Monday, June 19, 2006

Just a quick note

There is a new thing in the side bar. It's a map. Please add yourself to the map. It would be so neat to see were everyone is that reads our blog. Thanks!

Sunday, June 18, 2006

Venture Quest: Hannah's 1st VBS

Hannah's 1st VBS! The 1st thing that she has ever done, except going to Sunday School at church. This was big! I took her in the morning and she just freaked out with the large crowd. I was getting worried that she wouldn't want to do it at all. She asked to be with Caleb and Sarah. So we let her do that and then in the evening I tried again. Hannah's group would be coming to our class 1st so I thought that I could set with her in the big group and then walk with her to our class. It worked! This is a picture of the big group doing a dance. Hannah was so shy around me and would not do the dance if I was around.

So our class, Missions, was 1st on Hannah's rotation. We would get done with the lesson fairly fast with the smaller kids and then play a game. This is Hannah playing 'Duck Duck Goose.' (These pictures were taken on the last 2 days of class and she was much more outgoing by then.)

Her next class was Bible Stories. When she came home we would ask her about what story she learned. The funniest thing that she said was on the first day. (She has been studying Moses in Sunday School) She told us that "Moses called fire down from the sky." She had mixed up Moses and Elijah.

Then she was off to crafts. I don't have a picture of that b/c it was just a real silly picture and didn't want to embarrass her on the web! So we'll skip to the next rotation, Songs.
I was told by her leaders that she was real fun and did all the motions and had so much fun. I found it hard to believe and so I went and spied on her on Wednesday. (Then on Tuesday I gave my camera to her leader to take pictures for me.) She was having fun. Playing with other kids and smiling so big. I'm just so glad that she had a good time.


At the end of the night she was tired. This is what she looked like when I picked her up. (I have a type-o on the picture. It should read: ready to go home)

Where were Caleb, Sarah and Abrianna you ask? They were in the nursery both morning and evening. There were a couple evenings that Caleb and Sarah stayed home.
But you guessed it... a hard week for us all! But worth it. I pray that lives were touched by Joshkimo and I know that lives were saved.

Venture Quest: Joshua and Jennifer Teaching Missions

The church that we are currently attending is Cross Timbers Church of Keller. They had their VBS or as they call it, Venture Quest, this last week. Joshua and I were the Mission Teachers. We taught all ages (3yrs to 6th grade) about different missionaries that are in the Arctic Region. (Sessions both in the morning and evening and we volunteered for both times.) The theme was Arctic Edge. Being in the arctic we had our own nick names: Joshua was Joshkimo and I was Snowflake.

This is a picture of Joshkimo teaching and throwing candy out to the kids.


While Joshkimo was teaching I would either help toss candy or help with games but mostly I kept him on time. This was a good role for me b/c I have not taught kids in such a long time and was even a bit nervous about doing so. Joshua got sick on Wednesday night with a 103 temp so I was up to teach the class on Thursday. It went well. I think that God has been stretching me and taking me out of my comfort zone these past weeks. (I have even been asked to be a "discussion leader" at the Bible Study that I'm going to.) This is a picture of me teaching. Not a great picture, but the only one that was taken of me.



There were 'real live' missionaries there with us for the first part of the week. It was real neat getting to hear their stories and what their life is like in Africa. They truly opened my eyes to the need for missionaries in the world. I mean you know that God commands us to go and tell but I just never really thought about the need for missionaries. The lady was explaining it like this: In your neighborhood there could be like 20 different groups that all speak their own language. So there are people very close to you that you can't even communicate with. So say that one group is reached by some 'missionaries,' well then what? How do you get their language (they do not have a written language) translated so that they can have God's Word? WOW. What a task that God intrusts with some people.
I'm pretty sure that these missionaries would not mind me telling you all who they are... but b/c this is out there where the world can view it I think it only nice to ask their permission first. I'll do that. So be looking for a link on the favorite links bar to their web page.

Friday, June 09, 2006

Just for Joshua

(Joshua is out at the Speedway working this weekend. This is a message for him.)

We miss you Daddy and love you!



(The kids are watching Nemo as I take the photo. Abrianna is sleeping as you can see.)

See you late tonight Joshua. We can't wait to play together Sunday!