We were off and running today with an early start finishing up some last minute details and preparation before the campers arrived. Then around 11am a bus full of children, their teacher and family and a few moms as chaperones arrived from the community of Las Parcelas. We found out that many of these kids have never left their community before and most have never swam in open water. They commented on how beautiful everything was on their ride up and then when the bus pulled up they were a little shell shocked! It's interesting how each group we've had a camp has had a different 'personality' and these are definitely more on the shy and reserved side.
But God has allowed us to start gaining trust and building relationships. After orientation and room assignments, we had lunch and then down to the lake to go swimming. Then comes a bit of down time before dinner. Our first evening session was a blast as we played a classic student ministry balloon game with them. We also had a time of worship and then Katie Robertson shared her testimony before I preached. I'm doing a series about "People who met Jesus." We are looking at the reality that when people met Jesus they always left changed. Please pray that the Gospel would be clear as I preach and that many students this week would meet Jesus!
Capping off the night is a movie, which gives our team a chance to get together and debrief, open the Word together and also have small group time. We shoot for getting the kids to bed a bit on the early side since they are usually up with the sun (which around here is around 5:30am).
God is already working and I've been so excited to see how hungry our students are to go deeper in their walk with Christ and also strive to live out the Gospel in word and deed. It is truly a picture of the body of Christ as the each work together to make camp happen. Tomorrow will be our first full day where they each run their respected stations and get to put into action everything they have practiced and prepared for.
Please continue to pray for us and don't forget that in addition to my blog, you can follow us at twitter.com/wildwoodstudent or facebook.com/pages/Mission-Nicaragua for pictures and updates.
No comments:
Post a Comment