Second day at TMK - Tim

So... It's become very clear this year that the kids have opened up much more quickly than they have in the past here at TMK. I recall it taking until the middle of the week (usually Wednesdayish...) before they would be openly playing with us and volunteering to answer questions... but this year feels different. From the first day many of the kids were pretty playful... and then today the kids were volunteering answers and paying attention to the stories left and right! It was really encouraging to see... We haven't been following the schedule we laid out ahead of time, but the schedule we've been on has definitely been the one God has planned for us. The time never feels rushed or awkward... it always just feels right... and flows naturally...

Every morning we do our best to gather as a team and spend 15ish minutes in prayer after breakfast and before the day starts... and this morning I had something along the lines of... recognizing that the kids were opening up a lot and having fun playing and singing and stuff... but praying that that wouldn't be where it ends... that it would go deeper than that... and that they might recognize it's God's word they hear during story time... and it's God's love and embrace the feel when they play with us... and it's His majesty they encounter when we sing...

So there's one prayer request: That the seeds we plant in the kids would go deeper than just having fun...

More logistical stuff of what happened today:
Breakfast... prayer... setup at the SEND center...
Started off today with playing musical chairs which was a fairly effective way of keeping the kids occupied while we waited for the rest of the kids to show up... but it was also a blessing in disguise. In past years the kids have had a very competitive and selfish attitude in playing... but this year... at least three of the kids stopped and offered the last chair to some of the smaller kids participating. It seems like a little thing... but to me seeing something like that happen when they're so young is a huge encouragement.
Singing time went well... The idea of incorporating Japanese songs as well as the ones we do in the US has been a great idea. Again, it's really encouraging hearing the kids singing along loudly with us!... as someone who has led worship... there's just something about when the people I lead sing loud enough for me to feel their voices that makes my heart... smile a little bit...
Story time... Mrs. Honda (a woman who attends TMK and has a granddaughter and grandson come to VBS) was truly a blessing to have help us. Her gift in story telling was very evident by the way she captured the attention of the kids... and on such an important day too! Today the theme was the Fall of Man and introduced the concept of sin... which is a very difficult one for the culture of Japan to understand...
Crafts went well.... food... Water games in the park...
All in all today was a really great day... mostly thanks to the prayer and support from the states!

As TMK approaches it's last day of VBS... keep us in prayer... We'll be walking through response cards with the kids... (having the do with if they want to make a decision to follow Christ or not... so very important!)...

-Tim

PS I apologize for not posting any pictures... but I don't have my camera here... so hopefully one of the other team members will post some to see soon! ><...