VBS Madness

I would just like to start by saying, God bless the Children's Workers. Yesterday was the first day of HPC's (Highland) Vacation Bible School. It's a little get together they have every year and they invite about 1200 kids (ages 4-11) to come and experience Jesus. Ohmigosh!

I never go, as it's a fairly well known facts that I am not called to children's ministry (huge understatement). This year however, since God has such a great sense of humor, it was decided that we would bus in a few dozen of our inner-city kids, and I get to drive one of the vehicles!

Now, I've only done it once so far, but here are some things I've learner so far:
1) When they say '15-passenger van' that is only an estimate. You can actually fit 7-8 kids per seat.
2) Kids are like magic tricks: they disappear in an instant and then, just when you think the show is over, they pop back up again.
3) At VBS nobody likes to talk in a normal voice...there's a whole lotta screaming going on (and on and on) and the kids love it!
4) The presence of God changes people...no matter what age they are.

Once the screaming stopped and all the kids reappeared we headed back to North Baton Rouge. The kids were laughing and joking, and then some were begging us not to take them back home. The reality of their lives is bad. There is abuse and violence and addiction continually swirling around them. The fifteen or twenty hours they spend with us this week may well be the best part of their summer. We are their vacation. Father, let us do it well. In Jesus' name.
All glory to God.