IGLESIA EPISCOPAL DOMINICANA

EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Mission Teams

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Coordinator of Mission Teams

Ellen Snow

Diocesan Office

(809) 686-7493

Cel: (809) 323-9379

E-Mail

bobsnow_2000@yahoo.com

In March of every year, Dominican priests begin asking the Team Coordinator, if she can find them a summer bible school team.  Bible school teams provide resources that most of our churches cannot afford.  In addition, a Bible School team captures the attention of the community, and children from many different denominations attend.

Bible school teams are normally smaller than work teams and have 8 to 14 members.  These teams usually include adults and teenagers. Some teams do a small work project in the morning and bible school in the afternoon.  Other teams do a bible school program at one church in the morning and another church in the afternoon.  Still others bring a team where part of the group does a work project and another group does the bible school.

It is best if a team has at least one Spanish speaker, but this is not essential.  Our priests prefer that local church members do the teaching so that youth attending become familiar with the church and its members.  Team members often share in the teaching and provide the games, crafts, music, and other special activities.  Bible school teams are scheduled between June 20 and  August 20.   

The Cathedral of St. Peter in the Diocese of Southwest Florida has sent Bible school teams to the DR since 1999,  In 2001, the team began writing its own curriculum in Spanish.  This curriculum is approved by the DR's Christian Education Committee.  This curriculum can be used by other teams.  However, all curriculums used by Bible School teams must be approved by this committee.

If you are considering a summer bible school team, you will find these suggestions from the Cathedral helpful:

KEEP IT SIMPLE - The knowledge of Dominican children varies considerably from place to place.  Memorization is a mode of learning that most of these kids are use to.  For one of our activities we had them memorize verses from the Bible.  We put a single word on a card and mixed them up.  We then had them put the words in the proper order.  The kids really enjoyed this.

Keep the crafts simple.  Do not purchase cheap scissors.  Get small sharp scissors, because if you don't the children will become frustrated.  Bring lots of crayons - coloring is a favorite project.  Be sure to prepare artwork for them to color.  Cutting and pasting projects are good, and team members can help the younger children.

After we create our ideas, we try them out on our own Sunday School children to see how things go.  Once we selected our crafts, we get our let church members provide the materials. Every team member brings one suitcase with their own belongings and a second suitcase is filled with craft materials or other items we will need.  We take EVERYTHING we need for our crafts, because it is difficult to find what you need in the DR.

We prepare in advance a workbook for each child.  The book includes such things as matching games, find a word game, mazes, etc. 

Be sure to prepare name tags for each child.  We use heavy card stock and yearn and use holes reinforcements to keep them from tearing.  Be sure to collect these name tags at the end of each session.  

BE FLEXIBLE - Always expect the unexpected.  You never know what kind of facilities you are going to encounter.  Some places will have school desks, others just benches, some will have chairs, but there will never be enough of them.  Sometimes you will have to meet outside, because there isn't enough room in the church or school.

If you have questions, you can contact the diocesan office in the DR.  You can receive a copy of the curriculum by E-mailing dothirvela@aol.com.  There may be a slight copy and mailing charge. 

"You Are My Witnesses"

St. Luke 28: 48

Telephone #: (809) 686-7493; (809) 688-6016  FAX: (809) 686-6364