I’m not going to lie the first day was very hard. There was this heavy darkness and it was hard to breathe. We had teammates get sick and have to go home. That night we got a wakeup call. Anthea, our host, called us for a team meeting. We were told it was time to change our attitudes, to be ready to step into the battle field, and to roll up sleeves. Be ready to fight this darkness out of the camp and to impact these kids’ lives. Show them love. Pray hard. Worship more. She read Isiah 43 over us. We prayed. We prayed for peace to flow through the camp, for joy to burst through the children and to open their hearts, for light to shine so bright through that the darkness runs out.
The next day it was easier to breathe. The light began to shine. The children had a sermon about where they used a soccer ball to describe life, and when Jesus is in your life. The kids had their heart open. At the end they asked if of them wanted to give their life to Christ. One stood up, then another, and another, to soon, mostly all were up. It was so amazing to see. I have never seen anything like that. Soon they were playing games, laughing, enjoying themselves. Acting like the age they are, just being a kid. The Lord was there, entering their spirits.
I was privileged to be a team leader to 7 amazing boys. Though it was kind of hard to get them to be serious in the beginning, each day I got the chance to learn something new about each of them. We called ourselves The Real Dream Team!
They started to encourage other teams, participating in all the activities, and really start to enjoy themselves. I was learning something new about them every day. But the coolest thing this week was seeing pieces of the Lord in each and every one of them.
Meet Mike, a shy fellow. Who also encouraged me during the whole week of camp. Who is pretty quiet, but yet has this bursting light in him that is just waiting to come out. The light he carries in him is contagious, including his smile. He is going to great things. I pray that he is bold with the light in him. To break out of his shell.
This is Phila. One who was pretty quiet the whole camp, but carries this great peace about him. I felt safe around him, even though I didn’t get to know him that well. I pray that contains that peace in him, and grows in Lord more and more.
Then there is Justin. Young little guy but filled with so much love. He carries the friendship that Jesus carries with everyone around them. No matter who they are he loves them and wants to be their even if they have been through a lot. No matter if they pick on him or anything. I pray that he continues to love others the way Jesus loves others.
Meet Shakes, the funny guy of our group. He carries a joyful and laughter spirit. He there to makes people laugh and enjoy what is around them. I didn’t get to know a whole lot about him, but I pray that he continues to carry that spirit, and to use it at the right time.
This is Thondo, or Tim-O. He has been through a lot and has a story. All week I just wanted to encourage him by letting him know that he is loved by the almighty Father, to let him know that he can rest in Him, and give his pain to Him. Tim-O taught me a lot this week. He taught me that every person has a story to tell. That everyone is not perfect. I pray for peace over him. For strength when he is in a battle field fighting between evil and good. Light and darkness. I pray that Holy Spirit fills him every day and whispers “I love you my son” to him. That he doesn’t forget that.
Last but not least there’s Joe, the one who carries the servant heart. He really humbled himself and cared for others when they needed help with something. He was encouraging to all the ones around him. He picked up trash around the camp and cared for it. He helped the leaders whenever they needed. He didn’t have much confidence in English but was bold enough to step out of his comfort zone and read bible verse. He dreams of making it to America and change the world. I pray that he grows in that. That he always carries that humbleness in him. I pray that he makes his dreams a reality. That he succeeds in what he loves. That he loves others the way Jesus does and dares to be different always.
This was a great camp. It showed how much adults in the community really loved every single one of them. This is their turning point into the world. To go back to Jeffery’s Bay and share their store and share who Jesus loves them and other in their community. To spread change that brightens the whole town. Some people may look at these children that went to this camp as “gansters” or lost kids who rebel against everyone. But what we see, is
Children of God.
Children who have a story.
Children who want to be heard.
Children who just want to be loved and know they are loved.
Children who are going to change the world with the goodness in their hearts.
Each and every kid at that camp have touched my heart. My team of seven boys that I was partnered with for week will forever be sewed in my heart. I will not forget them.
Please be praying for the kids of Jeffery’s Bay, to soften their hearts and to look towards the light. Please be praying for my team of boys. Pray that they have courage to say no to the darkness, and strength. Pray for protection over them. Pray that they always feel loved. Pray that they want to continue to stay out of trouble, and to dare to be different and not the status quo. Also for Jeffery’s Bay as a whole, that there are less murders and more love, and that ganger-ism clears out. Until next time.
