Last night of camp

Our last night of camp. It’s hard to believe that our two weeks are drawing to a close. Each day has been so full, and we see God at work! Today’s session with the girls was another impacting time as we focused on how God sees them and what He thinks about them. Then they were lead into a time of reflection on their hurts, past experiences, which for many, include rape and sexual abuse, and given the opportunity to lay it all at Jesus’ feet and receive the healing that only He can give. They then had the opportunity to make a commitment to remaining pure until marriage, or for those who have already been involved sexually, to begin anew and commit to abstinence until marriage. This has been such a powerful week with these girls, and we have seen how the Lord has been working in their hearts, freeing them from guilt and shame that they were not meant to carry, and to see themselves at His beautiful creation, created in His image, and the delight of His heart.

Tonight each group gave a presentation about what they had learned this week. They are so creative! One created a play, one a song, several poems, and they all recited all their memory verses. Adding to the excitement was losing electricity twice during the chapel time….it is REALLY dark here when there are no lights! We were thankful that the power returned so that we could get the kids back to the dorms and into their rooms, which would have been a challenge in pitch dark.

Last days are always hard; there are so many emotions surfacing. As a team, we have all been touched in incredible ways, blessed beyond measure, impacted by all the children, teens, and local workers. Our view of the world with its suffering, injustice, lack of essentials to sustain life, and the huge challenges of poverty and the pandemic of AIDS, has been challenged and changed. We know that we will never be the same, and we know that these children have heard truth repeatedly and expressed in a variety of ways, not only in word, but in deed. They’ve felt love in every smile, hug, and laugh, and even in a few tears. They’ve been prayed for and over. We have been sowers of seeds, His seeds, and we can rest in knowing that He will water, cultivate, and harvest them. What a privilege to be the messengers of Good News!

The team leaves tomorrow night, after what will probably be a long, tearful good bye. We may not be able to add any more updates after this, since we may not have internet access. Please pray for the team’s trip back home; I know there are a lot of you anxious to welcome them! And please continue to pray for the people of Kibera, the more than 500,000 children who live there, for the outreach of Homecare Fellowship as they minister to families there. Pray about how you might be involved in praying and supporting this strategic ministry. This is truly a meaningful, tangible, personal, impacting ministry that is truly meeting the needs of those suffering from extreme poverty, disease, and despair, bringing help and hope for physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, pointing them to Jesus, Who is the source of life and hope.