For month four of the World Race our team has gone to camp! We are partnering with a ministry called Lasting Impressions in Kadoma, Zimbabwe. The ministry focuses heavily on camp – camps of all sorts. They hold leadership training camps, orientation camps for schools, corporate retreats, wilderness training camps, and so much more.
This week our team was able to work alongside the instructors here during an orientation camp for a local boarding school. We hosted 12-13 year olds for five days preparing them for life and high school. We would kick off the mornings with a game with all 64 kids followed by devotions, breakfast, and all sorts of team building exercises. They learned more about God’s love for them, their identity, the value in setting goals for themselves, the importance in listening, the power of words and how to encourage one another, and to not be afraid to ask for help.
At the beginning of camp the kids were split up into six groups. Each group was led by an instructor that actually works here and one of us World Racers. They came up with team names and war cries, and all week long they did everything with their team. We were the Lion Raiders and I was given my camp name- Smiles!
Over the course of just five days I got to see these kids grow a ton. On the last day we split off into our teams for a time of reflection and then, as each one finished, a one-on-one. I sat there in the grass listening to one kid after the next tell me about the lessons they had learned, how they’re going to apply them in their lives, their favorite memories of camp, the questions they had or advice needed about anything, and then praying over each one.
As each one got up and walked away my heart grew sadder and sadder. While sitting there I believe my eyes were opened and I got a deeper understanding of the way the Lord looks at each of us and calls us “chosen and precious” (1 Peter 2:4).
I have to say that I actually grew very fond of the Lion Raiders (even though I never understood our team name…are we lions or do we raid them? I hope not the latter). They were challenging, funny, cool, and extremely smart. I can’t believe how much I miss them!
As the kids were preparing to leave my co-leader asked how I was doing. Before I could answer one of our girls ran up to hug me for the third time that morning. I turned back to him, speechless. As she ran away he said, “You just spend a few days with them, but when you’re pouring your heart into them you get so attached. Every time campers leave I feel like a part of me goes with them.”
Exactly. A little part of me just hopped on that bus and rode away.
Me: “…Amen. Can I have a hug?”
Camper: (Big smile) “Yes! I love hugs.”
Me: “Yay! Me too!!”
Camper: “Thank you, Smiles!”
