Kendra Vanstone
Hello blog readers, fellow workers, and friends. I'm Kendra Vanstone and am from Moose Jaw Saskatchewan. I just graduated and am looking forward to attending the University of Saskatchewan in the fall. This is my third summer teaching, and I'm excited to see what God has in store for the coming weeks. Please pray for me that I would have lots of strength and energy while working with the kids, that God would give me discernment while teaching, and that I would have safe travels as I will be driving throughout Alberta. Thank you so much for the encouragement and prayers.
Before delving into my epically awesome account of the last three weeks, I want to share with you the fact that as of today I have taught 17 weeks of 5-day clubs over the last three summers. As I was contemplating this, it struck me that this translates to over four months, or around 270+ hours of teaching kids about Jesus. I think that’s pretty cool! When I started teaching 5-day clubs as an inexperienced, over-confident 15 year old, I had no idea how God would use me over the next three summers with this ministry, or how he would use these 17 weeks of teaching to slowly draw me closer to himself. Looking back at these last few summers, all I can say is God is good, he is faithful, and it is only by his overwhelming grace and the strength He has given me, that I can reflect back on these months I have dedicated to Him, with thanksgiving and joy.
Week 4: I taught around Saskatoon that week in Laird, Waldheim, Duck Lake, and Rosthern. It was a very full and exciting week as every club had lots of kids, all of which were super excited to hear about Jesus. In my first morning club that week there were many younger children, but they listened so well all week and it was encouraging to see their interest in hearing the stories and in memorizing the theme verse. In the second morning club I had 21 kids the first day and no new kids throughout the week. All the kids were friends at this club and all but 5 were under the age of six. On Monday one of the few children that wasn’t from a Christian home asked Jesus into her heart and I was able to give her a book of John. There was another little girl that became a Christan through the mailbox lessons, and throughout the week they were so attentive to the stories and to learning more about God, even when their friends were goofing off at certain points. Club 3 of the week ended up only being a 2-day club with four kids in attendance. On the last day of this club though, one little girl that had been asking questions and listening really closely to the bible stories decided to start following Jesus. She does not come from a Christian background, but the her babysitter that was hosting the club looks after her a lot so I’m hoping she’ll be able to share more about Jesus with this little girl, especially since they were only able to host for the 2 days. The last club of the day in Rosthern was mostly churched kids and was an older club (8-12). On the Monday there was a brother and a sister that came, and the sister had made a decision when she was younger, but the brother simply never had. At the end of the club when I gave the invitation the boy put up his hand and later when I talked to him I found out that he knew lots about Jesus but had never made that decision to turn his life over to Him. I was able to pray with this boy, and it proved to be a good reminder to me that when we do have churched kids in a club it is still so important to give the invitation because we never know if there are kids that only know about God, but don’t truly know Him.
Week 5: Trekking back into Alberta for week five and six, I taught a VBS in Jasper that week at a small Pentescostal church. Honestly I think I had just about as much fun teaching the kids up there as I did getting to know some of the church family. It was really a great week as I was able to minister to many of the kids that had become Chrisitans in past years’ VBS’, and as I was able to speak love into a few kids’ lives that came from an atheistic background. On the Friday the church held a pizza lunch for the parents to attend, and many of the children recitied the memory verses they had learned throughout the week for a short program we put together. The kids were so proud to show their parents what they had learned, and I felt like a proud parent as I watched these sweet children sing their hearts out and do the actions so enthusiastically, as they sang their favorites songs for their parents.
Week 6: For this last week I was in Seba Beach (which is an hour west of Edmonton), teaching an afternoon VBS. This was the church’s first time hosting a VBS, and they were unsure as to how everything would turn out. Although they were expecting to have around 20 kids, we ended up having only 11 kids throughout the week. There were two little boys that came with their mom everyday and on Monday the one boy who was five decided to make a decision to follow Jesus. As I was talking with the pastor’s wife yesterday she was telling me that even though not as many kids came out as were expected, it was all worth it just for that one boy who came to Christ; I couldn’t agree more.
In conclusion this summer has been amazing to say the least. I have been so blessed by the kids I have been able to teach, the churches I was so graciously welcomed into, and the 6 families that hosted me throughout the summer and made my time away from home so enjoyable. Thank you to everyone who supported me, was praying for me, and to my family that so patiently listened as every Friday night I would worry about having to drive to a new location. I do apologize for only blogging twice this summer as I know there were people who were wanting to know how God had been working through my clubs on a more weekly basis, but admisdst over 6000kms of driving, trying to get things together for university while being away from home, and hanging out with my amazing host families, time has been scarce.
Lastly I want to thank God for providing abundantly this summer, as whenever I was in need of strength, wisdom, grace, comfort, or just needing to know the right thing to say, he was there drawing me to himself.
How great is our God!!!! Looking back on these last few weeks I just marvel at how God never ceases to work through our inadequacies, and how he always works things out for good. The first two weeks I was teaching by myself in Alberta, having never driven there before, and was slightly nervous (to say the least) about how everything would pan out.
Week 1: I was in Drayton Valley teaching a VBS, and had 60 kids the first day! I lead the opening and closing ceremony, and in between taught the Bible story four times as each group circulated through the various stations; it made for a very full morning (it was a 3 hour VBS). Thankfully there were many fabulous volunteers who helped make the week run very smoothly. About 75% of the children at the VBS did come from a church background, and by Friday still no kids had made a decision. Friday rolled around though and there were four girls who ended up deciding to follow Jesus. Three didn’t have Bibles so I was able to give them one. It was also really interesting because a boy made a decision through the lessons earlier that week, and it was his little sister that was one of the girls that made a decision on Friday. This brother and sister don’t come from a Christian home, but were visiting their grandma that week and she brought them; it’s so neat that now they will be able to go home and be an encouragement to each other as they both have completely “turned around”.
Week 2: This was a fun week as I was in Hinton: the gateway to the Rockies. Besides the blessing of being able to teach some really fabulous kids that week, I was so encouraged being surrounded by the mountains, and just everyday being in awe of how marvelous God’s creation is. I taught 3 clubs that week. The first one in the morning was in a backyard, and the next two were in churches. The backyard club had mostly Christian kids, but there was one little girl who made a decision through the mailbox lessons that week. The highlight of this club was Friday for sure. There had been a family of four kids coming all week, and on Friday that mom invited a girl that they knew that was visiting from Romania. This girl came from an orthodox background, and I don’t think had ever heard the salvation message. On Fridays I always present the wordless book, and really try and connect all the Bible stories, and bring home our need for Jesus and doing a 180. Well, this little girl put up her hand saying and wanting to do that, so after the club I went and talked to her and she asked Jesus into her heart! I was able to give her a Bible, but I’m not sure how her parents responded to this, I’m praying that they let her keep it though! So the next club was at an Alliance church, and again on Friday the same thing happened: one new girl showed up and also made a decision! This club was really good, as all the kids were really excited to sing the songs and hear about Tony and the Bible stories. Many of the parents stayed for this club too, and also joined in when we sang, haha. The final club was composed of an older group of kids, mostly 10-12, and most of which had already made a decision. It was really amazing for me to see throughout the week these kids’ joy in memorizing God’s word, and just their desire to know more about Him. And finally, I cannot say it enough, the mountains were amazing!
Week 3: Last week I taught with Jean in North Battleford, and it was my challenging week. We taught 2 clubs throughout the week, and also at a tent meeting Friday night. I felt really tired and drained even on the Monday as the week was just beginning (probably partly due to all the driving I did over the weekend), and was finding it hard to be really energetic with the kids. This week definitely required much prayer as many of the kids did not come from Christian homes, or have much background knowledge of the Bible. Two kids at the one club asked Jesus to come into their hearts, but then the girl didn’t come back all week, and the boy seemed disinterested the rest of the week. By Friday I didn’t want to leave this club, as I knew there was still so much these kids needed to know! It can definitely be hard leaving, and wondering who else these kids will have speak life to them, but then we need to trust God that He will use the seeds that we’ve planted. The second club was interesting because half of the kids basically knew everything in the Bible, and the other half had probably never seen a Bible in their life. Finding a balance in teaching this club was difficult, but God was working in all the kids’ hearts, as we saw throughout the week from different things that the kids were learning, and were receptive to in God’s Word. Now the tent ministry. Originally we were supposed to be running the kids portion of the tent ministry Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. When we got there, we were told though that if we just did Thursday and Friday that would be good. When Thursday arrived we get to the tent meeting 15 minutes before it was to be starting, standard protocol for arriving to clubs. And there were only two people there! So Jean and I go and see what’s happening and find out that it will probably be starting a little later, and that the Pastor would be there soon. When the Pastor did arrive, we went and talked to him and found out that actually they didn’t have a tent ready for us to use for the kids (there was just the main tent set up for the adults) and so we wouldn’t be able to do anything with them that night. This was really disheartening for us, and we literally sat in our vehicle for 45 minutes trying to think of a way we could make something work and praying that God would make a way for us to be able to minister to these kids. So, we ended up having to go home without having taught any kids. Friday rolls around then, and between every club that day, Jean and I are praying desperately that this tent would be set up for us and that kids would come. So we arrive that night…and the tent is set up…and there’s children running around!!! We probably could have cried, we were beyond happy. So it ended up just being 8 kids, Jean, and myself, and it was amazing. 4 of the kids we had taught already earlier in the week, but 4 of the kids were new. We had 2 hours with them so we were able to really get to know them and do some games with them too. At the end of Jean’s Bible story, she had asked “Does anyone want to make that decision to ask Jesus into your heart?” And the one girl that we had taught previously in another club that week, put up her hand. Jean was able to talk with her after, and she was very serious about making this decision, and we could see how God had been preparing her heart to receive Him that night. So even though our 3 nights of tent ministry ended up turning into a one night-event, God answered our prayers and brought the kids that needed to be there!
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