MATTAWA — The Mattawa-Desert Aire Vacation Bible School, sponsored by area churches, will be held next week, Aug. 8-12.

“Vacation Bible School is a fun, life-shaping experience for kids and families,” Riverside Church Pastor Dennis Evans said.

Area churches have been sponsoring and assisting with the local Vacation Bible School in Hund Memorial Park, Mattawa for more than 20 years. It will go from 9:30-11:30 a.m. daily.

First time reservations should be at 9 a.m. The VBS is for children ages pre-kindergarten through sixth grade.

Vacation Bible School is organized and conducted by the Youth Ministry mission group of the Foster-Tukwila Presbyterian Church of Tukwila. There will be adult and youth leadership from that church and the assistance of older local youths and adults.

“They will be staying at Riverside,” Pastor Evans said.

They will also share the content of the week during a worship service at that church Sunday morning, August 7, at 10 a.m.

The VBS will include songs, skits, Bible stories, games, projects, and other fun stuff. These activities are all free.

“The purpose is to help children discover God’s love for them through Jesus and personally experience his plan for each one of us,” Pastor Evans said.

One of the adult leaders last year, Jon Fertakis, said: “We hope our mission can help local Christian kids to see that they are part of something bigger. They can see that faith can be fun, alive and dynamic. If they don’t already know what they believe, then a mission like this can give them access to the information they need to think out and experience their relationship with God in a new and living way.”

Thai Rogers, 18, a member of the Tukwila group last year, said: “I’ve done this for five years and I’ve seen a bunch of kids growing up. You see the change in the kids by the end of the week, and you see them when they keep coming back every year. They keep saying, ‘Can this be for the rest of the summer?’”

Jennifer Espinal, a mother from Desert Aire said, “I went to Vacation Bible School for years. My son is three. He hears the music, and it gets in his head and he learns bits and pieces about Jesus.”

Donations of cookies and snacks would be helpful. If you can help or need more information and direction, contact Pastor Dennis Evans, Riverside Community Church, Desert Aire, at 509-932-7383.