“Reaching new children in the community is one of our primary goals for the ‘Escuelita Biblica de Verano’ (Vacation Bible School),” says Marta Peterson, director of Emanuel Lutheran’s “Escuelita Biblica”.  And this year, they were able to touch the lives of more than 80 children, youth and adults that participated in the VBS.

Under the theme of “A Trip in Miniature” and using materials from Concordia Publishing House, the Escuelita was a buzz of activity, both indoors and outside.  The children were divided into four groups according to age, and the youngest group – from 3-5 – had 24 children enrolled.  “One of the best things about this year’s Escuelita de Verano is that nearly all the teachers and helpers are third generation students of our Escuelita Biblica that are now sharing their knowledge and love of Jesus with new children,” commented Señora Marta, as she is known.

In addition to having Bible stories and classes, the children memorized Bible verses and learned new songs about the love of Jesus for them.  They also were able to do a number of crafts related to the week’s theme, that they could take home as “evangelism” tools.  A special favorite for the children were the inflatable insects that “floated” from the ceiling of the church to make the stories of the “trip in miniature” come alive.

Each day started with a general session with everyone participating, which included a story that was told by puppets and singing led by the teachers. Then, the groups split up for the rest of their classes.  Three of the groups held their classes under the large mango and guava trees that surround the church.

The Escuelita de Verano has a tradition of providing a hot meal for the children when they are done with classes.  Each child is asked to bring “something” – a vegetable, rice, salt or anything they have – to put into the huge pot of soup cooked by volunteer mothers of the congregation and community.  Each day the kids file up to drop off their contribution, and nobody knows exactly what type of soup will result…but it’s always tasty and filling for the big crowd.

The Escuelita had a big surprise when a group of Panamanian volunteers that were distributing “late Christmas gifts” in a nearby town heard about the Escuelita de Verano having classes.  Some of them came, and were treated to songs by the children and an orientation from Sra. Marta about the Escuelita.  They distributed gifts to all the children and also shared the delicious lunch prepared at the Escuelita.  They said they were really impressed by the ministry and the Escuelita’s focus and organization.

“This was our best organized Escuelita de Verano,” offered Señora Marta.  “I am very proud of our 15 teachers and helpers, especially these young people that are fruits of the Escuelita Biblica here.  I truly thank God for the way He is working in and through them.”