Shirley: What is success?

Today was day TWO of our VBS program at NBF. So far, no injuries of children or teachers to report, so that is a huge praise! Thank you for praying for us and for everyone's safety.
After having 20 kids yesterday, we were down by one today for a total of 19, which still was terrific, I think. Which brings me to the title of this blog. Just exactly how do we measure program success?

Point 1: one measure of success of this VBS program is when the children consistently arrive at 9:20 AM, forty minutes before the program starts at 10 AM, eager for things to begin!

Point 2: success is reaching our older "cool" kids, especially the 5th and 6th grade girls, who were beginning to sing the songs and do the hand motions during our opening song.

Point 3: success is when our youngest members listen intently to to the bible stories while the mothers sit behind listening, also.

Point 4: Success is when all the children do their crafts quietly, trying to create a beautiful product each day. It is amazing the whole facility is so QUIET while each class is going, such a difference from last year.

Point 5: Success is when the kids have so much fun during recreation time, they forget to eat and drink their refreshments. (N.B. Chicken skin is not on the menu for anyone at VBS, before or after the program, even though I still have 50 skewers to unload on someone somewhere!)

Point 6: Success is when the kids eagerly wait to play a game before the last song. "Duck-duck-goose" was requested by several kids today, so that is what we played.

So what is the measure of success of our program today? I think it is a very difficult question that may not have a definitive answer, but one definite positive point is to see the children return, even after some told us yesterday they could attend only one day! Another is to see the parents stay to observe the whole program and leave looking very happy. And last but not least, success is to see all 9 VBS missionaries looking forward to another day with the children, even though it is really hot, humid now, complete with bugs that bite when we are outside in the playground. We pray that many children and their parents would come to our Wednesday program and pizza party tomorrow. May they open their hearts to hear the living Word and take a step towards a personal relationship with Jesus. Amen.