A Worthwhile Sweatshop

Ok, not really a sweatshop, but there were a lot of sweat and tears while making the T-shirts for VBS.

Last week, I directed (with co-director A. Salmon) an evening Vacation Bible School and I simply loved it. I love how the kids get so excited over things adults forget can be so exciting...like getting Bibles...or making crafts...or playing games...or having juice...or getting to wear the same T-shirts the volunteers wear. Ok, maybe not all adults like that last one.

Every year (which is only two for me) that I managed VBS, I always get at least one child who wanted to be the next VBS helper. When it is so hard to find volunteers to help at VBS, I get children who can't wait. Usually, when I ask for help, most reply, "What do I have to do?" At VBS, before I even have to ask, the kids shoot their hands up in the air and wave their arms like their life depended on the highest and fastest wave and they ask, "What do I get to do?"

And God answers prayers. When I asked for more helpers, God gave me five more people that same day. When I needed more time, God gave me an extra fifteen minutes. When I needed more T-shirts, Michaels stocked up the day after I prayed. When I needed more T-shirt transfers, God lead me to my box where I had forgotten that I brought fifteen transfers to showcase at the Volunteers' Training Session. When I needed help with crafts, God gave me a young girl who offered to help (she offered to help in three different areas, bless her heart, but I couldn't pull her in too many directions).

I hope to direct VBS again next year. I've been taking notes every day after each VBS session and I hope to make VBS even better. I'm incredibly grateful for the team that worked with me to make VBS a success.

In the end, the "sweatshop" was all worth it.