The Great Commission VBS 2015 Overview

This year was fresh and exciting as we had a Great Commission theme for VBS. Teaching the kids to go into all the world and tell everyone about Yeshua(Jesus) to every tribe, nation and tongue!  This is a complete overview for a 5 day VBS, 2 hour program. First hour of the program is Announcement, Missionary money challenge, Worship, Story/lesson, puppet skit. The 2nd hour the kids are divided into their groups and sent to different countries for 1 hour.  Then returned to North America/Stage Area for review , song and Missionary challenge winner.

The kids were divided into 5 color groups.  Everyday, a different group visited a different country, and rotated thru the week. The teachers were teaching the same lesson everyday, just a different group of kids, which was easy on my teachers.

Go Into All the World and tell them about Yeshua(Jesus)!!

Key Verse: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirt."  Matthew 29:19

Stage Represented
North America

North America -Home Base-STAGE area(witnessing starts where you are!) decorate stage with flags of US, Canada and Mexico. American symbols, we used Mt Rushmore. A very talented lady in our congregation made me a Mt Rushmore out of styrofoam!  It was FABULOUS! And we added touches like pine trees and old fashioned luggage and suit cases!

Country flags strung across the room

I made welcome signs in various languages

5 classrooms for 5 countries, 1 country per day per group of kids
5 teachers- teach appointed country/continent each day-duration of 1 hour
5 Teens appointed as travel guides to travel to each country with assigned group and be helpers

Passports, luggage and name tags

Each child got a passport, which they got stamped every time they visited a new country.  They received an assigned colored folder(Yellow team pictured, yellow folder, yellow name tag and yellow laynard.)

Luggage folder inserts contained:
 -missionary page representing that country
-map of each country, coloring page , fun facts
-coloring page of each country's flag
-pictures or coloring pages of native animals, traditional clothing, housing, words in native tongue

Luggage folders are 3 pronged, with pocket for passport storage

After class each day, the teacher returned "luggage" to baggage claim, to be claimed the next day. They took them home on the last day.

*Passports were purchased at www.orientaltrading.com
*Stamps were custom made for our specific countries at http://www.rubberstamps.net/   They were fabulous to work with and I loved the end product.  Images for our countries were purchased, then you are able to upload to have them made into stamps.

Countries, classrooms and order of service.

We did 5 countries/continents.(Besides, Home base, which is North America)

Kenya, Africa
Australia
Philippines, Asia
Colombia, South America
Jerusalem, Israel

I was so blessed to have actual teachers either live or visited all these countries except Australia. So the kids got first hand learning experiences from their knowledge.  I also included library books from each country for any extra time. Each class also had a world map or a globe so the kids could see where each country is located.

Kenya, Africa (decorate- tikki torches(unlit), Kenya flag, wild prints, grass skirt table cloth-teacher will dress in traditional Kenya attire)
Upon Arrival: Passport Activity- stamp kids passports, work on Kenya worksheets (10min)
Africa Craft: Rainstick- mail tubes with caps, paper inserts, rice and funnel, washi tape, markers, beads, string (20 min)
African Missionary: Thompson Family-read story and discuss(5 min)
Africa Snack- Mandazi (10 min)
Africa Game: Mencala (10 min)
Verse Game/Review (5 min)

Cebu, Philippines ( decorate-tikki torches, large paper flower, shells, ocean table cloth, bamboo. Teacher dressed in traditional Filipino attire)
Upon arrival: Passport activity for Philippines section, stamp passport (10 min)
Philippines Craft: Shark Tooth Necklace ( shark teeth (primative beads.com) string, beads) 15 min.
Philippines Game: Fruit Basket Upset (10min)
Philippines Missionary: Ralston Family (5 min)
Philippines Snack: Mangos (10 min)
Verse Game/reivew (5 min)


Colombia, South America (decorate- Colombian Flag, colorful table cloth, pottery/jugs, colorful rag rugs, Teacher dressed in Colombian Soccer Jersery :) Since "classroom" was outside due to Game.
Upon arrival: Passport activity, stamp passorts and discuss South America section (10 min)
South America Craft- Maracas -for time we used permanent markers to decorate (10 min) craft found at www.orientaltrading.com   They are very small, but perfect since we didn't want to spent alot of time.
South America Game- Soccer - 2nets and soccer ball (20 min)
South America Missionary- FANA Orphanage, Bogata,Colombia(5min)
South America Snack- Plaintain Chips (5 min)
Verse Game/Review (5 min)

Israel

Jerusalam, Israel (decorate- 12 tribes banners, Torah Scroll, Menorah, Israeli flag)
Upon arrival: Passport activity, stamp passports and do Israel section in folder (10 min)
Israel Craft: Breastplate (bags of 12 self adhesive jewels, metallic paper, ribbons, hole punch) 20 min
Israel Game; Dreidel (10 min)
Israel Missionary- Jerusalem Prayer Team-Michael Evans
Israel Snack: Challa and honey
Verse Game/review

Boomerang craft: Australia

Australia( Decorate- welcome to the outback, signs, kangaroos
Upon arrival: Passport activity, stamp passports, Aussie section in folder (10 min)
Australia Craft: Boomerang (www.orientaltrading.com) they were plastic so had to decorate with permanent marker (10 min.)

Feed the Great Barrier Reef
Sharks from Australia

Australia Missionary: The Brown Family (5min)
Australia Snack- Lamingtons (10 min)
Australia Game: Feed the Shark (bean bag toss) My teacher made this awesome shark out of styrofoam but suggest wood since the bean bags broke the shark nose! (10 min)
Verse Game/Review (5 min)









Lessons. Missionaries from the Bible, who told other about Yeshua(Jesus)!
Day 1- Jonah- Obey God's Call. Go Into All the World and Obey God's Calling
Day 2- Paul and Silas(Acts 16) Prasie God when sharing God's word is difficult
Day 3- Peter and Cornelius(Acts 10) Everyone deserves to hear about Yeshua, no partiality!
Day 4- John the Baptist-Prepare the Way
Day 5- THE Missionary- Yeshua.  Repent, I am the Way, The Truth and the Life!

Order of Service:
Part I- 45min-
Welcome- Introduction
Traveling rules: I had a teacher pretend to be an airline stewardess
Offering Challenge- blue and pink buckets, the kids raised money for the missionaries
Worship- The kids learned songs in Swahili, Cebano, Spanish and Hebrew
Lesson-Bible Story, application, object lesson
Puppet Skit
Part II- 1 hour
Break into groups(1 hour duration)

Part III- 15 min

Everyone returns to North America(Stage area)

Maracas-made in Colombia, South America

Review day
closing song
Reveal Missionary offering challange winner
Dismiss

Visiting Israel

Making Breastplates of Righteousness

visiting Kenya, Africa

Making African rain sticks

Making fondue Lamington's -an Australia treat

Shark tooth bead necklaces-Philippines

Feed the Shark Game-Australia

Welcome to Colombia, South America

5 Tips to Help with Your Spirited Child

Have a spirited child?  One that always seems to rise to the challenge?  Here are a few tips that helped me keep my cool and nurture our relationship.  A lot of the times, it's my reaction that can either nip the situation in the bud OR I can cause it to spiral out of control.

1. Do NOT engage.  Seriously, why am I arguing with a 5 yr old.  I gave you an answer. To often I find myself arguing to make my point. Not worth it. She will not fully understand.  I am open to respectful discussion, however, I will not engage in back and forth arguing. I find I have to be the grown up... oh gee, I AM the grown up! So I have to act like one and not bicker with my child.

2. Pick your battles.  Am I a fan of how she does her hair? No.  Am I fan of her outfits. No. Do I dislike how many clothes are on the floor? No. Do I dislike how she uses up all the tape in the house, all my printer paper...where is my stapler? Where are my scissors???? Breathe.  Breathe again. These are the tiny things that can turn into big things so easily.  Does she take a shower. Yes. so her hair is fine.  Are her clothes modest, appropriate and clean? Yes, so it's not a big issue.  I hear that a messy room means she is creative.  And all the missing office supplies suggests that also.  However, is she rolling her eyes as me, disrespectful, unkind or defiant.?  Those are the battles I will step up lay down the discipline.

3. Make alone time.  I find she acts out because she wants to be with me.  Play a game. Do date nights.  Run an errand together. Pray with her alone. Read Bible together. Just take her one on one and talk in your room. Show her you are willing to put down your phone or wait on those dishes and laundry, so you can look her in the eyes and show her how precious and important she is to you. Bring her in close, otherwise you will loose her in the future.  Make time for her now, so she will make time for you as she gets older.

4. Heaps of Love and Encouragement.  Out of all my girls, she needs the most love and affirmation. Constant encouragement and daily, almost hourly positive words and love.  The more I give, the better her attitude is.  I ask her how her "love tank" is doing and she honestly will say its low, so that is where I step up and squeeze her til she says, "hearts are coming out of my ears."  Is she giving you a hard time, just stop, give her a funny look and give her a hug and say I love you!  That will diffuse the issue on the spot. Love on them, pay attention to their moods and body language, she most likely just needs you to come and give her a huge hug.

5. Start your day in prayer and God's Word.  I find that I have more patience and am able to deal with situations in a more calm and peaceful way if I start my day with Jesus.  On the days that I overlook this precious time, my day is more frazzled and I tend to be more tightly wound. Pray for the patience, wisdom and understanding it takes to mold a young child. What a wonderful opportunity we have, and very important one, that I do not want to take it on without His guidance.  It is essential that she sees me spending this time with the Lord as well.  Show her how to be more like Jesus. Be the example.



It's hard to believe that the same child that tries me every which way and challenges me on a level that is beyond my understanding.  Is the same child that loves beyond measure, is compassionate and aware of the needs of others. She loves and cares deeply.  There is a fountain of love under her tough exterior.  At the end of the day, when all is said and done, she is waiting for her prayers, hugs and kisses. I thank the Lord for this beautiful daughter He has given me!