Transformation Through Art

2024 VBS INTIATIVES: ARTS & CRAFTS

Our 2024 mission trip to Honduras was a transformative experience for both our team & the local community. While others focused on meeting the medical & dental needs of the residents, our team was responsible for ministering to the children & young adults, primarily through Vacation Bible School (VBS). This program allowed us to engage with the children, share God’s love, & provide enriching activities that reinforced biblical teachings.

On the first morning, we gathered the children to register & greet them as they arrived for VBS. Our primary goal was to create an atmosphere where biblical lessons could be learned in an engaging & interactive way. We decided to focus on reinforcing each Bible lesson with a corresponding craft project.

Crafts were chosen as a central part of our ministry because they allowed the children to engage with the teachings in a hands-on way.

Many of the students had little experience with arts & crafts. Despite this, the children quickly caught on & showed great enthusiasm in completing their work. For example, after learning about creation, the children created their own small dioramas depicting scenes from the story. Although some struggled initially with the tools, their creativity & eagerness shone through as they built their projects with our guidance. As they cut, colored, & glued, we saw a sense of pride & accomplishment on their faces, & they were eager to show their families what they had made.

One challenge we faced was the children’s unfamiliarity with certain materials & tools.

For many of them, this was their first time using craft supplies like markers, glue, & scissors. As a result, we needed to provide extra guidance & adapt our approach to ensure everyone could participate. Despite these hurdles, the children’s enthusiasm & willingness to learn made each activity a success.

At the beginning of the week, many of the young adults, ages 14-20, remained on the sidelines, hesitant to engage with the activities. However, as the week progressed & they began participating in the craft projects, they became more involved & started sharing more of themselves. They played a vital role by helping with face painting for the younger children & contributing to a beautiful mural that symbolized the unity & spirit of the community.

Through these creative outlets, the young adults not only expressed their talents but also deepened their connection with the rest of the group & embraced their roles as leaders.

Face painting was a wonderful highlight for the students during our mission trip, providing them with an exciting opportunity to explore art & self-expression. The children were thrilled to be transformed into vibrant butterflies, flowers, sharks, & even superheroes like Spiderman & Batman, with their faces painted in bright, cheerful colors. One of the most inspiring moments came when a teenager from the group took the initiative to learn face painting. He quickly mastered the skill & surprised everyone by showcasing his talent, painting the faces of his fellow students with creativity & precision.

This activity not only brought joy to the children but also encouraged the youth to engage in new forms of artistic expression.

Another meaningful way the young adults participated was by helping to create a permanent mural. The mural features a beautiful image of Jesus welcoming children, just like them, with the message of loving one another at its core. This artwork will stand as a constant reminder to the community of their calling to embody Christ’s love. Not only did the mural enhance the environment, but it also served as a powerful symbol of our shared mission: to go forth, make disciples, and demonstrate love to everyone we meet, embodying the true spirit of the gospel.

Deacon Dan described the mural as a "silent homily," sharing the message of Christ without words but through art. We agreed on a design featuring a scene of Jesus surrounded by children, accompanied by scripture in Spanish. The mural includes Luke 18:16, "Allow the children to come to me, and do not forbid them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these," and 1 John 4:11, "Beloved, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."

This mural stands as a lasting reminder of Christ’s love and our call to embrace one another in His name.