Day 9 – Second Day of VBS: The Encouragement Challenge
Today looked a lot like yesterday... but with a few fun surprises!
We kicked off the morning with worship, and once again the team from Karura Chapel had the students singing, dancing, and moving with so much energy. Their enthusiasm is contagious, and it's such a joy to watch the children praise the Lord with excitement.
For today's crafts, the younger students (PP1 and PP2) made pilgrim turkey masks, while Grades 1–6 created paper pumpkins. The pumpkin craft was a little more challenging, so our team and the teachers jumped in to help. Each student received six strips of paper and wrote the names of people they were thankful for before assembling their pumpkin. It was a wonderful opportunity to teach the students about Thanksgiving—what it is, why we celebrate it, and the importance of having thankful hearts.
After crafts, it was snack time! We handed out individual bags of Goldfish crackers, and the Grade 6 students couldn't help but ask if they tasted like real fish because of the name. We all got a good laugh! Teacher Anne wasn't quite as impressed with them, though—they definitely weren't her favorite.
One of the biggest highlights of the day was the balloon stomp competition. Every student had an inflated balloon tied to their ankle, and when we shouted, "Go!" the chase was on! The goal was simple: protect your own balloon while trying to pop everyone else's. The playground quickly turned into joyful chaos, with students running, laughing, and cheering everywhere you looked.
(Be sure to check out the videos here and here!)
(Get a peek at a walk with the children and Paul singing cadence here! )
Of course, we couldn't let the students have all the fun. We organized one final round featuring the teachers, cooks, and our mission team. The students enthusiastically cheered for their favorite teachers—Teacher Samson seemed to have quite the fan club—but in the end, Rose, one of the cooks, claimed the victory! Her smile stretched from ear to ear, and everyone celebrated with her.
God has faithfully given our team the strength we've needed throughout these busy days. Every afternoon we return to Heart Lodge completely exhausted, yet our hearts are overflowing with joy after spending the day with these incredible children.
As we prepare for tomorrow, we ask for your prayers. It will be our final day at Huruma HOPE School, and saying goodbye is never easy. We already know there will be many tears as we leave the students, teachers, and friends who have become so dear to us.
This experience is difficult to put into words, but we hope these daily updates have given you a glimpse into what God is doing at Huruma HOPE. Thank you for praying, encouraging, and walking alongside us throughout this journey. Your support has meant so much.
With love and gratitude,
The Huruma HOPE Team
