Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Standing in the Gap at Camp

Greetings! It is Wednesday morning here in Helekpe. Sorry it has been so long since we had a post - we've been full swing at camp. We started camp Monday afternoon. The better part of the morning was spent preparing for camp. Our theme is Standing in the Gap. There are 42 youth here at camp, including the GBC teens. We're responsible for six of the nine lessons; Mike has been organizing the lessons and then Amber, Jim, Mikey and I are in charge of discussion groups after the lesson.

The kids are also working on memory verses. Yesterday, we had a block of free time in the afternoon, and many of the kids spent most of that time working on their verses. Everyone is having a great time at camp. During their free time, the kids play ping pong, box hockey, volleyball, and soccer. Last night, there was a hardcore game of dodgeball. They all seemed to really enjoy that.

For our craft session yesterday, we made friendship bracelets. We had no idea that it would be so popular! Everyone, even the guys, were making them all day long. There were five of us that broke them up into smaller groups, and we each taught them a different style of bracelet. It turned out to be a really great time - some of them got the hang of it right away and made some beautiful bracelets. The great thing was that even if they were not quite getting it right, the bracelets still looked great! Barb has said that some of them could make them and sell them in the village to make a little bit of money. I predict that the whole village of Helekpe will soon be sporting friendship bracelets! Many of the teens made several bracelets - every time I turned around, Eyome was pulling out more string to make another one. I joked that he was going to have bracelets from his wrist all the way up to his elbow!

We also introduced the kids to ice cream floats last night. Barb got ice cream and sodas as a special treat, and our kids showed the Ghanaians how we make floats. They seemed a little reluctant to mix their ice cream with their soda at first, but we didn't give them a choice - we put ice cream in a cup and added a little soda. They seemed to really enjoy it! They had a little bit of a sugar rush afterwards, but after a long day of activities, they were able to settle down for bed nicely.

I think the food at camp has been really good. We've been eating primarily Ghanaian food this week. I am really enjoying it, as are the other leaders. Some of the kids are having a little bit of a tough time with it, because the dishes are so similar that it seems like we are always eating the same thing. They have been bringing some of their snacks with them and eating them discreetly. I am really proud of them for trying all the new food and eating it even when they don't really want to!

God has blessed us with cooler than normal temperatures while we are here. We've had a lot of cloud coverage and a decent amount of rain, which has helped to keep things cool. It's been in the 80's for most of this week. The rain is great, because we don't have to fetch water, but it makes the paths very, very muddy, which makes the walk to church very interesting. To my knowledge, we've only had one wipeout in the mud....and it was me!!!

Please continue to pray for the health of the group. There appears to be a virus running through the group. In most cases, it is pretty minor and runs for about 24 hours.

I was talking to some of the girls last night and we all agreed that as we head into the home stretch, we are very conflicted. On the one hand, it will be so nice to come home and have running water, a hot shower, and nice clean clothes again. On the other hand, it will be really hard for us to leave, because we have just fallen in love with the people here. We're building some great relationships, and it is exciting to see how the Lord is working at camp. Please pray that the Ghanaian kids will leave camp and use all that they have learned in their lives.

We love you all and thank you for your prayers! Still haven't been able to post pictures - the internet is so slow here that it takes way too long to download the pictures. I'll try again tomorrow night after we finish up camp. More to come soon!

7 comments:

  1. Hey Nina,

    Thanks for the post. You are doing a great job with it. Lord willing, we will get to see pictures when you all return. I can understand the conflict you guys have. I can almost replicate part of the experience by putting a tent out for my family, but somehow I know that wouldn't be the same ;0].

    Ghana team,

    Keep up the good work. We all miss you and love you and will continue to keep you in our prayers.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nina
    Thank you for posting as often as you do, I look for them daily and we are always excited to see how God is working through you and in you all there in Ghana. Keep up the good work, we are praying for you!
    Susan

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hey Neens,
    Your posts are what keeps me from being so homesick for my kids. I love hearing from them but you are so much more detailed and I love it. I miss you guys so much.....all of you and cannot wait to get EVERYTHING in person and to see all the wonderful and exctiting pictures that you have all taken. We pray for you guys often, when ever you come to mind, which is most of the time and thank God for your efforts and love for the people of Ghana. We continue to pray that God will bless all your efforts and that our youth will be so blessed by what God is doing through them. ♥ ya and thanks to you, Jim, Amber and Mike for everything that you've done to make this happen....you are such a blessing to us and Grace.....Bev

    ReplyDelete
  4. I want to see pictures of Nina after the mud incident!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am with JR would love to see the mud incident. Em, I am mudding the waters here a little. Love you guys. Will be praying tonight for you. We are getting ready for VBS. Got a big water slide and pool for VBS and snow cone maker.
    ysp

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Dear Nina :) thank you for taking the time to post! me and my mom just read it! and soaked it all in! we love you all and will be praying for you tonight at church! And please give Michael our prayers and love! we cant wait to see you but constantly rejoicie in hearing what the Lord is doing in and through you! Me and Jo drove by your house last night (Nina and Jim) Maryland is not the same without you! Love you very much! and thanking God for you! may HE continue to protect and provide for you as you faithfully serve HIM! Now unto the KING Immortal Invisible the only wise GOD be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen! love your friend and sister in Christ, priscilla
    Psalm 100

    ReplyDelete
  7. I miss your phone calls Mikey, praying for those with viruses, and for hearts to remain impacted as God would use what He started and bring it to it's finished product. (for those in Ghana and those on the team)
    love you
    Hannah

    ReplyDelete