Yellowknife (July 28/04) - After waving goodbye to 40 pre-school kids last Friday, the Church of Christ welcomed 40 more school-age children this week for the second vacation bible school.

The week-long summer program offers kids an opportunity to "learn about God's love, as well as a fun summer activity," said May Thiessen, a supervisor at the school.

The theme of each day's activities revolves around Jesus, but the school attracts Christian and non-Christian children alike, said Thiessen -- though she points out it is often not an issue with the pre-schoolers, who are between three and five years old.

"It's a lot of work," Thiessen said while four-year-old children ran around her ankles.

Even with the help the Church of Christ gets from its members, other congregations and people from the community, the summer schools are a lot to handle. That is why they called in, for the sixth summer in a row, a team from Alberta Bible College.

"It's a really great experience," said Amber Ustick, a student at the Calgary-based college who is travelling this summer as part of the Youth Alive in Christ program.

The team of five will be on the road for eight weeks this summer helping out with vacation bible schools and other worthy causes throughout Western Canada.

A scholarship towards their tuition at the college is awarded for their work, but the job itself is rewarding.

"It's kind of a privilege to get to go," said team member Lindi Jacobsen.

Each summer only 14 students at the college are selected to go abroad as part of the program.