VBS ~ 2012

VBS is over and we are ready (and eager) to have our evenings at home again. 

I was honored to be asked to represent and plan the missions aspect of our VBS this year. Our church used the SKY themed VBS and their focus was to raise money for mosquito nets in Mali through World Vision. Knowing that Compassion also participates in the fight against malaria and that I am an advocate for Compassion, my church asked me to be in charge of this. 

Each night I had 5-8 minutes to talk about the problem and the solution. Next week at Compassion Family I will be talking about what I did each night, but wanted to also post a little bit about it here (in case you don't read Compassion Family).

I think the highlight was Wednesday night. Sydney and Kayleigh helped me put on a skit and we got so many compliments and comments and positive feedback about it. Kevin came and video taped it and you can watch it yourself.




I had also issued a challenge that if the kids brought in $100 (enough for 10 nets), I would give each of them a bracelet. I had no idea if we would hit this goal, but put 10 balloons on this piece of cardboard and drew mosquitoes on each balloon. Each balloon represented a net and I would tell the kids how much money we had raised by popping a balloon.

It was a great visual and the kids had fun counting as I popped the balloons. Again, when I made this I had no idea how much money the kids would bring in.

Can you believe our total was $102? - just over the $100 challenge goal?

Of course you can because God is awesome like that!!!


On Thursday the church told me they would match whatever the kids brought in. So I told the kids. We were up to $150 and I was pretty happy. With the match, we were up to $300 or 30 nets.

Now, please keep in mind this was a small VBS - about 50 kids.

Friday was our last day to collect money and when I was done passing around the bucket it was pretty heavy.

At our finale session I planned to stuff kids under a mosquito net to show them how many kids' lives we would be saving from our efforts that week.



I had one net to illustrate the money the kids raised, and a second net to illustrate that our efforts would be doubled by the church.

Are you ready for this?!?!?!

Friday's donations amounted to $151, which doubled our previous total.

When all was said and done, we are able to send a check for $600 - that's 60 mosquito nets! I actually ran out of kids to stuff the nets and had to turn to the adults.

What a week! 

I love that I was asked to be the missions representative.

I love that I was able to raise money for mosquito nets. 

I really love that I was able to do this through Compassion.

I really, really love that God is faithful and good.