Monday first day of youth camp

The team prepared for the arrival of the teens from Kibera.  Registration went fairly smoothly as the teens got their team assignments, met their leaders, and got settled into their dorm rooms.  After lunch, we had our first chapel time.  We have twelve Mentors from Homecare Fellowship helping us with week, along with our 12 US team members.  We are sharing lessons of Bible Heroes again this week; lessons about David were featured today.  Dan made a terrific Goliath!  We got to explore the strength of David when he depended on God, as well as his weaknesses in his relationship with Bathsheba.  Even though David was not perfect (as none of us are), when he confessed his sin before God, he was forgiven and restored.  Great lessons for all of us.  We have special sessions each afternoon with girls and boys meeting in separate groups to dig deep into what it means to forgive and be reconciled with others and God.  Today was the introduction, and already, we are seeing the impact of what was shared.  We give the teens opportunity to write out anonymous questions that we will address in our sessions.  It was very sobering to read them following our session.  One wrote about a best friend being killed recently, knowing who killed her, and wanting to know what she should do and how to forgive that person.  Another asked how she could forgive and respond to her father’s family after he had beaten and kicked her and her mother out and years later have decided that they want her to again be with them.  These are sobering questions indeed.  There were few light subjects in these questions.  This is the life of these young people; they have already seen and experienced the harsh realities and cruelties of life.  A number of them have already come to know Jesus; others are searching.  Pray with us that during this week we can assure them that the God who created them loves them, sent His Son to die for them and will be with them in all circumstances.  He is Hope and Life!