Finale!

Tonight I talked with Deb Freisheim, and she filled in a lot of info about the VBS. Yesterday and today there were more than 150 kids, butthey worked out a rotation for crafts, games, coloring pages, what have you, and everyone made it through the assembly line. But the team was exhausted as you can well imagine.

At the end of VBS, they brought out water balloons and the kids went crazy. It also started pouring rain, but that didn't stop the battle royale. Then they hauled out all the team members and our translators. Everyone got wet, either from the water balloons or the rain. A great wrap-up to a great week.

Warren Mehl made 150 sets of cross necklaces, and they were all given out. Thanks Warren!

The women's Bible study wrapped up today with more than 35 women, not including our six. They studied Esther, led by Sue Steege. It was excellent, and the women were very receptive. Men's Bible study went for three days and had a good turnout too.

Yesterday the team visited the school that our sponsored students attend. They got a chance to see the kids' classrooms, and many of them brought out their report cards. Pastor Jose administers this program at the Nica end and is very demanding that the kids keep up their grades, and also that the parents are responsible with the money.

The team did a lot of home visits with Pastor Jose's assistant Rolando. Over the four days they visited every house in the village, and Rolando read scripture and talked with the people, and invited them to the Bible studies, VBS, and to church services. His evangelism contributed to the wonderful turnout.

The last day of VBS is always very long, and very emotional. And busy. The water balloon fight ended around 4; then the team went out visiting one last time, and then had to get back for Bible studies. Right after that, church service began and went for two hours. I spoke to Deb at 8 pm their time, and church services were just ending. They hadn't yet eaten dinner, and then they need to pack and clean up. L-o-n-g day.

Tomorrow they go to Granada for some well deserved R&R, then home on Sunday. Praise God for a wonderful week!