Day 8 – First Day of VBS: Thankfulness
Today was our first day of Vacation Bible School!
Over the five times I've been to Huruma, I've learned one important lesson: you can make all the plans you want, but you should always expect the unexpected. It seems like every time a plan is in place, a curveball comes out of nowhere.
Today's curveball? I (Joy) didn't bring enough craft kits for everyone! Thankfully, this incredible team jumped into action. Everyone worked together to adjust the plan, make substitutions, and keep things running smoothly. Joel and I have truly been blessed with a dream team. Thank God for flexible people, positive attitudes, and servants who are willing to do whatever it takes!
When we arrived at the school, the two worship leaders from Karura Chapel were already there, and the students were excited to begin the day by praising the Lord. We sang, we danced, we jumped, and yes... we even screamed a little! It was a joyful morning filled with worship and laughter.
After worship, the students headed to their classrooms for the day's craft. They each received a scratch-art leaf that revealed beautiful colors underneath when scratched. The students glued a picture of themselves to the front and wrote their names on the back.
Of course, there was one little hiccup. Once they finished scratching the front of the leaf, they realized their photo covered most of their beautiful artwork! 🙄 Thankfully, we encouraged them to scratch around the edges of the picture instead. Problem solved! The kids didn't mind one bit and were thrilled with their creations.
Snack time was another adventure! We brought Oreo cookies from Costco, including some with bright blue filling and others that were Double Stuf. Joy demonstrated the "proper" way to eat an Oreo by twisting it apart and licking the filling first. The blue cream quickly became a favorite because it turned everyone's tongues bright blue—but it also made quite the mess!
Little Nathan decided it would be even more fun to smear the blue frosting all over his face. It may not have been his best idea, but he certainly gave everyone a good laugh! Thankfully, no one seemed to mind, and the students had so much fun comparing their blue tongues.
After snack time, everyone gathered back together for a few rounds of Minute to Win It games. The students loved the friendly competition, especially when members of our team and the teachers joined in. One of the sweetest things to watch was how enthusiastically the children cheered for one another. Their encouragement and excitement made the games even more fun.
Lunch followed, and afterward we spent the afternoon helping in the classrooms until about 2:30 p.m. Our ride arrived at 3:00, and we made our way back to Heart Lodge.
As our days continue, we are overwhelmed with gratitude for the incredible staff at Heart Lodge. The chefs, housekeeping team, and everyone who serves here have cared for us so well. They feed us delicious meals, make us feel at home, and continually show us genuine hospitality.
Please continue praying for our team's health and endurance. Joel Hagner has been battling a difficult sinus infection, yet he continues to faithfully lead with grace, perseverance, and a servant's heart. We appreciate your prayers for healing and renewed strength as we continue serving this week.
Thank you for following along on this journey and for faithfully praying for our team and the students of Huruma HOPE School. God continues to do amazing things!
Click HERE to watch the kids worshipping.
