COVID-19 caused Lighthouse to have to rethink, re-plan, and re-do the way we used to do things. Kidz Dayz was no exception. We were going to try to to have camp as usual but have fewer campers so that we could practice social distancing. As the time approached, it became apparent we would have to rethink our plan. After praying and asking God for direction, we decided that because our campers could not come to us, we would take the party to our campers. Between two staff members and about half a dozen volunteers we decided to make the crafts and lessons portable. We bagged up cardboard dragons, shields, knight masks and breastplates of righteousness. We made 150 kits for each camper as well as a series of “how to” videos, including how to do the “Church Clap” dance, how to make slime and what you can find in your VIP Camper backpack. We uploaded Bible story lessons, trivia questions and music videos for the songs and dances that went with our lessons.
Then, we decorated our vehicles, loaded them up with backpacks, crafts, snacks and food from the Galveston County Food Bank and took our show on the road. Each week in July we personally delivered our Kidz Dayz packs to the homes of 54 campers. Each stop included fellowship, fun, gifts, music and dancing. We ended Kidz Dayz with a drive-thru party at Bayshore Park. The festivities included several stops on the parade route including a personalized bible for each child, a family picture (that they received a hardcopy of near the end of the route), slime kits, craft bags, bagged snacks, glow bracelets, lanyards, a song and dance show, cotton candy, rocket balloons, a free lunch with a sandwich from Chick-fil-A, a Kona Ice snow cone, and a box of food from the Houston Foodbank. Even in the face of COVID-19, God showed up and He delivered his message, love and grace.