Hello everyone!
The NanHaiLu camp this year was one of three camps held in the last week, the others being the Huajiang and South Taichung camps.Though this was not a new camp, we learned new things and saw God do amazing works time and time again.
Throughout the course of four days, our theme was Run (Run Into, Run After, Run With, and Run Well). Each day, during morning main event, we would stretch and do silly dance moves and sing songs that we learned the day before or the day of. Then our team would perform small, humorous skits that are centered around Biblical stories in order for the kids to understand the day’s theme.
After main event, the kids would go to their respective classes. There were four core classes, which were Music, Games, English, and American Culture. In Music class, we would sing and dance to different songs that have a somewhat simple Christian meaning, including “Deep Deep” or “Every Move I Make.” During Games, the kids would play games centered around the day’s theme. In English class, the kids would learn vocabulary, and some of the terms will also be centered around the day’s theme. In American Culture, the kids would learn about aspects of life in America and also do crafts that represent parts of the Biblical stories they learn each day during main event. After all these classes, everyone would gather once again for an afternoon main event that included recap for music songs, English terms, the day’s theme, or any new announcements.
During the second and third days of camp, our team split into separate groups to go on house visits after dinner. The teams usually comprised of two to three i42 members, along with a member from the NanHaiLu church. These house visits are a great opportunity to see the environments that these kids live in and to reach out more to not only the kids but also the parents by talking about our Christian faith whenever we had the chance. The house visits demonstrated that we really need to be desperate for these kids. Many kids live in communities where there are shrines surrounding them everywhere for idols of false religions, and because of that, it makes it harder to reach out to some of them. However, despite all these factors that may hinder us from reaching them, our God is greater than all these things, for He is our Rock. We learned to be desperate. We learned to be greedy for the kids. And we also learned to pray more, for there is true power in a prayer.
After the last camp on the last day, there was an event where we invited the parents to come see all that the kids have learned. Though some of it was rocky, we were able to perform the music songs and the English acts out. We were also able to tell the parents more about our team. When the event was over, that marked the official end of the 2017 NanHaiLu camp.
Throughout this camp, there was a lot of spiritual warfare. The enemy tried very hard to make things difficult for us. If we were to try to face the enemy on our own strength, we would have failed horribly. Sometimes it definitely felt like we were losing. But ultimately, God pulled through. Though we were physically weary and weak due to this being the last camp in weeks of mission, God gave us strength and provided for our needs. Though we lacked motivation and encouragement at times, God comforted us through His Word and showed us His amazing love. Though we might not have done things perfectly, God used everything for His glory and His plan. Our job was to plant the seeds. It is God Who will water the seeds.
Even though now we are back in the United States, we will still pray for these kids. Please pray that these kids will find hope, love, faith, strength, and true joy. Please pray that God will do miraculous things in these kids’ lives and really water their seeds, so that sometime, in the future, we may able to meet, laugh, play, and love them in somewhere much more beautiful than this earth we live on. Please pray that God will use NanHaiLu church to really reach out to them and touch their hearts and lives. Let His Will be done.
Thank you for your support and prayers. May God bless you. ( Rebecca He)
