Hi guys! Thank you so much for continuing to read our updates and praying for us! It is
so encouraging to know that you guys are continuing to support and pray for us at home
because we definitely need it. Also praise God because the typhoon just missed our
area and so we were able to run our camp normally.
This camp has definitely gone by so quickly even though the days feel pretty long. We
start off each day early in personal devotions, praying with one another, eating
breakfast while playing and talking with the kids who come really early (some at 7:45
and the camp actually starts at 9), and slowly more and more kids will show up and we
get to interact with them until 9. The camp then starts with Main Event where we sing
the Taiwan and American anthems, do some silly dances, perform a skit (about a bible
story), learn a new song and sing it, etc. Then we split up into our classes - Music,
English, American Culture, and Games / Story Time - and then we have 2
classes before lunch and then 2 classes after lunch. After the last class the kids have
snacks and then we have a Review time as a big group where we review each class as
well as the skit and everything else. Then camp ends and we say goodbye to the kids.
Afterwards we have a group meeting where we share praises and thanks as well as
things that could have gone better / regrets and prayer requests. Then we have a
quick dinner, house visits, shower, group devotions, and finally sleep ~ 11-1.
Before we started this camp, we actually had a group meeting and Elijah talked about
the seriousness of what we are doing here and the urgency that we need to feel
because the gospel can't wait. He talked about how Jesus is coming back and if we
really believe that then we should have the urgency to share the gospel every chance
we get whether here or at home because when he does, those people (a lot of the kids)
are not going to be saved and will be going to hell. He emphasized how we have
nothing to lose and everything to gain from sharing the gospel with them. There is no
worse case scenario because these kids are already living the worst case scenario as
they do not believe and will end up going to hell. He shared a quote from a magician,
“I’ve always said that I don’t respect people who don’t proselytize. I don’t respect that at
all. If you believe that there’s a heaven and a hell, and people could be going to hell or
not getting eternal life, and you think that it’s not really worth telling them this because it
would make it socially awkward...how much do you have to hate somebody to not
proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe everlasting life is
possible and not tell them that? ... I mean, if I believed, beyond the shadow of a doubt,
that a truck was coming at you, and you didn’t believe that truck was bearing down on
you, there is a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than that.”
This all definitely really just hit us and helped us to feel the urgency and seriousness of
this camp and looking back on it now the Holy Spirit really moved in both me and Lucy
and reminded us of this urgency and compelled us to share with these kids. Praise God
for working in us and in ways that we didn't expect - Lucy didn't expect to share the
gospel on the first day but she ended up sharing the gospel to all 4 classes and I felt
moved to share to 2 of the classes when they were asking questions about he song
lyrics ("heavenly Father") and was actually able to share my testimony. Praise God
that the kids were actually pretty well behaved (as we sat for a long time and I just
talked) and focused and asked good questions. Also as he definitely gave me the words
to say as I was able to convey almost all of it with my Chinese with a little help from
Phoebe and Esther. We (the whole team) were able to preach the gospel and share
our testimonies in classes, during the morning before camp, and during lunch.
We got to have several house visits as well and got to talk to quite a few families. Most
of the parents are open to hearing about Christianity but only because they are open to
all religions and dabble in all of them thinking that they can reap the benefits that way.
Although we talked to them but they still don't truly believe and all we can do is just pray
for them. Pray that God would use what we shared to open their hearts to him and that
God would reveal himself to them and show them the He is the only real God and that
they would come to know him.
Also we got to evangelize to grad students which was really cool. We ate dinner and
played some games in groups, the last one ending with them having to piece together a
bible verse - Romans 5:7 - and then we shared verse 8 and 9. Then we just spent a
couple of hours talking to them and evangelizing to them. Praise God for the
slight interest and them being pretty open and easy to talk to and the deep conversation
that we were able to have.
Praise the Lord for all that he has been doing at this camp!
