Non-Christian Camp Day #7: Our Farewell

Before we knew it, the last day of camp has finally came. We all had this look on our faces that we did not want it to end. You do not notice how the kids have affected you until they began to leave one by one. Everyone wanted the camp to continue; however, we had to face the truth and say our goodbyes even if it was hard.

Many of the kids built a friendship with one another and when it was time to go, many of them cried as they accompanied each other to the gates saying that we will see each other next year. Many of the kids asked similar questions to the mentors and staff, “will we see you next year?’

Each kid received a gift bag from Camp Elim filled with candy, toys, a picture frame with the class picture, a CD with a sermon for the parents, and finally the most important gift of them all, a personal kid’s Bible with a blessing written on the inside cover.

For those parents and kids that stayed at camp until 3pm, we invited them under the tent for our final church service where mentors talked about their class and how was their experience. Parents we also given an opportunity to speak. Before we ended, Pavel Chernioglo and Yuriy Torlak spoke on behalf of the Charity Springs missionary and thanked all the parents for giving their kids to our camp. Then we blessed the families and said farewell.

Non-Christian Camp Day #6: Jesus is the final Sacrifice

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:16

Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice was the theme for the day. We wanted the kids to understand that no one forced Jesus to take up the cross and die for the sins of the world. Jesus chose that role willfully in order to save every man, woman and child from the chains of sin, that we living today may glorify Him and serve the Lord.

Day 6 was our last fully day with the kids before they went home the next day, so we had to make it special and memorable. After lunch, we set up a carnival in the town of Nazareth filled with different games and activities where the kids can spend their coins, which they earned throughout the whole camp, in order to win prizes.

During the evening service, we said our farewells and thanks to all those that took part in this wonderful and blessed camp. Some moments got emotional and we could not believe that the camp was coming to an end. While the kids were busy singing, all the staff went back stage, grabbed handful of sparkles in each hand, spread out under the tent and when the cue came, we all threw the sparkles onto the kids. Before the service end, we handed out glow sticks to everyone, prayed and walked over to the bonfire. Around the fire, we sang songs, took pictures and talked until it was time for the fireworks. Once the last firework went off, it was time to head to sleep.

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We even had time to celebrate one of our mentors birthday - Lena Torlak

 

Non-Christian Camp Day #5: Jesus served others

Missionaries on a bus in Africa when it breaks and the unlikeliest person fixes the bus

“A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another”

John 13:34

Today was all about serving and doing well to those around you. We focused on our service to others, how it can affect a person’s life and how doing something good is a contagious chain reaction. Too often in this world, we tend to put all the focus on ourselves, how we can make things better for us and we forget to give a helping hand to those that need it more.

During lunch and dinner, kids would volunteer to clean the tables of another class. It was great to see kids get very involved in serving their fellow camper. The kids were encouraged to serve others throughout the day and not to wait for something in return.

In the afternoon, we had a missionary run where we set up 10 stations; each station was a different country where you would have to complete a challenge associated with the country. It was a lot of fun to see the kids rushing to complete every challenge and you can see the competiveness in each group to be the fastest.

During the evening service, we gave an opportunity for the kids to show everyone their talents. We had kids that sang, said poems, did cartwheels, push-ups, bridges, splits and lots of other things.

Non-Christian Camp Day #4: Jesus was tempted

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

Day 4 was one of our most interesting days out of the entire camp. We had so much going on from different activities to different challenges, not only for the kids but for the mentors as well. I believe on this day, we got the kids exhausted and they have not been this tired the whole camp. They sure got their sleep this night.

Throughout the entire day, we urged the kids and mentors to stay away from temptations. We discussed with the kids how a simple temptation could have a great effect on our life. To challenge the kids and the staff, we passed out one bracelet to everyone at the camp, the goal for the day was not to say six words (camp, dorm, bracelet, water, trampoline, tent) for the kids and eight words (camp, dorm, bracelet, water, trampoline, tent, coffee, mei) for the staff. In addition, everyone could only speak Russian; otherwise, you would lose your bracelet. It was hard trying to avoid saying these words or to only speak a language that is not your primary.

For lunch, we made a rule that you cannot speak the entire time you are in the cafeteria; you can only use gestures to communicate. It was surprising to see that everybody was able to stay silent for the whole duration of lunch. The day also consisted of an obstacle course around the lake/woods near the camp property. It was a great exercise and challenge for the kids because it was timed and every kid had to bring back a stick to go through the gates into the camp.

 

For evening service, the team performed a silhouette skit of the prodigal son.

Silhouette Skit