Friday, January 30, 2009

Camper Story

Actually, a camper's uncle's story. My friend's nephew went to camp and when he returned my friend was anxious to find out about his experience at camp since he knew camp well but it was his nephew's first time. So, he immediately asked how it was and of course the response was great so he asked if he wanted to go back...at this his nephew hesitated and said "Si...pero no." (yes but no!)
Of course, my friend immediately wanted to know why but got no response. So he asked again do you want to go back, the same response. At this time the boy's father said, it's ok tell him why, again no response and again yes but no. Finally the father said tell him...the boy responded, "so sad."
This, of course, alarmed my friend and wanted further explanation. So he asked, "Was it fun?" "Yes, fun."
"Did you play and learn?"
"Yes"
Finally, "...but it's so sad. At the end I had to leave all my new friends...and that great bed."

Praise God for changed lives and open hearts!

More Week 3 Photos!
















Felix Cumpleanos! Happy Birthday!

Think of your very first birthday party...I, like many, can't remember mine. But for some here in Iquitos their first birthday party is with us at camp. The last night of camp we have a "surprise" for the campers and when they find out it's a party they go CRAZY! and many start asking, "Whose is it?" Many think it's mine but when they find out it's for them they go crazy all over again. Check out the photos to see just how exciting it is to have someone celebrating with you!

Week 3 Update

We just finished our third week of camp, which means we’re half way through our first season of Camp Amazon.

It's raining every night and about every other day. We've lost the lower field to the river (though it's great to slide down the hill into the shallow pool there), and the big field is a giant mud pit. But my God is soooo good, the kids are being reached, it is awesome. We teach English a little every day, and last week we learned the song "My God is so big, so strong, and so mighty there is nothing my God cannot do". God has shown that to us every day: He is so big and there is nothing He cannot do. We have great games and are spreading God's word, and loving on kids that many have never seen before, Christ's way. It’s just amazing.

If you like all hearing all that just wait till you hear what I tell you tomorrow about the birthday party!

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

More from Our Guides at Camp Amazon!

Hola, soy Juanito!

Everyday I´m praying for you. I want Him to help you and give you His strength.

I would like to thank you all for your prayers. I especially would like to greet Phil and Mike.

I had a great time at the first week of camp. I got to know some great and CRAZY kids. We spent some awesome time together. I learned so much from these kids and thank God for His love and grace.

Thank you so much for all the advice that you gave during training.
God bless you.
Juanito

Letters from Coaches

¡Hola hermanos y hermanas, soy Felix!

God´s work is growing faster than expected here. My church has a goal to reach 1000 kids this year and now this project has become real and showing great success.

These kids are coming to Jesus´feet. Most of them are new to Jesus´power and they are being filled with the Holy Spirit. This is something like we´ve never seen before.

We´re so excited to see what God is going to do in the next camps. Neither rain or any other problem with the weather can stop God´s will...because GOD IS WITH US!

God bless you.
Felix

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¡Hola queridos amigos! (Hola dear friends)

I want to tell you I´m fine spiritually and physically however the second week of camp (we´re now in our 3rd) I felt like I could not do it anymore, but God has given me His great strength.

The 3rd week of camp I have 2 very "active" girls and I have almost lost my patience. But I felt so good to be with them; playing and laughing together.

I am learning so much about patience with these 2 girls...I love them so much.

Please, pray for me.

Best wishes to you. God bless you.
Your sister
Ruth
(Please pray for Ruth and her co, Rosa, also as they have a mentally challenged lady to work with this week as well as their "active" girls. They are doing an amazing job sharing Christ´s love with all of them.)

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Week 3 Preliminary Report

Well, we started out a little smaller this week with only 56 kids but
we're making up for numbers with great enthusiasm! Pray for renewed
strength for our coaches as they continue to seek the Lord.
We bussed all the kids out to camp this morning as we do every week to
find that a light pole had fallen down at camp (termites are amazing
here.) Well, this means downed power lines where our busses normally
pull in to unload a bunch of wild hooligans. So we stopped the busses
outside the gates and let the kids blast through the gates in a new
direction...I think we've found a new, exciting way to introdue the
kids to CAMP AMAZON! Praise God, He works in amazing ways. (By the
way, the pole is back up, the lines are safe, and somehow we never
lost power...even though we didn't have it all last night before the
kids showed up...like I said He works in amazing ways.)
More to come!