Ivan Sanchez and six other South Bay Junior Academy students recently accepted an invitation to be part of the “Castles and Crowns: A Royal Adventure” DVD for the 2008 Vacation Bible School kit. “I knew it would make Jesus happy if I did the VBS project,” Ivan said, “and I would do anything that would help other kids know about Jesus’ love.”

The Review & Herald project was recorded at the Adventist Media Center following a live show at Loma Linda. Before that, the young international team had rehearsed with music director Lynda Colosimo for about two months.

The energy level of nine children on the set was very high, according to Colosimo. “One of the girls, Emily Dee, had just made a CD with the Rolling Hills church children’s choir to help raise money for an Adventist radio station in Iceland,” she said. “Emily has always wanted to sing and share the love of Jesus. Maybe that is why there were not many moments when she wasn’t jumping with glee on the stage!”

“I had lots of fun doing the DVD,” Australian Isaac Kiwarkis said. “I think when other children see it they will understand that living for Jesus and worshiping Him doesn't have to be all serious, It can be fun, too.”

Nicholas Ezpeleta thought the recording session was fun, too. According to Colosimo, the eight-year-old “troubadour,” as the team referred to the children in the spirit of the VBS theme, was the comedian of the group. “He always had us laughing,” she said.

“Once, when he was singing his heart out on a song about King Solomon,” Colosimo recalled, “he sang out, ‘only one ting’ instead of 'only one thing.'” Retakes for that and the times when a young troubadour sang so enthusiastically that his trousers began to slip and had to be hiked up added to the fun.

The VBS kits, which contain a CD as well as the DVD, are available at the Adventist Book Center. The CD and DVD are also available for purchase separately.