VBS in Catania

The week after we moved to Catania (so the 2nd week in July), we started meeting some of our students.  Andrea has about 7 or 8 students now that we will be taking over in September.  This is her last month of teaching, and we'll be going to the classes with her.  In August, most Italians go on vacation, shops are closed, and everything just kind of stops for that month as far as we've heard.  So there aren't going to be any classes in August.

Wednesday evening, everyone from the Bible School in Florence came down to help with the VBS here.  We've been planning on doing this "traveling VBS" for several months now, and the Catania church of Christ was the one church that asked us to come.  It had only been a little over a week since we'd seen everyone from Florence, but it was good to see them again.




Thursday was a "fun day."  Francesco took us on a tour to Siracusa.  It's a city about an hour south of Catania.  It's one of the places that Paul stopped and preached for three days when he was on his way to Rome.  We saw the speculated place where it is said they think he preached to the crowds.  We also got to see the amphitheater and colosseum there as well as several other old buildings and the beautiful Duomo in the city center.  Thursday evening we had Bible study and pizza afterwards with the church.

Friday we were busy setting up the church for vbs.  We all thought that it'd take only a couple of hours, but building the wall for the obstacle course took up more time than we anticipated. We were there until the afternoon.  Friday evening, several members took us out to a restaurant to eat cavallo (horse).  There was so much food at this restaurant, that by the time the cavallo came out, most of us were stuffed.  It was amazing though! Several of us had to get up and take laps down the street in between courses. :)

Saturday was VBS.  Again it was the same theme as the one we had in Florence.  The theme works off of the verses in Hebrews 12:1-3.  We had classes on perseverance, being on Jesus' team, and getting rid of hindrances.  We had about 20-25 kids show up, and I think they had a lot of fun while they learned.  The adults seemed to have a lot of fun too.

Check out the slideshow on youtube http://www.youtube.com/cataniaVBS

That evening, after we'd finished cleaning up, we went to Taormina, a cute, touristy town an hour north of Catania.  We enjoyed dinner and a walk together.

Sunday, after a potluck with everyone, we said goodbye to our Florence Bible School counterparts. 


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