Kids camp was so awesome! About 74 kids came to camp this year - much more than the 16 that came down last year! And they learned all kinds of skills they can use in service for God. The kids learned Guitar, Keyboard, How to preach sermons, How to do dramas, as well as going out on outreaches and social service trips! During play time the kids were able to bounce on the huge like 30 foot tall bounce slide and swim in the two small pools and make crafts. There was a candy stand to buy, well, candies, and pop, and we had great food during the meals! The main theme of the camp was "RincOn de OraciOn" (in English: Prayer Corner... and I can't do the letter o with an accent on this computer so I used the O instead) and Gary taught some awesome stuff about prayer during the evening chapel times, including an awesome skit with a couple young team members doing an awesome choreographed fight with swords and Tai Kwon Do moves! (And sound effects!!!) In the mornings the kids did the morning devo then individual devos. It's amazing to see some of the kids really get it and totally dig into their Bibles and prayer!
One of the kids I noticed during the morning individual devos actually stayed past the call to get ready for breakfast because he wasn't done with his devos yet. Wow! I was so impressed and touched! It is so incredible seeing it when the kids go from being pushed along to pedalling the bike on their own!
During the evening chapel at every alter call there was not a dry eye in the house! God just moves at these retreats where we give up all our normal routine and put ourselves in a position where the word of God is strong daily! And it is incredible to be a part of it and to see the fruit of all the hard work as these kids are touched by God in a powerful way!
At the end of the camp some of the kids who really stood out were given a guitar. Gary Duckworth's team that came down to help with the camp, as well as other members of his church, earned enough money to purchase 9 guitars to give to the kids! This one kid only had the right hand and a left arm, and he was able to play the guitar backwards strumming with the other arm, and he was one of the ones who was given a guitar! Also one of the kids in my Sunday School class was given a guitar. These kids were really blessed!
One of my main jobs during camp, besides teaching guitar and keyboard, was doing the arrands. Dwight, who did the arrands last year, was busy with maintenance so he could not do the arrands. Because of the visa on D and K's vehicle and because I know Spanish and can drive I ended up being the designated arrand runner. I drove out to town at least once a day, often more, and bought "Gafones" of bottled water, refilled the Coke bottles, bought balloons, candy, and chips at the candy store, bags, banks, more bottles, and virtually any arrand necessary whenever needed. Oh, Dwight and Kristi bought real Coke bottles that we can turn in to get refilled ones now! That's what they serve at most taco stands and it tastes best that way according to most visitors to Mexico. We were all pretty exited about that.
Over all Kids camp was totally awesome and fun! And we finished the week exhausted but very fulfilled that we had successfully touched some kids lives! Praise God!
