Week Five - Primary Camp & Tot-Lot

On Monday 3 buses full of campers, ages 4 to 8, arrived from City Union Mission in Kansas City around 12:15. They were hot and hungry and enjoyed the lunch that was waiting for them. After lunch, campers went to their cabins and spent the afternoon getting to know each other, their counselors and assistant counselors. Time in the chapel, at the pool, and free time after dinner completed their schedule for the day.

Our first full day of camp was on Tuesday. A few campers were homesick and had trouble sleeping. But most were very tired from the activities of their first day.

Campers are enjoying the chapel time. They are learning new songs and memorizing Bible verses. The Chapel staff is teaching the campers each day with a skit called The King is coming. They are also watching a video of a roving news reporter of Jesus and his disciples! What a wonderful experience for campers and staff! Swimming, crafts, optional activities, plus 3 meals, fills the day.

Sandra, the head cook this week at Big Camp recently had a birthday. Wanting to give her gifts, and not knowing what she would like, her friends asked her what would she enjoy. Sandra told her friends that she would like to have fresh fruit and veggies at camp this summer. She must have a wonderful group of friends because Sandra came to camp with 60 pounds of red grapes and 25 fresh pineapple. Wow! She shopped at HyVee and was given a discount on the produce. And she still has money left for Teen Boys Camp next week. What a wonderful servant!

Wednesday night the rains came while we slep and left behind clouds for Thursday that toned down the heat, although still mighty warm.  Campers are continuing to learn in chapel about our wonderful God.  The chapel staff is doing a great job as they teach the campers.

We have several recent prayer requests and ask that you take a few minutes and ask for Gods guidance:

• Continued health and safety for staff and campers
• Calm those campers that are experiencing homesickness
• Help with energy  - the heat continues to wear on everyone
• Eating meals and drinking plenty of water every day
• That the campers will understand  the salvation story
• Counselors are able to give adequate attention to each camper
• Transition times when campers are changing activities
• Wisdom and patience for adults to help with the power struggles between campers
• One of the summer staff was in the hospital earlier this year and just received the bill from the hospital. He does not have insurance and is very concerned.
• Female staff member hopes to have her father come for a visit from out of state. Hopefully they will be able to afford the trip. 

We wanted to share with you a few stories.  Some are sweet and innocent and some should make you laugh! 

• At rest time today, the campers asked their counselor if they could look at their Bible so they could look up the stories that Ms. Peggy is teaching them in chapel.
• A cabin of girls were walking to their cabin and noticed a bird up in the sky that look like a fish. One of the campers said "That bird looks like the fish that swallowed Jonah!"
• One of our counselors recently received news that a friend of hers had a very sick newborn baby. She was sad and the young campers noticed so she told them that they could pray later for the baby. The campers stopped what they were doing at the playground and wanted to pray right then.They were all very concerned for their counselor and later at bed time three of the campers wanted to pray for the baby again.
• Mr. Nathan, one of the janitors for the week was talking with a group of boys at meal time, One camper told him, "you look like my Dad." Nathan replied, "how do I look like your Dad? The camper replied, "Well, you're a bearded man, and your eyes look like my Dad's eyes. But not your face, My Dad's face is black."
• At lunch the other day, the boys were talking about their favorite restaurants. Suggestions like McDonalds, Wendys, Sonic were all some of the favorites. One little boy spoke up and said, " My favorite restaurant is the cafeteria at Camp Cumcito!!
• Before bed time each cabin settles in and the campers discuss with their counselor what they did that day. Included in this discussion is the lessons that they are learning in chapel which will lead into their evening devotions. One cabin reports that their devotion time is outstanding,! The girls don't always follow the designed plan but they do ask a lot of questions. This is how they learn! Recent questions: Why did Jesus die? Did he really come back to life? Did God make everything? Why did he ride on a donkey? All great questions for this age.

Our God is so great!! He hears our prayers and our praises. Let us thank Him for His continued faithfulness!

(Photos contributed by Mark Sewalson)