Ella and Mr. Prospector

Our church is fortunate to have Vacation Bible School every summer. It amazes me that we have almost as many adults volunteering their time as we do children attending the school. Perhaps that’s because those who so freely give of their time receive as much, if not more blessings than the children. For one entire week we have the opportunity to see life through the eyes of a child, to learn of that awesome childlike faith Jesus taught.

Each year we plan to have one unique character who at the beginning of the week does not know Jesus as Savior. However, by the closing program on Friday,the children have had the opportunity to pray and talk to this character and he comes a Christian.  Last year the character was a prospector. Deacon Norris was chosen to perform for the week. Each morning he showed up with his old worn out bib blue jeans, an old straw hat, and his colorful red bandana around his neck. He would carry a shovel, during the day the children would see him digging for gold all around the church yard. He thought that gold, silver and precious stones were the most important riches he could possess.

The children tried to encourage him to join in as they learned new songs, listened to stories and make a new exciting craft each day but he would only stay in the background, too timid to participate, he had more important things to do. He was penniless, he didn’t have a house, or a fancy car, he spent all his time digging for treasure.

Often times throughout the week a child could be seen talking to Mr.
Prospector proclaiming that Jesus loved him, reassuring him in their childlike way that he could have Jesus in his heart.  Sure enough during the closing program, Mr. Prospector realized his need for Jesus, listened wholeheartedly to the Bible verses leading to salvation and asked Jesus into his heart. The children were tingling with excitement.

The next day Mr. Prospector resumed the role of Mr. Provencher, living in his nice home with Mrs. Provencher. But the story doesn’t end there, the blessing that still touches me every time I think of it happened a few weeks after VBS.  The wonderment of a precious little girl, Ella, with curly blonde hair and an endearing smile, she had an especially deep concerned for Mr. Prospector’s needs, worried that he didn’t even have a place to live. One day her Dad drove by Mr. Provenchers house and she saw him outside getting into his nice car. Seeing him again took her breath away, she couldn’t believe her eyes and with sheer excitement exclaimed, “Oh, thank God, my prayers have been answered, Mr. Prospector has a home.”  She meant it with all her heart; she knew that God had answered her prayer.

A childlike faith, we all need it. Jesus taught his disciples all about it when they advised the children not to bother Jesus. He said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them!  For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.”  Then He took the children into His arms and placed His hands on their heads and blessed them. Oh to be touched by the hands of Jesus.

Jesus wants little children to come to Him because He loves them and because they have a guileless trust in God.  He wants to speak to the ones who need Him most, dear trusting children.  We are all His children and we can share the same assurance as Ella does in knowing God answers prayer.

Alice S. Walsh

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Last modified: February 02, 2009