The second half this month our team has been working and serving at Camp Hope. Camp Hope is a foundation that cares for children and adults with physical and mental disabilities. We have been at their day care center, but they also have an orphanage which may of the children call home.
The children of Camp Hope have truly been a blessing to serve. Every time I look at them, God brings to mind the song “Kings and Queens” by Audio Adrenaline. The lyrics to this song are: (Music video of song at end of blog)
Little hands, shoeless feet, lonely eyes looking back at me
Will we leave behind the innocent too brief
On their own, on the run when their lives have only begun
These could be our daughters and our sons
And just like a drum I can hear their hearts beating
I know my God won’t let them be defeated
Every child has a dream to belong and be loved
[Chorus:]
Boys become kings, girls will be queens
Wrapped in Your majesty
When we love, when we love the least of these
Then they will be brave and free
Shout your name in victory
When we love when we love the least of these
When we love the least of these
Break our hearts once again
Help us to remember when
We were only children hoping for a friend
Won’t you look around these are the lives that the world has forgotten
Waiting for doors of our hearts and our homes to open
[Chorus]
If not us who will be like Jesus
To the least of these
If not us tell me who will be like Jesus
Like Jesus to the least of these
Boys become kings, girls will be queens
Wrapped in your majesty
When we love, when we love the least of these
Then they will be brave and free shout your name in victory
We will love we will love the least of these
We will love the least of these
We will love the least of these
We will love the least of these
We will love the least of these
We will love the least of these
While this song is technically written with a different context in mind, the theme and message still applies to Camp Hope. We have been called to serve and love these children and adults as we would serve Jesus.
Matthew 25:40 “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'”
This means through begin bit, peed on, drooled on, spit on, sneezed on, cursed at, hair pulled, changing dirty diapers, brushing teeth, and every moment of our day at Camp Hope, we are to see and treat these children and adults as kings and queens. They should see the love of the Father and feel it through our hands and life.
So I would like to introduce you to the Kings and Queens of Camp Hope. These are just a few of the many that my team has had the privilege of serving these last two weeks.
Yanin: 
Brigght:
Erik:
Matias:
Giselle:
Alexander:
Gloria Janet:
Please take a moment to pray for these children. That they would feel the love of God and grow up surrounded by that love. Also pray for the staff of Camp Hope who day in and day out work with these children. Pray that God would continually provide them with encouragement and support as this is a very emotionally and physically draining job.
It is going to be extremely difficult to say goodbye to these children and adults at the end of this week as we finish up ministry here in Ecuador.
Here is the link to the music video for the song “Kings and Queens”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U64bongHqYU
