Seen at the Workcamp Send-off today….

So, I’m at the Workcamp sendoff today. Jason and 24 other youth and adults are headed to Nashville to serve needy and elderly people in the name of Jesus. I was in the restroom and heard Kelsey and Laura talking about how they have had a hard time getting their head in the right place about going. I totally understand that, epsecially since they both served all week at Vacation Bible School. I assured them that in all the years I led kids to Workcamp, fully 50% (often more than 80%) of the kids in the vans as we pulled away from church were not happy they were going. It is hard to leave family and friends. The dynamics of the group are not in place yet–many are wondering how everyone will get along and if they will have a place in the group.

On the other hand, fully 98% were ecstatic they had gone when they pulled back into the lot a week later. It just seems to be how God works it. He has His way when kids are away and serving Him. I’ve seen it time after time.

Said Laura, “That’s why I put Exodus 3:12 on the back of my shirt” (see above).  Exodus 3:12 was the Bible verse for Day 1 at Crocodile Dock VBS this week. How I love that about God’s Word. It never comes back empty. It is traveling with our kids this week. It is alive and working in the hearts of Laura and Kelsey and so many others. Laura knew that when things are uncertain, she can remember that God is with her. Fear Not!  God is incredibly good.

 

Crocodile Dock Day Four: God Gives Us Life!

Kind of a quick post tonight…writing thank you notes!!!

• Great day. They really all have been. I am so thankful for the great team that has been doing this work.
• Tracy Bramwell, our Croc Dock Director, took a week of vacation to lead VBS–incredible. And she is not the only one who has taken vacation. I am so grateful.
• Tomorrow’s finale means a cool slide show you don’t want to miss. 11:30 in the swamp.
• This Sunday at the 11:15 worship service, we’ll actually be singing 3 VBS songs during the service. Come and join us!
• Enjoy the pics….

Croc Dock Day 4

 

Crocodile Dock Day Three: God Does What He Says He’ll Do!

• The Bible point is a mouthful, but I sure find it comforting: God Does What He Says He’ll Do! Fear Not!
• The Bible story today is of the Passover. Check it out in Exodus 12. God protected His people from the Angel of Death.
• Calling all Dads and BIG brothers! We need help tearing down our stage. This Saturday, July 18, 9am – 11am. Can you help? We need a crew of 15–still looking for 8 more guys. You can leave a comment below if you’re able to help.
• Starting to think about “official” thank you’s. There are 115 people in our volunteer database–and that doesn’t count the two crews of 15 it took to build and tear down the stage, or the over 100 people who donated supplies. WOW. God’s best gifts are always His people!
• Lots of great stories about kids living out what they’re learning at home by praying and trusting in God when they’re scared at night and saying they’re sorry when they do something wrong. So great.
• Hope you’re planning to come to Firefly Finale on Friday (ANYONE is invited…First Trinity folks, you too!). 11:35am.
• Enjoy the pics…

Croc Dock Day 3

 

Crocodile Dock Day Two: God is Powerful!

• Another great great day!
• Bible story today was the plagues. Lot of fun with Pharoah. Eric Fesmire and Charlie Trautwein played our Pharoahs in Bible Bayou. Just awesome–could hear the kids shouting for Pharoah and telling him “Let my people go.” (the words of Moses to the Pharoah in Exodus 8:20
• I’m going share some of the God-sightings written by the staff of Croc Dock:
  • “One mom told me her preschool daughter slep with her Bible Buddy hanging over her bed–thought it would help her sleep better. I love the thought of God’s Word being so close to her all night long.”
  • “Children singing VBS songs as they left Monday.”
  • “God prompted a crew leader to tell her group how much God was with her when her dad was in an accident.”
  • “Station Leaders praying together and telling each other to Fear Not just as the first day began.”
  • “While helping direct families for registration from the Tiny Tadpole hallway, I talked with a woman who just decided to come to our VBS. I asked what grade her daughter was in and she told me that she’s homeschooling this year. I told her I homeschooled too and she said she was glad she came here and wanted to talk more! Thank You God for the opportunity!”
  • “Two of the kids in my crew haven’t been to our church and didn’t know if they would like our VBS and after Monday didn’t know if they would come back  but they did and they tell me every day that they wish VBS was all day because they have so much fun.”
  • “All the kids in my crew holding hands and praying together.”
• One Crew Leader told me that a six year old in her Crew told her after we sang “Faith” today, “That’s such a beautiful song. My eyes are watering.” and sure enough she was teary over it.
• All kids made T-shirts today. The Elementary Crews took them home today, the Preschool crews will take them home tomorrow. We would love it if everyone would wear their shirts on Friday!
• One girl asked if she could be part of the Dock Rockers (the kids who lead the singing) next year. Absolutely anyone can! Watch for an email notice about when the practices start!
• Our VBS is moving weeks next year because of a youth trip. We can’t do VBS without the youth! July 26-30, 2010. Mark your calendars!! The theme is “High Seas Expedition”.
• Sandra Rice (one of our Crawfish Crafts leaders) took some fun flip video today. You can view them on my Twitter feed…look to the right here on the blog for my Twitter feed. Thanks, Sandra.
• And our great Digital Media Team is providing our daily photos. Jason and Jaime Christ and Kaira Koller. See today’s fun pictures below!

Croc Dock Day 2

 

Crocodile Dock Day One: God is With Us

• What a day! What a day! What a day! Today’s  Bible point is true:  God is With Us.
• Each day we learn a specific Bible point…you can say it with your kids at home, too. Today: God is With Us.
• God-sightings…help your child Watch for God and His work in your house, your yard, your neighborhood. They will be asked to share a “God Sighting” in their Crew each morning at Sing and Play Swamp Stomp. The green bracelets that say “Watch for God” are there to help them remember.
• BIG BIG thanks go to so many!!! Today, I want to mention Paul Hagen and his daughter Hannah who built our incredible set, Carolyn Doster who painted the paintings on the wall, Kim Taylor and Beth Vance and their kids who did the cool Cypress trees in the hallways and John Hughes who made the new Crew signs to help everyone find their way.
• One mom told me her daughter had a great day and told her she learned about Jesus. Wooooo hooooo!!!
• The Crew Leaders are so good at giving love and attention to their kids. They rock.
• Enjoy the pics…leave a comment! Especially if you have a story to share about how Croc Dock is impacting you or your kids…

Croc Dock Day 1

 

Riches.

Tracy and God's riches...

Vacation Bible School is coming (July 13-17. Wanna’ help? Leave a comment and I’ll connect you).  VBS needs A LOT of supplies. That’s what all the fireflies and the crocodile pool in the lobby are about.  The Crocodile Dock Director, Tracy Bramwell (above) has been having a powerful God-experience with the supplies.

• There is an awesome supply calculator for the VBS that we can access online. Put in the number of kids you expect, it spits out how much of each supply you need. So cool.
• People have generously donated so many things.  Bird seed, tape, crackers, markers, batteries, paper, etc. Each item will be used with gratitude to help children and families know that God is with us, God is powerful, God does what He says He’ll do, God gives us life and God cares for us.
• She burst into tears the other day because someone (a name neither of us recognizes) left us a whole case of Cheerios which will be used in a bird feeder craft on the day we learn that God does what He says He’ll do (Wednesday).
• She found battery-operated lanterns for a dollar (at a dollar store). The small groups at VBS (we call them crews–they’re where the relationships and a connection with God’s Word happens) will gather around them at the Chadder video adventure station.  Needed 4. They had 5 left. She stood in line and one fell apart, so she went back and got the last one.
• We are very careful to be good stewards of the budgeted money for this ministry AND we are grateful there is budget money to work with.

This whole experience is the very illustration of this Word from Paul:

And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:19

In a time where much of the talk in our world is about scarcity–lots of fear out there–it is so good to remember that God knows what we need and supplies it according to His riches. It helps to focus on what we have, by His grace, and not what we don’t have. Thank You Jesus.

 

100 days until Crocodile Dock!!!!

Vacation Bible School is 100 days away!!

July 13-17, 2009: Best week of the year!!!!!

You can get more information, register or sign-up to volunteer by clicking the link at firsttrinity.com!!