POWER LAB

Professor CC and Professor DD...

The Mad Scientists..."Aha!"

The Power Lab set...

This is an exciting week at Fall Creek. We are right in the middle of our 2008 VBS. This year our them is Power Lab where we are learning all about Jesus' miraculous power! These are the five diffferent lessons:

• Jesus gives us the power to be thankful!
• Jesus gives us the power to help others!
• Jesus gives us the power to be brave!
• Jesus gives us the power to live forever!
• Jesus gives us the power to bring good news!

Power Lab is a fun and crazy set up. We have our main science lab in the sanctuary where Danielle and I (also known as Professor DD and Professor CC) do wild experiments and sing crazy songs with the kids. We review the story for the day and we introduce the Bible Memory Buddy.

Then the kids are dismissed to their different stations. We have five different groups made up of about three different crews. Crew are groups of five students and one leader. Ideally there is one child from each grade level on each crew and they all have specific jobs. After the opening in the main lab the kids are sent to either snacks, hyperspeed games, wacky works crafts and missions, Bible blast, or cinema science. These stations are run by adult volunteers and they are all a ton of fun! I was able to observe the Bible lesson last night. It was an interactive story, taught by Pastor John. The kids were learning abot how Jesus healed the blind man with mud so they were all blindfolded before they entered the Bible room. Then as John talked volunteers smeared mud (oatmeal) on their foreheads so that they could feel what it may have been like for the blind man. Then when they were all "healed" John turned on the lights and they were all able to see again. It was great to listen in on their discussion afterwards as each of the crews talked about what it was like to be blind and then healed. One of the questions was, "How would you feel about the person that gave you your sight back?" One of the children responded, "I would be so happy, I would want to be his servant forever." I hear things like that and it makes me jealous of these kids. I wish I had the heart of the child. Their blind faith and their pure, soft hearts humble me every day. I am so blessed to be able to work with such wonderful kids at such an amazing church.

I was also able to participate in game time, which proved to be a big mistake. The kids were playing "blind basketball" with pool noodles and soaker balls. Lets just say, most of the soaker balls ended up on me instead of in their hoops. I was drenched by the time the games ended but that didn't stop the show! I went back to my lab and pulled on my lime green lab coat over my soaking wet shirt and Professor CC and Professor DD welcomed the kids back for the finale. During the finale we do a brief review or our story and memory buddy and we sing a few songs and sometimes we have a crazy experiment! When I asked some of the kids what their favorite part of Bible School was they all said, "the experiments!" The first night was quite the disaster as we tried to make a giant bubble out of dish soap, water and dry ice. It didn't quite work the way we had planned but the kids loved it! They thought it was hilarious that we kept messing up and I don't think any of them realized that it didn't go the way it was supposed to. Tonight we are doing a sink or float experiment as we learn about Peter walking on water.

If you haven't had the chance to come yet I really encouraged you to stop by the church tonight and take a look at what is going on. Your kids are learning about God, making friends, and growing in their faith. It is a beautiful thing to see!