Bluesky 13: Session 2

This week I had a cabin of 10 4th and 5th graders from very diverse backgrounds.  On Sunday night in our cabin devotional, it was clear that only one or two of them were Christians.  Many of them had very bizzare and confused beliefs, from forms of mixed polytheism, to relativistic spirit ism. Sometimes these beliefs included some warped image of Jesus, sometimes not.  A few didn't have belief of any sort.

Despite this challenging environment, the Holy Spirit really worked to confirm His word in many of their hearts.  By Tuesday night, when I asked them again if they believed Jesus was the Son of God, 9 out of 10 of them said that he probably was.  On Wednesday night we had the cross talk and explained the gospel to them.  After this, I got to have several awesome conversations with these campers.

One of them actually balled as he explained how amazing it was for God to love him so much that he died for him.  It's amazing to be a part of revealing the depths of God's grace to others!

Another started our conversation by explaining that he thought it was nice that Christ had died for him, but he didn't think that it was necessary for his "small" sins.  I got to explain why even our smallest sins earn us eternal punishment and after some difficult questions, he saw that he too needed Jesus.  I pray that God continues to give him a more accurate revelation of himself so that this child may know him in truth.

Another child was a very devout Jew, raised in Israel, fluent in Hebrew, and very knowledgable of the Torah.  All week, as we talked often about trusting Jesus, he would constantly ask, "What if you trust in God, but not in Jesus?" During our conversation, we talked more about who Jesus was and what his purpose was.  We also talked about how he would ultimately have to choose what to believe separately from his parents.  He told me that understood this, and though he didn't have the strength to do this yet, he might one day come to believe in Jesus.  As he continues to come to camp over the years, he will be given the opportunity to take this step!

Another boy came in saying that he used to believe in God, but now he believed in science.  Since I study a heavy science field and I could talked with him a lot about the science topics he was interested in, he knew he could trust me as I explained how science couldn't take the place of God.  In our continuing conversations, he asked a lot of questions and I did my best to answer them.  I shared with him Jeremiah 29:13, which says, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." I promised him that if he would seek God with all his heart, that he would find Him, and told him how God demonstrated this in my life.  He said that he didn't care how long it took, but he would do this with all his heart!

Lastly, I talked with my camper from Session 1, who was in a different cabin this week.  On the first night of camp on session 1, he told me that he was sure that he was headed to hell.  On that Wednesday night, we talked about Romans 10:9 which says, "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that Gid raised him from the dead, you will be saved."  He told me that though he believed that God raised Jesus from the dead, he was not able to die to himself in order to confess Christ as Lord and that it would take more time.  At the end of session 2, he told me that he was ready to confess Christ as Lord!

In the coming three weeks, the team will be spending a bit of time in Nairobi, a few weeks in Massailand, and a few days in Mombassa before coming back to camp.  Pray that we can accomplish God's purpose for us during this time and bring hope to people who desperately need it.

Bluesky 13: Session 1

This week, I got to be a counselor for some 7th and 8th grade boys.  The first night the campers opened up about where they were with the Lord.  Although they all came from Christian or semi-Christian backgrounds, several of them admitted that they were living in sin and acknowledged their separation from God.  Some said they knew they would go to hell if they died now.

As their counsellor, I felt that this was an awesome start to the week since it is impossible to understand the gospel without understanding our own sinfulness.  As the week progressed, we talked more about the goodness, holiness, and value of God. We even talked a bit about His wrath.  Then on Wednesday, we talked about the cross, and what it means in the context of our own treacherous actions.  The Holy Spirit truly worked through His word.

Several boys said that they understood  the gospel for the first time, and one boy accepted Christ for the first time!!!  Another boy repented from some of the sin in his life. Several prayed to be filled with the Spirit.  One of the boys told me that he finally understood the the best thing he could do with his life was glorify God for God's sake alone rather than his own sake!  The Holy Spirit revealed to him the truth of Mark 8:35.

(me and my campers from Session 1)

The week has also been neat because I have gotten a chance (during my very limited free time) to reflect and see how much I've grown in three years.  I can notice in my patience and wisdom in dealing with kids as well as my confidence in sharing the gospel.  It makes me thankful for those who have built me up and for the Holy Spirit's work in me.

This coming week I will have 4th and 5th graders mostly from the international school of Kenya. Many of them will be children of businessmen and diplomats from around the world.  Most have probably never heard the gospel.  Pray for me and for their hearts, that they me understand the love of God and that they may find life in Jesus.

Kenya 13: Week 1

Hello everyone!

I thought I would give everyone an update on how my trip to Kenya is going and how you can be praying for me.  For those of you who did not know, I am spending 10 weeks of my summer in Kenya volunteering as a camp counsellor and doing various short term projects.  

My trip began on May 23, and I will be back on August 1.  Today was the last day of staff training and tomorrow will be the first day of camp.  

This past week has been filled with training, team building, and fellowship between counselors.

(me and a fellow counsellor, John Allen from Texas)

This has really been a blessing to me, as I went into this trip not knowing any of my fellow team members beforehand.  We've prayed together, learned together, and spiritually and emotionally prepared ourselves and each other for camp.

This coming week, starting tomorrow, I will have a cabin of 8th grade boys.  Most of them will be missionary kids or kids with strong Christian parents.  However, many of them will not have made their faith their own.  Also, many of them struggle with their cultural identity.  They don't completely fit in in Kenya, but they also don't fit in in the US or wherever they are from.

Pray that they will experience the weight of the gospel and be challenged to follow Christ for themselves.  Pray also that I may be able to love them well and speak what they need to hear.  Pray throughout the summer that my heart would be continually transformed into that of a servant.   Thank you. God bless!

(view from the camp's rock climbing site)