If you read my blog about travel day then you already know how crazy it was. We drove in boiling hot vans with no windows across 5 countries carrying a goldfish in a pickle jar. When we met our hosts they basically told us that this would be a restful month. Honestly that is either the best or the worst sentence we can hear on the race. That means that our hosts will pour into us and give us a great time, or our hosts have nothing planned for us. Luckily this month has been one of my favorites! We did 2 summer camps for kids from the ghetto.
The first camp was only 3 days and then we headed back. It was in a beautiful cabin by a stream and was super picturesque. A lot of the kids in the ghetto have never even left the city, so this beautiful natural experience for them was perfect. We had two teams and competed in way too many games. While there, we were able to camp outside in the field next to the cabin. It was perfect camping weather too, it was cold at night which made it perfect to curl up in your sleeping bag and sleep. Unfortunately, anybody who knows me well knows that I am always cold. So basically, I froze all night and slept inside the next night.
Between the two camps we met a lot of kids in the ghetto neighborhoods while hearing some of the coolest testimonies. Our host’s adopted daughter grew up in the worst part of town and was kidnapped as a little girl. The day before she was to be sold for organ trafficking they were all rescued. A few years later our hosts were finally able to bring her out of her situation and give her a safe home. The cycle of abuse, drinking, drugs, judgement, and hate run from generation to generation. By age 10 most kids have begun smoking and drinking. So this summer camp could be one of the most crucial Christian influences they will have in their young life.
By the second summer camp we were pumped because not only were we going to host this camp for 3 days, but then have a 2 day retreat after the kids went home. It was beautiful and we even got to climb a legitimate mountain called Piatra Craiului. Luckily me and Jenny turned back before it was too late. Once you get to the cables it is too dangerous to turn around. So we hiked 2 hours up and sent the rest of our team on ahead. Half of them expected to turn around at hour 5 or 6, but soon realized they were in for the whole 12 hours. The rain, rock avalanches, and exhaustion caused the once 12 hour hike to turn into a 17 hour trek. Those of us back at the campsite had no idea what was happening to them up there and by nightfall all we could do was pray that the Lord had them in his hands.
We left at 7 am the morning of the hike and the group didn’t get back until 12:30 pm. That was one of the hardest moments to live through on the race. We knew they were up on the mountain in the dark, most of them were wearing running shoes and didn’t bring enough water or food for 12 hours let alone 17 hours in the dark! But God was with them the whole time and got everyone back safely.
This is our last week of ministry before we head to a squad debrief. It will be a week of final team changes. Then we get on a plane to AFRICA!!! I am so excited and grateful for my time in Europe, and please pray for me as I prepare for Zambia.
Also, I have received several large anonymous donations and am now only $600 away from being fully funded! So to whoever it was who donated big or small thank you SO MUCH!
Oh and this is the goat we met this weekend.
