Camp over
It’s Monday morning and our entrance-way is still full of bags from camp. We had fun. With only a smattering of rain Friday night, we can also say that we had superb weather. Sunshine all week. A gastro bug hit the camp and took out most of the little kids and a few adults. Shane built a waterslide with a couple of the guys and due to the fact that no one died, it was acclaimed to be the best thing yet! A few times we came close to serious harm! As it was, many of us came home with bruises, scratches, sand rash and some sprains/twists. What a blast though!
The theme was “Out of Your Comfort Zone”. I was due to speak Friday but discovered a spiritually minded man in “Igor” at camp who was open to sharing and did so with humility and wisdom. Ahhh… I was so glad. Each year, we try to get a Ukrainian to share and this year had been unable to find anyone who was available or willing. So Igor was a gift! And the Lord used him… as well as Shane, Nathan and Timo, the other speakers. I loved sitting round the campfire hearing people open up and sharing from their hearts! It is always amazing how getting out of the rut of regular life and worshiping God with others somehow reconnects people with God. There were several at camp who needed to either be reconnected with or connected to God for the first time.
On the last night, we had a talent show in which all the kids participated. Pris didn’t. She had participated all during the week as she organized meals and directed the 40-odd volunteers that worked in the “kitchen”. She decided that she’d already revealed her “talent”. :) We never actually counted, but I think there must have been about 70 people in our camp. We are grateful for the Lord’s blessing.
We are due to leave the country in a couple of weeks. Although last August we received three year visas, Pris and I need to get new visas and are actually in the country illegally right now. (The laws have been changed during the last six months!) It gives rise to some concern as we could have troubles upon leaving. Worse case scenario: We get blacklisted and can’t come back for a year or so. That is unlikely though. Instead we’ll probably have to pay a fine and get a good old Ukrainian scolding. Krakow will probably be our destination.
Wednesday night, we will be gathering to hear from Nathan and Rachel some Biblical principles regarding finances. We’ll have two sessions and by all accounts, there is a good amount of interest amongst the church family in attending such a seminar. When a person is only earning $200 a month and living costs equal about $190 a month (and that’s without buying new clothes and only eating meat a couple of times a month) saving money takes on a whole new perspective. If you save $10 a month for 20 years, you can’t even buy a cheap second hand car. There is little point to saving. And if someone in your family needs to visit the hospital for anything slightly resembling serious… well, it’s a good thing the family of God cares for each other!
After 10 days of heat and no rain, I look out the window to see clouds building up. Maybe today! :) The gardeners are pulling out their hair in frustration of seeing all their hard work burn up.
See you round!