Pack your bags and grab your passports! We're going around the world again!

Congregational Ministries Publishing's well-received Vacation Bible School series: Around the World in 5 Days, is back for a second worldwide adventure. Living as Forgiven Children of God is our theme and charge. We'll travel to countries where Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) mission workers are living their calls to serve God and demonstrating what it means to live as forgiven children of God. Our first adventure was by plane, but the planes are in their hangars now and there are trains in the station.

Conductors and engineers will take riders to Taiwan, Northern Ireland, Brazil, Zimbabwe, and Nepal. During the trip, we'll be introduced to our destination and hear about our host mission worker's life and work. Each day participants will learn about the country they are visiting by trying foods, crafts, and games enjoyed by children native to that land. A separate Bible Study stop will explore ways the Bible teaches us to live.

All week long we'll be singing songs especially chosen and recorded for our adventure. A new Vacation Bible School CD sung by the children's choir of First Presbyterian Church, Dallas, and directed by Mary Jane and Ken Cooper, promises to be a highlight of our journey together.

Here's our itinerary:

Day One: TAIWAN "Juh bob way"
Acts 8:26–40 Phillip and a Fellow Traveler

Day Two: NORTHERN IRELAND "Hello!"
Genesis 45:4–15 Joseph Forgives His Brothers

Day Three: BRAZIL "Oi!"
Esther 7:3–4; 8:3–6 Esther

Day Four: ZIMBABWE "Makadi!"
Mark 2:2–12 Four Faithful Friends

Day Five: NEPAL "Namaste!"
Psalm 23 When we walk humbly with God:
God leads us, provides for us, protects us,
and blesses us.

Thank you for the many evaluations of Around the World in 5 Days: God Calls Us (VBS 2004). Some of the evaluations included pictures and wonderful explanations of how congregations adapted our material to fit their needs and the gifts and talents of their volunteers. Look for our Show and Tell article in the next edition of ideas! Magazine.

We've listened to what everyone had to say and we've made some improvements. So, whether your train is a steam engine or a diesel, a bullet train or a commuter, travel with us as we go Around the World in 5 Days in 2005.

Elizabeth Ensign-George is editor for children's curriculum. To learn more about vacation bible school go to www.pcusa.org/webelieve/vbs.htm.