The Tamuras - Shirley and Kohichi and their three daughters. They live near Yokosuka and help minister at a church plant. We will be working with them to host VBS for the kids in their church and the community
The 2008 Japan Team - we are 18 people in total - including 2 high school students, 1 youth and 15 adults. We will be split into two smaller teams of 9 people each and sent off to two different cities - Kashiwa and Yokosuka
The team will be split into two groups of 9 - half the team will go to Kashiwa to work with another church plant and the other half of the team will go to Yokosuka to work with the Tamuras. Both will be identical - teaching VBS to kids at the church and the community
This is the community centre in which the Tamura's church meets. It is aso where the VBS program will be run while we are there. note the large recreation area in front of the building - it offers an area for the kids to have recreation time
The VBS program runs for 5 days and each day starts with everyone gathering together.
the day starts with a skit.
There will be bible story telling. Each day teaches a different bible story.
We try to get the kids involved with the bible stories to keep their attention. In this photo, the woman on the right is a mother of one of the children. It was common for the mother's to accompany their kids during the program and so it is an opportunity to witness to the mother's as well
More bible story telling...
We also teach them songs with actions - they are very enthusiastic about learning these songs.
They are so enthusiastic that they have asked us to post the songs for this year on YouTube so that they learn the songs before we arrive this year.
They have so much fun!
Look at that smile!
even the moms get involved!
There is an arts and crafts project everyday.
The crafts relate to the bible story of the day and the overall theme of VBS - last year's theme was water park.
It is also typical for the crafts to be something the kids can take home for memory.
The last crafts project was a frame to put their photo in. they could then hang it on their fridge or wall at home
I decided during our last team meeting that i would help lead the arts and crafts projects!
We also played games with them. The games often involve helping the kids learn a bible memory verse.
We also took them outside to enjoy the weather.
and here they also played more competitive games.
at noon, everyone would gather for lunch. VBS goes from 9am to noon. The mothers would often join us for lunch so it offers a good opportunity to talk with them as well.
Moms connecting with one another
The kids love these bugs. I cannot remember their name. But they make a lot of noise and they are huge. the kids collect them as pets.
and sometimes, they will give it to you as a gift....
After VBS has ended at noon, we will be trying to find other ministries we can help with for the afternoons. last year, the team went to an old age home to teach bible stories.
They are very attentive...
