The thirteen member VBS team from Our Savior,Bettendorf arrived on Saturday, August 2 and departed on Saturday, August 9.  While their main focus was conducting a VBS for grades 9 and above at VOH, they also accomplished many other tasks and were able to see quite a bit during their visit.

Despite a few administrative glitches regarding prior registration of the students, this first-ever VBS for the older students came off fantastically.  With only 20-some showing up on the first day, and an hour late at that, the numbers were almost tripled by the time the event ended on Thursday.  Most of the older students impressed the team with their interest and participation.  "How many older teens would come to something like this in the states?" several pleased team members were heard to say.

Besides emotionally moving visits to Little Children of Jesus, Grace School and Orphanage and Food for the Poor, the team lit into the work project list with much energy and enthusiasm.  At VOH, they were able to reinstall the gate to the second story classrooms, as well as lay a course of block to camouflage the long-hoped-for solar panels for the computer lab.  Projects at Hope House included hanging a new ceiling fan in the kitchen, patching leaks in the roof, constructing new desks for VOH, and spreading gravel on Santo 3 in front of Hope House, a back breaking and back aching job.

Only two of the 13 members had been here before, greatly expanding the support base from the congregation.  Pastor Keith Piotter and board member Lisa Ehler were members of the first team the Bollinger's hosted almost 4 years ago.