When a Plague Hits Egypt

What happens when you bring ancient Egypt to the heart of the San Francisco Peninsula?

This past June, we were just two servants who answered the call to assist the San Francisco Peninsula (SFP) Ecclesia with their annual Vacation Bible School (VBS). Thanks to the generous transportation funding provided by the Williamsburg Christadelphian Foundation (WCF) and donors like you, we flew from Virginia to California with hopeful hearts. Our mission was simple: teach local children, positively impact young lives, and support the local ecclesia.

We were greeted by a fabulous, loving community of brothers and sisters who welcomed and hosted us with open arms. Nestled in a quiet Redwood City neighborhood, the SFP Ecclesia building was marked by a beautiful lemon tree and a front yard banner advertising the "Joseph in Egypt" VBS.

Inside, a total transformation had taken place. Through creative vision, proper supplies, and willing hands, the ecclesial hall became ancient Egypt, complete with sand dunes, pyramids, palm trees, sphinxes, gold columns, and a majestic throne. Everything was meticulously organized. All that was left was to welcome the children.

The Calm Before the Storm

We expected scorching California summer heat, but we were initially surprised by a refreshing bay breeze blowing through the windows. We were told the famous quote: "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco."

The first couple of days were a beautiful success. Non-Christadelphian parents from the surrounding neighborhoods happily escorted 23 children through our doors. The hall was filled with prayer, high-energy praise songs, creative crafts, Bible storytelling, healthy snacks, and outdoor games.

But as we were teaching the children about the life of Joseph, the tides turned. Joseph's story is about facing unexpected hardships, and suddenly, our team had to live out that exact lesson. Two modern-day "plagues" hit our camp.

Plague #1: The Norovirus

Right in the middle of our great start, a highly contagious stomach flu tore through our staff. On Monday, one helper was out sick. By Tuesday, three more were down. By Tuesday night, a significant portion of our volunteer team was ill.

We were heartbroken. We desperately wanted to provide an enriching experience for the children who signed up, but we had to protect the community. Ultimately, they made the tough call to cancel VBS on Wednesday, requiring anyone who was sick to quarantine for two days.

Plague #2: The Record-Breaking Heat

Just as the virus hit, the famous San Francisco breeze vanished. Local headlines warned of a massive heat advisory. News outlets reported that June 2026 was pacing to be the second-warmest June on record since 1850.

By Wednesday, the cool breeze turned to intense heat. Yet, despite the heat and the virus, the resilience of this community shone through.

The Ultimate Pivot: Lessons from Joseph

On Thursday, VBS reopened with a skeleton crew of healthy helpers. To our absolute amazement, almost all the children returned.

On Friday evening, we hosted the grand finale: a family BBQ dinner and VBS presentation. The children returned in full force, bringing their parents, siblings, and extended family members with them to meet the helpers and ecclesial members, play games, eat, and watch the final presentation. It was a beautiful success, and multiple families were invited to attend Sunday School this fall.

We arrived in California intending to teach children, but we were the ones who received a profound lesson. We witnessed the incredible beauty of brothers and sisters positively working together in the Lord's Vineyard when things go completely wrong.

Our main VBS character, Joseph, demonstrated this perfectly. He remained fiercely faithful to the Lord's purpose even when his life was turned upside down. Witnessing our team pivot, pitch in, and ensure the Word of the Lord was still preached to these little children was deeply moving.

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up..." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

Thank you to the Williamsburg Christadelphian Foundation, the SFP Ecclesia, and every donor who supported this VBS. Because of you and our Heavenly Father, the Gospel was preached, and no amount of "plagues" could stop it!

Bro. Josh & Sis. Amy Lagasse
Norfolk, VA Ecclesia
July 2026