anything, that a simple statement of hope like a first-annual VBS will eventually translate into a sense of faithful community among people who remain here all year.
Tomorrow will be another full day of VBS fun and games, outreach to the community, and some fellowship with a local halfway house and we could not be more excited! Please continue to pray for the relationships being formed here in gloversville as well as the community as a whole to grow in faith. Also, please pray for VBS as we hope that more children will come to camp tomorrow and Wednesday. We cannot thank you enough for the support that you have been given us in prayer! God is moving here, and we cannot wait to see what is in store for the rest of the week.
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