VBS - Day 1

VBS was scheduled to start at 9 am - we arrived just a little after that. Children were already congregating! This VBS is happening at "Auntie Pearl's" house. When we arrived there was already a big canopy with around 50 chairs set up. Auntie Pearl was there waiting for us along with several members of her family. We spent about 20 minutes orienting ourselves - getting out supplies, designating areas for the various stations, and getting nametags on everybody - staff and children, too. Yvonne Nixon estimated that we had around 40 children - not bad for the first day! First we were visited by Hans and Frans who came to "Pump Us Up!" with some streneuous finger stretches and some jumping jacks. Lead Teacher "Slimmy Timmy" Nixon then told a Bible story about David and Goliath, complete with appearance by both stars! All the children helped David slay Goliath by hurtling stones (don't worry - it was really crumpled paper), and just like in the story, the giant fell dead!

After the story, we divided the children into groups by gender and age. Group leaders took the children to a station for crafts with Randa Witmer, where they decorated a rock (because God Rocks!) and a Bible Journal. They also spent some time with Jay West and his sons doing some physical activities designed to teach them that everybody needs help some time, and our God wants to help us. The group leaders also had a Bible study time with their children, and had them write the verse for today in their journal - Ps 121:2 "My help comes the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth." We sent them home with a snack and the encouragement to come back tomorrow and bring friends! All in all it was a successful day at VBS. Thank you for all your prayers - we're sure that's why everything went so smoothly.

After lunch, Jennifer Bachew took us sightseeing - we visited two Hindu temples. The first one is called "The Temple in the Sea" because it is actually in the sea. When the man who built it asked to build a Hindu temple, he was told "Not on the Queen's land!" So this guy used a shovel and buckets, dumping trash and whatever else he could find to build an extension out into the bay, and then build the temple at the end of the extension.

Then we visited a second Hindu temple, complete with an 84 ft statue of the god Hanuman. He is in the form of a monkey. There is an ashram at that shrine, and a man was there at the time who some Hindus believe is a god. We didn't get to see him because he was taking a nap. Personally, I'd rather have a God who "never sleeps nor slumbers!"One big prayer request: Rick Woods injured his knee while he was walking with some of the team. As he was walking, he says he heard a "pop". Some of the TTUM staff got him some crutches, and various moms on the team gave many suggestions. He's putting ice on it, and taking pain meds, but it's pretty painful and restrictive. Please pray that God would move in this situation and do whatever Rick needs to complete the week as easily as possible.

Another prayer request: We know we will have more kids each day. Please pray that we have as many kids as possible, but not more than we can handle and still minister effectively.

Mary Lee for Team Trinidad 2011 - God Rocks!