Day one of Vacation Bible School. We've spent weeks preparing songs, dances, crafts, games, stories, etc., all for today. For my team, recreation, we had thought about the games we wanted to play with the kids and how the games could relate to the daily scripture and theme. We even prepared back up games in case we had to call an audible, or had extra time at the end.
This is not my first Peru trip, and certainly not my first time leading a group of kids, even in a foreign language. Each time I'm working with kids, whether it's at VBS here in Collique or working at a camp, I always try to have everything prepared and ready to go for day one. However, I seem to forget that no matter how much I prepare ahead of time, I will never know what to expect each day.
As the OSA kids came in for the morning session, I found myself thinking, "Am I really ready for this?" For me, I've had enough experience to know that the answer is, "No." Yet knowing that I'm not really ready doesn't stress me out or worry me. I've learned that as long as I keep a positive attitude and a willing spirit, I can help and serve wherever and however I'm needed. So today I feel like I did just about everything: told Bible stories, led games, ate deformed PB&Js, and learned how to assemble a wooden penguin (which was a lot harder than we expected).
To some, my day of running around being a leader, an interpreter, and a teacher sounds chaotic and exhausting. Truthfully, days like today are why I come on trips like these. I get to have an abundance of such diverse experiences all in one day. It's my hope that our youth continue to dive into to the work we have started this week and find the same joy I do in working with the people of Collique.
Drew Barkley is a recent graduate of Emory University, fluent in Spanish, and is leading our Bible Story and Recreation rotations with VBS at OSA. This is his third trip to OSA, and first as an adult chaperone.
