Vacation Bible School

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Known to the children in Mexico as "la escuelita" or "little school", the VBS program provides a crucial link between the communities in the Kansas City area and the Juarez Colonias.



Several years ago, the community in the Lomas de Poleo area expressed concern about the safety and welfare of their children during the summer break. With parents working, many children had no where to go. Providing a Vacation Bible School was a viable solution. Unlike many VBS programs in the United States which last 1 week, the VBS program in Poleo sponsored by Manos Amigas lasts from 3-5 weeks during the summer break.

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A typical day of VBS consists of songs, bible stories, crafts, snacks, prayer, and lots of smiles and laughter. It takes place in one large room with a single dedicated volunteer teacher and 100-200 or more students sitting shoulder to shoulder.

 

VBS would not be possible without an army of volunteers. Parents and former VBS students attend the program each day to help with crafts, snacks, and "crowd control". Volunteers in the Kansas City area provide the curriculum, craft supplies, prizes, and food. When safety allows, volunteers from the KC area travel to Poleo in 1-2 week mission trips to assist with VBS and live in community and solidarity with the people in Lomas de Poleo.