natalie’s blog

The idea was borne last December, on the eve of a meeting of staff members for Adventures In Character 2007. I had been praying persistently for some guidance from the Lord on what our theme for the year should be. As I read the second chapter of Proverbs that night, I was particularly inspired by verses 1-6 and an idea flashed across my mind: A treasure hunt in pursuit of wisdom! Ideas began to formulate in my mind and my excitement grew as I contemplated the possibilities. It was a thrilling proposition, but I wanted to be sure it was from the Lord.

Monday night we gathered for our official brainstorming session. After a time of prayer I “opened the floor” for anyone to share ideas or express how they thought the Lord might be leading. Shortly thereafter Seth began to offer some ideas. He gave a few initial comments and then stated that he was thinking something like a treasure hunt would be a neat idea. Tiffany and Cori chimed in almost immediately, indicating that they had also thought of doing a treasure hunt. There were general nods of agreement from around the room and I could hardly contain myself! I called for everyone’s attention and then shared how I had been inspired in my reading of Proverbs 2. I proceeded to turn around my notebook so that everyone could see the big letters written across the page: TREASURE HUNT! We marveled at God’s unfailing guidance and then set to work to develop our idea into a working theme and begin outlining the drama story and teaching points for the curriculum.

That’s the behind-the-scenes look at the birth of this year’s AIC theme. Now, fast forward 6 months and enjoy these pictures from last weekend that captured it in action!

LEGACY
Looking for the Truth. Chasing a Treasure. Finding Wisdom.

The AIC Staff gathered Wednesday night for dinner and to discuss final details for the weekend. Someone discovered the melodic quality of rubbing the top of the glass with their finger and soon the whole group had joined in, producing a lovely chorus of high-pitched tones for the enjoyment of the restaurant owner. (How mature of us…)

After dinner we posed for a group shot in the corner of the lovely Tea Room.

(L-R: Justin, Laura, Lisa, Seth, Kayla, Mark, Jynae, Tiffany, Cori, me)

Set-up went quickly Thursday morning and thanks to the creative efforts of Seth and Kayla, this great-looking entryway was completed and ready to welcome all the children!

The Depot, another design by Seth and Kayla, perfectly captured part of our theme and even contained a secret of its own that would be revealed at the end of the weekend…

Teacher Training opened Thursday night with Sarah Maxwell sharing with the girls…

…and Christopher Maxwell sharing with the guys. (Steve and Teri Maxwell and their family were our keynote speakers for the TPA Convention.)

Mark, Libby and Jynae practice songs together before teaching them to the children later in the weekend.

Several of our most experienced teachers (Emma is the one teaching here) took turns doing a “mock teaching” session while other teachers posed as the children. This made the training more interactive and memorable.

A number of young people stayed around for a while Thursday night to spend some time singing.

Teachers are busy at work preparing for the arrival of the children!

The booths are looking fun and inviting!

This was one of my favorite decorations - I wanted to sign up to be their student so that I could crawl through the cool entryway!

Lisa and Josh (assisted in part by my genius Dad!) handled registration and lots of other details to make sure that everything ran smoothly. They did an incredible job!

Doors Open! Let the masses enter!

Each student was given a ticket as they entered, which they had to have punched by the Conductor in order to continue to their team booths and be checked in for the weekend.

Once the children arrived and spent some time on their teams it was off to the first assembly, where Mr. Mark and Miss Jynae explained the rules for the weekend and helped them begin memorizing the verses and songs they would be learning.

The children are engaged and eager to learn.

The children loved the assemblies!

A view from the other side.

The drama, definitely a highlight of the weekend, opened with the Wissen children and their Aunt Bessie attending the graveside service for their beloved Oma (Grandma).

Once back at their Oma’s house, the children discuss their future with Aunt Bessie who has offered to have them come and live with her in Germany.

Once in Germany, a mysterious package is delivered and Aunt Bessie tells the children about an inheritance their parents left them before they were captured and killed by the Nazis 12 years ago. A journal left by their parents will be their guide as they search for their inheritance that has been kept safely hidden until now.

In between each assembly the AIC students spend time at their team booths applying the lessons they’ve learned from the drama and uncovering clues in their own search for treasure.

As per the instructions in the note, the children travel to a jeweler’s shop in France where they first meet…

…the self-proclaimed “grand Jacque Le Pui!”

 

After being warned of his deceptive practices by some friendly tourists, the children attempt to retrace their steps, only to discover the the shop is closed and Jacque Le Pui is nowhere to be found.

 

The children make their way to a nearby cafe so they can discuss what to do next. The brainy Franz attempts to order in French, painstakingly looking up one word at a time, much to the dismay of the impatient, and older, Frederick.

 

An alert Nadia realizes that they ended up in the wrong town. Back on track, the Wissen children arrive at the shop of the real jeweler, Levi Zachariah, who is able to give them some helpful information that will enable them to continue their search. His wise advice gives Frederick some much-needed instruction as he continues to lead his family.

 

Libby and Naomi, with some help from Noelle as well, did a fabulous job compiling, recording and incorporating the soundtrack for the drama!

 

On board the train and on to their next destination, the children are instructed by the wise Conductor who has been an invaluable influence in their lives…more than they even realize…

 

“I am a Pietro!” “I am a Franz!”
Next stop: Pisa, Italy, where the children meet another person who they come to find out knew and was greatly impacted by their parents.

 

Jacque Le Pui, his assistant Louisa, and his other cronie, Pierre, are hot on the trail of the treasure and an interesting turn of events has Nadia chasing them, getting caught by them, the other children chasing them and Monica falling and injuring herself.

One mishap after another lands Monica in a wheelchair in a hospital in Holland and the other siblings promising to do a better job taking care of her in her time of need.

 

Jacque Le Pui and his cronies are in pursuit once again and the Wissen children end up taking refuge in the home of a friendly wooden shoemaker, Christian, and his shoe painter wife, Marta. The children begin to sense that they have been led all along throughout their journey when they discover that Marta worked for their parents years before and holds the final clue that will lead them to their treasure.

 

Final stop: Switzerland. After climbing to the top of the mountain, the children are dismayed to find that Jacque Le Pui and his cronies have outsmarted them and beaten them to the treasure.

The shepherd (a face now very familiar to the children!) helps the children understand that in their journey they have received something of far greater value than an earthly treasure. For their parents have left them their legacy, a legacy of wisdom and faith, and that can never be taken from them. However, there is also another treasure waiting for them, a treasure that Jacque Le Pui did not have eyes to see. Instead, he went away with an armload of fools’ gold.

 

The children open the treasure box that has been preserved all these years and read a letter from their parents (sung in the background while the children discover special items left for them by their parents):

 

We’re pilgrims on the journey
Of the narrow road
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who’ve gone before us
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness
Passed on through godly lives.

After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
And our children sift through all we’ve left behind
May the clues that they discover
And the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them
To the road we each must find.

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful.

 

The final step on the AIC students’ search for treasure came in the form of an interactive game show -
“True and Wise or False and Foolish?”

 

As characters from the drama shared a special riddle, the students had to decide whether it was true and wise or false and foolish? They were to measure the statements in the riddle against the words of wisdom found in the Bible and recorded to guide us toward making wise decisions in our own lives.

 

The final clue instructed a representative from each team to turn in their completed clue sheet to the Conductor as payment for a ticket for their team that would lead them to their treasure.

 

The students caught on right away and quicly lined up in order to receive the ticket for their team.

 

What a shock to discover that the treasure was right under their noses the whole weekend! Those numbered train cars were more than a decoration after all…

 

And contained within each treasure box was a specially-designed compass and a gold Presidential dollar coin for each student. They were so excited to receive their treasure! Our whole objective was to inspire them, through this treasure hunt, to search for wisdom just as they would seek for hidden treasure. And we learned along the way that any search for wisdom will ultimately lead to the Lord Jesus Christ, who is made unto us wisdom!

 

Following are some random shots of teachers and staff members who all worked together to make this weekend possible!

My incredible little brother and sister who helped out so much in getting ready for the weekend and using their talents to serve the Lord through this ministry.

 

One of my other amazing sisters, who did a fabluous job teaching her group of students and was a big help to me ahead of time as well.

 

Rachel, Meg, Rebekah

 

Molly, Cade, Kay

 

Sarah, Ryan

 

Miriam, Grant

 

Emma, Kody

Michelle, Josh, Lisa

Olivia, Ben, Cami

Tiffany - Student Workbook Designer and Materials Helper

 

Chandler - songwriter, actress, all-around-do-anything-girl

 

Cori - curriculum editor, materials coordinator

Aaron - teacher, actor; Carla - prayer warrior and other behind-the-scenes stuff…

 

Lisa - recruitment and registration supervisor (and perhaps we should add “pep squad leader” to her job description next year…? :-))

Ariel - materials helper

 

a group shot of all the staff and teachers for AIC 2007

 

Soli Deo Gloria!

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