Tue pm & Wed am

Yesterday was a very exciting time for the children because they all got a present. We decided to provide a camp t-shirt with a unique design for every member of camp- consisting of the children, the helpers, international team, translators, kitchen staff, gardeners and everyone else involved in camp. Various people in England sponsored the t-shirts which we had made in Ukraine so we would be helping local economy as well as removing the nightmare of transporting them from England. Despite a rather large mix up about the sizes (i.e. we only had adult small, medium and large) there was a t-shirt for everyone. We lined all the children up in height order from the tiny little ward four children to the very (and I mean very) tall ward one boys. Then Simon handed each child their t-shirt and they all scampered off to put them on. We then gathered everyone together- now wearing their t-shirts, and took a range of photos of them. We had each ward individually and then the whole camp.

The kids and councilors


The translators


Us
It was a nice time to get photos with various different groups and have everyone stripped of age, gender, nationality or class, everyone was unique but united as part of this fantastic group all enjoying camp.
We then had half an hour for interest groups before dinner.
After dinner was craft where the children were making wall hangings of either angers or bugs. Rachel, Fran and Tosin were once more very lucky to have extra help from the ward one girls who have been really helpful, learning the craft before the other children and then going around and helping the younger ones.
After craft was the ever popular scavenger hunt. Each member of the international team went and hit round the camp and the children had to find them and get them to sign their paper. The prize for best hidden goes to Timothy who managed to climb onto the roof of the marquee and had only about one group find him! It wore the kids out nicely though :)
Today’s bible lesson was “I am eternal” and was given by Rachel and Fran. They read from John 3:16 and then when on to explain what eternal means. They gave a practical demonstration using 6 children and some paper and foam. They had the children attempt to scrunch up the paper and the foam- paper crumples, foam strings back. They had to submerge them in water- paper disintegrates and foam survives. Finally they had to try to rip them- paper is easy, foam is impossible for little children (though do able with a bit more strength). The message was that eternal means something that lasts and is durable. They then talked about Heaven, using Revelations to talk about a hew heaven and a new earth and sharing what it will be like. The kids responded really well, with good concentration and interest in what was being done and said.

Prayer points:
*Health has been a huge issue for the team on this trip. A lot of people are getting ill with colds, sore throats and stomach upsets. Although we are pressing on and people are getting the chance to have a rest when they need one, it is really frustrating for those who just physically can’t join in and especially tiring for those who are just slightly under the weather. Prayers for full health and renewal of strength would be enormously appreciated by the whole team.
*On a similar note though prayer of thanks can be said for the whole team, who have really stepped in to help one another- taking up the slack when one is flagging.
*Tomorrow’s bible lesson is the salvation message when we will be doing an alter call and praying for the children. Please be holding that in your prayer. Dino and Paul are leading and we really want to pray that God would speak powerfully through them tomorrow.