2008 VBS Antigua Team

It is amazing how God used each and every team member to accomplish something most people would think was impossible! Only 14 leaders were able to teach new songs, do experiments & lessons, perform drama, do crafts and games to 220 children! What a team and what an awesome God we serve! With God all things are possible!!!!

My most incredible moment!

The 3rd day of VBS we had 147 children. Seven Day Adventist is the predominant religion and it was Saturday. I was Professor Rose who did experiments and object lessons and this lesson was awesome! I gave an invitation for the children to ask Jesus into their lives. There were about 40 to 50 kids in each of the 4 sites and to me the sweetest sound in the world is children asking Jesus into their hearts. They repeated the prayer after me in heartfelt unison and when I finished my heart was so touched and God's presence was so strong I was choked up and unable to talk for a moment. This trip has been awesome! So many areas I was stretched and felt God's strength and help when it was needed! It taught me lessons that I want to remember for other trials and to encourage others. God is wanting us to stretch and grow and to trust in Him so we can be used of Him and be blessed by Him.

Rosemary

Fon's special friend

My little Tamara. I showed her a picture of my family. She asked if the were dead because they were not there. I told her no, that they were in America; that I came to Antiqua to meet her because she was special. She looked at me, was quiet for awhile, then said "I love you".

Heather, Becky and Allison did such a great job with drama.

I have had such a wonderful time with the kids they are so cute and happy to be with us. We had a great last day of VBS there was a lot of kids who accepted Jesus. I can't believe that we are down to our last day already. We are all getting ready for church. I will see you all soon. Allison

Rosemary and one of her new friends!

Chicki Chicki

Here is Allison and I singing the Chicki chicki song The kids loved it! This has been an amazing day!!! We woke up at 5:00 and went to the city market and did street witnessing. The people were very receptive and loved talking to us. Dave led 2 men to the Lord this morning!!!!! Also, we had our last day of VBS and all the children had the chance to be saved. We had about 20 kids make a choice to follow the Lord today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a great day! GOD IS AWESOME -Becky Hable-

This has been one of the greatest weeks of my life.  I have seen Gods work right in front of me.  I had one girl who prayed with me to ask Jesus into her heart and when we were done she grabbed her heart and said she felt it.  I almost started crying.  This trip has tested my own personal limits.  I have loved every second of it.  God is so great and sometimes we lose sight of his simple and unconditional love for us.  This trip has renewed my mind and focus of simple and unconditional love.  

      Thanks to everyone who has been praying.  Mom and Dad I love you so much and I know you have been praying.  Mr. and Mrs. Hable you guys are the best second family I could have asked for.  I love you much!  Thank you for your support on this trip.   Love, Heather

PASSING TRACKS OUTSIDE

TODAY I STEPPED OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE AND WENT UP TO STRANGERS ON THE STREET TO PASS OUT TRACKS.  I WAS REALLY SURPRISED AT HOW MUCH MORE RECEPTIVE THEY WERE THEN PEOPLE IN THE STATES. SOME OF THE PEOPLE JUST WANT A TRACK TO SEE WHAT WE ARE PASSING OUT TO OTHER PEOPLE, WHICH IS A GOOD THING BECAUSE WHEN THEY RECEIVE THAT THEY START TO READ IT. I WAS SUPER TIRED BECAUSE I HAD TO WAKE UP AT 5AM TO BE DOWN TOWN AT 6AM. I WASNT SURE AT FIRST ABOUT WALKING UP TO RANDOM PEOPLE AT FRUIT STANDS, BUT ONCE I DID IT WAS SO MUCH BETTER THEN I THOUGHT. I WAS SO CRAZY TO ME HOW THE PEOPLE WOULD COME FIND US LATER AND WANT US TO EXPLAIN MORE TO THEM ABOUT GOD. I HAD A FUN DAY TODAY ALTHOUGH IM TIRED. I REALLY MISS YOU DREW, DAD AND DEVIN. LOVE JERICA

TODAY WAS THE LAST DAY OF VBS AND THE KIDS THOUGHT IT WAS PRETTY FUNNY TO PUT THEIR SNAKES THAT THEY HAD GOTTEN (FROM MY MOM OF COURSE!) ON MY HEAD AND SHOULDERS TO TRY AND SCARE ME!!!  WE HAD ANOTHER GREAT DAY TODAY.  I REALLY ENJOYED MY TIME I GOT TO SPEND WITH ALL THE KIDS.  I DO REALLY MISS EVERYONE AT HOME AND AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU!  LOVE YOU, LORI

Allison passing out tracks in the Market Place

I am sure that all of us have had our eyes opened this morning at all the people that are spiritually lost. People really wanted to know what we were passing out and we saw them reading the tracks and often asking us questions.

Fon & Shelly getting the flip flops ready to take to VBS

Shelly having a very deep spiritual conversation with a man on the street

This man had alot of questions about the Christian walk and Shelly was definitely lead by the Holy Spirit as she spoke with him at great length. She went thro the plan of salvation with him and made it simple for him to understand! 

Saturday Morning Witnessing

Picture of the Team passing out tracks early Saturday morning. It was amazing that everyone was so receptive.

Our God is an AWESOME God!!!

At 5:45 am we went out witnessing in the Market Place in Antigua. We passed out tracs and was amazed at how receptive every person was  and many wanted to talk. Dave Vroman lead these 2 men to the Lord this morning! We were all thrilled at how God was working! 

What an incredible sight to behold! 230 children and teenagers worshipping the Lord! I am sure that the Lord was smiling down upon us!! It was very touching!

This is awesome!

This was my new friend, Kyla. She clung to me the entire time. I have never seen kids so loving or wanting of attention. I have learned so much from these kids. They are so accepting of people and just want to love you. I enjoy every single long, hot day that we have worked there and feel like I'm excactly where God wants me to be. My prayer is that our group changes at least one life. Thank you all for your support and prayers. Marcie, I miss you and I miss working out with you :) Keleigh, I love you and I can't wait to see you.

Dave and Ben getting soaked while playing with the kids during the VBS games!

All things are possible with GOD!

ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD! that is what the verse was today and it is so true. In the beginning we never imagined that we would have 100 kids the first day, but we did...ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD!...the second day we thought that we might hit 200 kids, but we exceeded that and had over 220 kids...ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD!..I can only imagine what tomorrow holds for us! After VBS we are hoping to be able to paint the floor of the church, since Rev. Michaels (the pastor at the Gray's Farm Church) asked us to. We have been blessed by the people of Antigua just as they feel they have been blessed by us being there and helping in their community. ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD!
With love and thanks for all your support and prayers,
Nicole

THE NUMBER ARE GROWING!!!

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We played more water games with the kids today. We shared with the kids about Jesus walking on the water and how they can trust Jesus! The kids were lined up at the gate before we even got to the church this morning!!!! The kids came back today and many of them had their shirts on that they made yesterday. We talked about how nothing is impossible with God. We have some good ideas on how to have a closer connection with the kids tomorrow at my site and I am looking forward to having a deeper talk with them tomorrow. God is Awesome! We can trust Him!!!!!

Shelly

TODAYS GRAND TOTAL OF 230

TODAY AT VBS WE WERE HOPING TO HIT 200 KIDS. WE EXCEEDED THAT BY 30 KIDS!!! IT SUCH A GREAT TURN OUT. THE KIDS ARE HAVING SO MUCH FUN. THIS IS A PICTURE OF ONE OF THE GIRLS THAT WON A PRIZE AT THE END. I AM SO HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THIS MISSION'S TRIP. THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR THEIR SUPPORT. LORI

SAMATHA AND HER NEW FRIEND.

JEANETTE HOLING A BABY FOR AN ANTIGUAN MINUTE!!

WOULDN'T YOU LOVE TO WAKE UP TO THAT OUT YOUR BEDROOM WINDOW??!!

DAY AT THE BEACH

AFTER VBS YESTERDAY WE GOT TO GO THE BEACH. WE HAD A MUCH NEEDED RELAXING AFTERNOON!! THE BEACH WAS BEAUTIFUL. LORI

God brought us so many kids today!!!

We worked hard yesterday painting and going down the streets telling kids about VBS and giving them Bibles. We are making new friends! The first day at VBS was great! We played water games with the kids and the kids soaked Ben and Dave! The turn out was amazing we shared with kids the days of creation and how awesome God is to create such a wonderful world. The weather is VERY hot! I feel blessed to be apart of this team and to be able to share God's love with them!
Shelly

Heather leading the Drama VBS site with Becky & Allison doing the cosmic robots! It was such a hit!!!

Professor Rose surrounded by her new Antiguan friends!

Jerica holding a happy little girl!

Ben & Dave getting shot with squirt guns in a fun outdoor game!

It was a very very hot day so the water games was a big hit! They had alot of fun getting wet and winning games!

Fon Courser helping the kids make "God is Awesome" tee shirts! The kids just loved them! We are in the basement of the church and the kids had to lay the shirts outside to dry til VBS was over! 

VBS was incredible! Becky Hable did an outstanding job leading the children in their 1st day of VBS! We were blown away at the # of children God brought to VBS! We broke all the VBS records of # of attendance in Antigua pastor Ron said!  

WHAT AN AWESOME DAY!

WE ALL HAD A GREAT DAY TODAY.  THE SCARRY PLANE RIDE PAYED OFF!!  WE WERE SO EXCITED ABOUT THE GREAT TURN OUT.  THE KIDS LOVE GETTING SWEETIES (CANDY) AND JUST HOLDING YOUR HAND AND LOVING ON YOU.   WE  ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE HOW MANY KIDS COME TOMORROW.  I REALLY MISS YOU ROCKY AND DEVIN AND CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU ON MONDAY!  LORI

First Day of VBS

 Today was the first day of vacation bible school, it was a great turn out. There was a total of 153 kids! It may have gotten a little crazy at times, but it was such an experience! The kids there are so loving and all they really want is your attention. This is one of the girls who I became close with. She really adored me and my time spent with her. I cant wait to go back again tomorrow to spend more time with them. Were hoping that there will be at least 200 by Saturday. Its hard being away from home and not seeing people I see everyday, but the kids keep my mind off everything. -Jerica-

Your VBS Antigua Team arrivedd in Antigua at 10pm and arrived at Ron's at 11:30pm. We crashed and got up early and worked on our invitations to VBS and went out canvassing the area with Rev. Michael. We knocked on doors and invited the children to come and passed out invitations, stickers, and candy. We were very well received and we found many kids who were excited about coming to VBS. We even had 3 boys who came and helped us paint the basement.

We spent the majority of the day painting the basement of the Grays Farm Wesleyan Holiness Church. It was in great need of paint so together our team spent the day painting and sprucing up the place. The basement was dramatically changed! It now matches the colors that are on the outside of the church. It looks AWESOME! Dave Vroman and Ben had many helpers; Nicole, Shelly, Fon, Jeanette, Allison, Jerica, Samantha, Julie, and Rosemary. The basement floor was later painted a reddish color and that turned out great!

Samantha Richardson did the hot, sweaty job of weed whipping the back yard so we could have a place to play VBS games with the kids. It was a very very hot day. But we are all anticipating a great turn out tomorrow and are anxious to see God move and the children learn about Jesus.

Becky Hable and Heather arrived later this afternoon safe and sound and anxious to get started. it was great to see them and have them join our team!

Tomorrow we will begin our VBS and plan on having lots of pictures to share with you!

Rosemary

Grays Farm children awaiting our arrival.