Thursday

It’s been so interesting to see how God has woven so many details together every day! From Bible lessons, songs sung, scriptures shared, personal testimonies, it is a script that only He could write. We appreciate so much everything that each team member has contributed to this ministry; it wouldn’t have been the same without any one of them. Our youngest members, Josh, Josiah, Samantha and Steve, have been outstanding and such good role models for these teens. Carol’s teaching on forgiveness has impacted not only the teens, but the leaders as well. Each day has held its own special moments, and we praise God for that. We looked at the life of Joseph today, an excellent example of forgiveness and not giving into temptation. It is possible!
Tonight was the final night chapel, and each team was asked to make a presentation. Most groups created skits depicting themes of love, forgiveness, exposing common abuses seen here, and the overall theme of hope in Jesus. The US team presented a medley of songs with African themes and references to our home states (aka, The Lion Sleeps Tonight, Hakuna Matata, Deep in the Heart of Texas, The Audabon Zoo, and Wish They All Could be California Girls). Not sure they quite grasped the significance of each, but it was fun anyway.
Tomorrow is our final time together; we’ll conclude midday and the campers will pack up after lunch. Our team has talked a lot about how much these young people have understood, wondering if it has penetrated, how much it has impacted them. We’ll probably never know this side of heaven, but we do know that His Word does not return void. We aren’t asked to be “successful;” we are called to be faithful as messengers, communicators and demonstrators of the gospel of Christ. The results lie solely in His hands; we are trusting Him to complete His work in the hearts of these teens. Even if only one life is changed as a result of this week, it will have been worth it, but we believe there are many whose hearts have been genuinely touched. We’re praying for those who will come after us to water seeds planted, and for the Lord to reap His harvest.