Vacation Bible School Sponsorship
Vacation Bible School (VBS) was the first request from our core team in Anapra. During the summer, parents were at work and children were left at home in 100+ degree heat with nothing to do and sometimes nothing to eat. VBS would provide various activities for children and teenagers attending along with a healthy snack.
We started VBS in 2005 with a 4 week program, 3 hours per day, and 4 days per week. The first day we were prepared for and anxiously hoped for 40 children – however, 80 children arrived! As you can imagine, we needed to move to a larger space and quickly find more craft supplies – unfortunately, we needed to cut food portions in half.
VBS has continued to evolved over the years. It is held in a medium sized one-room building with a small kitchen area in the corner of the room. There are four ceiling fans and four to six oscillating fans placed around the crowded room. Children sit shoulder to shoulder on benches at various sized tables. One teacher teaches the 80-200 children aged toddler to 15 years with a microphone and one speaker. Ten to fifteen youth from the student sponsorship program help children with crafts and activities at the tables. Three to five moms prepare a healthy snack and help clean up. The children learn prayers, listen to a bible reading, sing songs, make crafts, and have a healthy snack.
Kansas City volunteers create the curriculum, plan the crafts and activities, and finance all costs related to VBS. Some volunteers travel to Anapra to attend VBS and learn about life in Anapra. If you are interested in helping with VBS please contact us and we will find ways for you to help.