Bible School 2009

Bible School started the first Monday in August 2 days after our return from the States. The theme this year was "Jesus Christ, the all powerful."

Fedde, one of the boys here at CVE, sketched most of the posters for the week.

Each day we covered several of the miracles Christ performed while here on earth. It was Monday through Friday for the week and each day the kids had a memory verse. Each morning they would sign in a recite their verse.

On Friday there were prizes for those who remembered their memory verses and attended every day. The staff started each morning by taking their different routes around Magdalena and the surrounding towns to pick up the kids. We started around 9am and had the kids at CVE around 9:45. At 10 we would gather as a group and sing a few songs and then break down into classes by age. Each day there were treats after class and we started taking them home around 11:45. There was a good turn out which grew each day as the kids who attended invited more of their friends. Many of the vans and the bus were packed each day. Friday there was around 140 kids packed on the bus.

How many people can fit in a 15 passenger van?

It was a great week and the Church was full on the Sunday after as many of those who attended Bible School also came to Church.

On Friday night we had the summer staff and those who came to help for Bible School to our house for a cookout before they left on Saturday. It was nice to get to know them all and hard to see them all leave.

The week after Bible School we took the kids on their annual camp out at Rancho Betania.

Loading the bus.

It's only about 20 minuets from CVE and has swimming, basketball courts and baseball and soccer fields. (and lots of critters) One of the most famous past critter stories was the snake in the shower which we heard several times before we went. Within hours some of the boys showed up with three baby skunks which they found behind the dorms. They told us that the mother wasn't to happy when they took them and chased them for awhile, fortunately no one was sprayed.

Armando, the skunk whisper.

We spent the afternoon playing board games, swimming, playing basketball and soccer and swinging on the massive tire swings. I was the designated "pusher" and pulled something in my back. By the end of the day I could hardly stand up straight.

Yaneli and Tonia.

Julisa and Kristi.

The Pavilion

In the evening we sang around the campfire, roasted marshmallows and then stayed up late playing games under the pavilion. I knew I would have to be good and tired to sleep in a dorm room with a bunch of rowdy boys on a 2 inch foam mattress but overall the night wasn't to bad. Our dorm kept blowing a breaker so we couldn't run any fans which made it a little hot but it was tolerable.

Life in the boys dorm.

Franke, loading the bus for the trip home.

We spent the next day doing everything we did the day before. The skunks were still around and the kids wanted to take them home. I have heard they make good pets but we decided we better not try it. Late in the afternoon we started packing up and headed back to CVE. When asked what the best part was one of the girls said "we didn't have to do the dishes."

August has been a busy month with it's ups and downs here at CVE. We celebrated Nate's birthday and he got the traditional "face in the cake." He was as excited about having it done as the kids were to do it.

The Birthday boy and his big sister.

We also said goodbye to Mario, Magda and Blanca. Mario returned to his home and Magda and Blanca are being adopted by their aunt in the US.

My nephew Austin and Mario

Kaleigh, Magda, Kali and Blanca

We also had three new boys arrive towards the end of the month. Please remember these children in your prayers as they all adjust to their new homes.

George, Alonzo and Gabby

The school is up and running here at CVE and it's nice to have the majority of the kids go to school here on site. We are using the Sunday school rooms as classrooms for now but there are plans in the future for a school building. Susie is back to helping Zach and Nate with their school work and helping wherever needed at CVE. I am working around the grounds, doing maintenance and in the shop. The weather is hot (very hot) and humid with a thunder storm now and then. When it rains the street to our house becomes a river sometimes to deep to drive in. Although it doesn't stop everyone.

It makes me wish I would have brought my kayaks. We hope everyone has had a safe and happy summer.

Until next time, God Bless

La Familia Zobrist