VBS: How I Saw It

I will try to recount my experiences in Yucca Valley as best as I can, but first I need to say a few things. In the next few days if you want to get a hold of me in any way, you will have to do it by phone. I will not have a computer at my use consistently for about at least two weeks. So if any of you don't have it and want it, my cellphone number is (661) 644-9071 and I can get calls and texts on it. Actually, I think that is all I need to say. Now I will recount my time in Yucca Valley.

I think I will start by setting the scene and then describe some of the important characters. The setting is a place called Yucca Valley, it is close to the middle of nowhere and yet in some ways you might forget that that think that you are not to far away from somewhere. It has a ton of "trees" called Joshua trees or Yucca plants, and they look like they could have come right out of a Dr. Seuss book. They also have a lot of rock structures that are similar to those in the "Cars" movie.

Now I will describe some of the people that are a part of the week's story. As I describe them you will notice that there are not any physical descriptions of the people. That is because I often fail to notice and accurate physical description of people, I am better at describing what people are like, so that is what I am going to do.

Me (Caleb): No description necessary.

Anne: No description necessary.

Pastor Stephen Jones: He graduated from the Masters College and Seminary. He was my 5th and 6th grade Sunday School teacher (keep that 5th and 6th grade on the fore front of your mind, you will see it a lot). Personal Story: I would not be the person I am today if it was not for him. Even though I believe that I was saved at a young age, it was not until the 5th and 6th grade, in the Sunday School class, that the Bible started to become real to me and I wanted to know more about God and what the Bible said, and that is because he made the Bible seem real and really taught me that the advents really happened. Description (cont.): He became the pastor at a small church called First Baptist Church of Yucca Valley a few years ago. Things have not been easy for him but he is a man of God and he has seen in small ways God blessing him. He is kind and caring and puts others first.

Natalie Jones: Stephen's wife. They met at Masters and became good friends and then started dating and then got married. They have been married for about 10 years and when they were dating and newly-weds people thought that they were bother and sister. She was my Co-Sunday School teacher when I was in 5th and 6th grade. She is the mother of 3 kids: Dillon age 5, Heida age 3, and Abigale age 4 months. She a lot of energy, for being a mother of 3, and has a big heart to reach out to the young people in the community.

Isaiah, Dillon, and Ezra: These three are brothers who were at VBS last year and this year, I got to know them last year. I don't know if they are saved or not, but I think they go to church sometimes. Isaiah is the oldest and wants to be a leader but he is unsure of himself, but he acts like he is cool, he reminds me of myself. Dillon is the middle wild child, he is crazy and has a lot of energy and people follow him, almost blindly because he has a personality like that. Ezra is the youngest and the smallest but that is not how he sees himself, his favorite color is green and he sees himself as the Hulk, but he loves and looks up to his older brothers.

Erick: He just graduated from high school and worked with Anne during VBS. His mom worked during VBS as the 1st and 2nd grade teacher. I believe that they have been going to First Baptist for a long time, but I don't remember them from last year. He was very creative and full of energy and really good with kids.

Lila: Last but not least: I worked with Lila last year, we had the 5th and 6th graders and we felt like fish out of water (It was our first time ever doing anything like that.) She has a heart to reach out to kids, but she feels like she can't do it. She does try, but she feels like she is not qualified to do it. She sometimes thinks that she is to old to figure this whole "working with kids thing" down.

Day 1 (Saturday 06/25/2011): Pastor Stephen picked me up from Canyon Country. We had a good long conversation and car ride. We made it to Yucca Valley and we do some grocery shopping for a picnic the next day. Then we got to his house, which is where I stayed, and we got settled in.

Day 2 (Sunday 06/26/2011): We went to church and I got to see some of the people again from last year, meet some new people, and met some of the older people for the second time (if you know what I mean). It was nice to see Lila and Anne again. Then the Jones and I went back home and prepared for the picnic. We picked up two kids (high-school) who go to the church and left. There only one other family showed up, a marine family (which is common, there is a good amount of marine families that goes to the Jones' church). There is a marine base in the desert because it gives the people a good idea of what it is like to be in the Middle East. After the picnic and dropping people off, we went home.

Day 3 (Monday 06/27/2011): Stephen and I set up for the VBS and got a bunch of last minuet things done, and Anne got her classroom ready (sadly it was not 5th and 6th grade proof). That night I went over to Anne's house and had dinner with her and her parents (her sisters were not there). We had a great time! After dinner, we went to a view point where we could overlook a whole valley and watch it light up as the sun was setting. Then we went back to her house for dessert and tea. Then it was late so I had to leave. But it was a great time, we talked about everything, and we could still be doing it right now if there was not other things that we had to do.

Day 4 (Tuesday 06/28/2011): The FIRST day of VBS! Last year VBS was 5 days long and I was with the 5th and 6th graders. This year the VBS was 3 days and I was put with the kindergarteners with Lila and Erick's mom. Lila and I work really well together so we had fun, but the first day seemed to be a disaster. It seemed like we were doing badly, though in hind-sight it went quite well. Erick and Anne with the 5th and 6th graders were doing badly. They were having kids that were not paying attention and committing "duck suicides." (Ask Anne) This year Isaiah and Dillon was in the 5th and 6th grade class, last year it was just Isaiah. I tried to help since I had some experience with them last year, they seemed to like me. They thought of some stuff, and ideas for the next day but...

Day 5 (Wednesday 06/29/2011): The second day of VBS. The little ones did much better and Lila was encouraged. Erick and Anne did not far so well, but Dillon and Isaiah (but mostly Dillon) did better this day. Dillon was the one who needed to improve more. After the whole thing Erick, Anne, Stephen, and I got together to talk about what to do about the 5th and 6th graders. In this meeting we past around a bunch of ideas of what we should do in future years to better reach this age group. Part of the problem is the children's attitude but at the same time there is things that we need to change, like not giving them the same craft as the kindergarteners. Even though we talked a lot about the future we also figured out something to do the next day to get there attention and it was a good thing the pastor was there approving what we were going to do.

Day 6 (Thursday 06/30/2011): The third and last day of VBS and my last day. I was moved to the 5th and 6th graders. The lesson was about the woman and Jesus at the well and how Jesus calls himself the Living Water. So the three of us fed the kids crackers and had them run a relay race in the middle of the desert. This was to make them thirsty. Then we gave them salty water, so that they would still be thirst after they drank the water (as we were during this I was thinking that this is something Weston would approve of). After playing the trick, we gave them good water and broke up into small groups (boys and girls). I wish that Isaiah and Dillon was there but they were moving the next day. In the small groups we were able to get most of the kids attention and share the Gospel to them. Then shortly later in their music time they were given another Gospel presentation, their music teacher was Natalie (who was in on it). If it was not for this, I would be tempted to think that this week as a waste, but since we did do this, I know that it was not. Sadly though I had to leave on this day.

The next day there as a barbeque that was a ton of fun last year. I wish that I could have been there. Please pray for everyone that came to the VBS but especially the people I mentioned and the 5th and 6th graders, like Daniel and Xavier. Pray for Lila and the three brothers, they weigh heavily on my heart.