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We started planning last spring. Patty Mellema and Sherie McClun joined folks at St. Michael's Lutheran Church in Bloomington to paint scenery and props to crate a western mining town of the old west. Last Sunday afternoon we turned our church into Son Creek Junction.

Each morning the kids donned cowboy hats and bandannas to start their Son creek Adventure.

84 different kids attended at least one of the 5 days. We also had 4 in the nursery. The kids came from our Sunday School, their friends and relatives, neighborhood kids and father away (one from Iowa and one from Illinois). We had some kids from the Hispanic congregation which meets here and several Chinese kids who added a rich diversity to our VBS.

About half a dozen moms also stayed with their kids listening to the stories and helping when needed.

Paulette Goodman and her helpers served snacks to about 100 people (kids, staff and visitors.)

The Gospel Light Curriculum we used had a clear gospel message presented in a kid-friendly way.

We had a wonderful staff -- over 60 people helped on way or another -- many prayed for VBS or brought school supplies to add to our collection for St. Joseph's Home for Children.

Whole families (moms, dads, and teens) worked on staff. We had more men and boys on staff than most years which our kids seemed to appreciate. All ages pitched in in to help with VBS from young teens to two 80 year olds.

Daily in our opening session the kids saw a video in which Lucy Slipandfall learned the Bible truths we were emphasizing that day.

They also learned Bible verses -- our true gold nuggets -- and Miss Patty taught songs complete with signs and motions.

Children worked on crafts, played games in the gym and learned about pioneer ways.

In the general store they panned for gold, made cookies the old time way, worked on a friendship quilt, made journals and wrote letters sealed with wax.

Each day a storyteller dressed as a western character or someone from the Bible, shared a story from Luke's journal (the book of Acts.)

On Tuesday, the hottest day of the year, we had pony rides for 79 kids. We gave lots of drinks of cold water (in Jesus' name) as they waited their turns in the shade.

We also took each child's picture on horseback -- black and white photos of course since they didn't have colored film in those days. Later in crafts class the kids made rustic frames for the photos.

On Thursday Cactus Jack (Nordin) dazzled everyone with his juggling, rope twirling and amazing tricks.

Friday we decorated and filled 57 bags of school supplies which will be given to kids from St. Joseph's Home for Children in our neighborhood.

The scenery and props we used started at St. Michael's Lutheran Church in Bloomington. We used them the week of July 31-August 3. The next week they will be used by St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Oak Grove and then on to the EFC Camp Shamineau in Motley, MN. How is that for interdenominational cooperation?

On Sunday, August 5th see the videos and photos of VBS in the gym during the fellowship hour.

Please continue to pray that the seeds we planted in these young lives will bear much fruit.

Report by Marilyn Fisher

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