Saturday, June 21, 2008
Camp Nikos…
So I blogged about Nikos during Nikos...I just forgot to put it on this, our personal blog. You see, I was the official blogger for Camp Nikos, an inner city kids camp in Rosebud Texas. As usual, David and I were staff, David being the ultimate music, tech, video, photographer, all around phenominal guy, and I was Light Lady as well as the lady in charge of disipline for the girls, helper to Cheryl and David, and official blogger. I’ve given you snipets of some of our posts below, but you can read about the whole week at http://www.campnikos.com. You can also see pictures from camp on our smugmug website at alleys.smugmug.com/Mission%20Possible (we haven’t finished uploading them all so be sure and check back for more).
From June 8th
Our theme for camp is “It’s good to know the King.” The campers will be
learning about how God is real, how He can be known, that He can be
heard, and how He can be trusted! It will be an exciting week as they
(and we) learn these truths through activities, stories, verses, and
daily camp life. These aren’t always easy truths to teach or to learn
(especially when you think as concretely as a child), so pray
especially for wisdom, patience and energy for our group leaders
From June 10th
After everyone got off their bus and into their cabin or tent
“families,” they moved into their homes for the week, took a tour of
the campground and had their pictures made for their nametags. A yummy
dinner was waiting for them, and after that came the night service.
Night Service always begins with Mr. Sean singing “My Father’s House”
and many other fun songs. The worship ended with a CRAZY rendition of
“Come on and Dance” that wore EVERYONE out. Light Lady was next. The
campers learned Matthew 5:16 – “Let your light SHINE before others,
that they may see the good things you do and PRAISE GOD!” Light Lady
talked about how at Camp Nikos we reward “kingly” behavior and how we
want to see pictures of children with crowns on during the nights
service (the reward for small acts – like picking up trash, sharing,
listening to their leaders). We also have rewards for learning the
daily verses and have a ‘Camper of the Day’ for those who shined for
Jesus all day long. These campers get to put highlighter all over
themselves and come up in the black lights and dance with Light Lady in
front of everyone. It is a treat to watch these kids soak in the
positive encouragement from their fellow campers, their leaders and
Light Lady herself.
From June 12th
By the time you read this, it will be Thursday. It’s right about the
middle of the week. Group leaders are exhausted and kids are falling
into a routine, and as they as they get more comfortable with each
other, both blessings and challenges abound. One of the big challenges
for leaders is to stay consistent with their ‘family’ and to be on the
same page as their fellow leaders in their family. And to do this while
continuously loving on children that are in their care for the week
just adds to that challenge. Yet another challenge is being consistent
with the more challenging kids (those who are physically demanding
attention), they also have to remember to love on the kids who are
quiet and obedient. It’s like starting a family with four to eight
children – all at once.
On the flip side, one of the most rewarding things at this stage of
camp is to see the children begin to open up. They’re talking about
what they’re thinking, they’re smiling, they’re helping others, and
they’re talking about home life with their group leaders. These things
are what make the sand, the sweat, and the tears ALL worth it. Watching
these children become children again – instead of the streetwise,
harden people they have to be – man, it’s powerful.
Walking through camp tonight as everyone was getting ready for bed it
was so incredible to see how those relationships in each little family
are already so precious. Voids are being filled in these children’s
hearts with God’s love flowing through each group leader as they prayed
for their campers, talked to them and just loved on them in every
little way as they got ready for bed.
From June 15th
Friday
The last night of Nikos there is traditionally a water balloon
fight. The group leaders fill up water balloons all day long on their
breaks, and this year they did great. There were four full big
trashcans full of balloons and every group was assigned to a trashcan.
By the end of the fight, everyone was wet, muddy and happy. Thankfully,
showers were before night service.
The night concluded with a crazy night service – one for the kids to
remember. Not only did the kids watch a simulation of an airplane
flight through a storm, the slideshow was super long with pictures from
throughout the day – lots of fun. Even Light Lady was different. After
each camper of the day was announced and recognized, she brought up all
the leaders to recognize their hard work and give them an opportunity
to dance in the black lights. The campers loved it and all cheered for
their leaders. While every leader had gone above and beyond, the staff
at the camp and activity leaders provided feedback that one in
particular had ‘shined’ all week long. Ryan W. was recognized for his
outstanding love of not only just his campers, but also all those he
came in contact with. He had a difficult group of boys but his patience
and love were amazing to watch. As all cheered him on, he danced in the
black light showing his energy and fun personality.
Saturday
Because each camper who came was in some way plugged into
Mission:Possible and its programs throughout the year, the leaving was
easier than in past years. Thankfully, the end of Camp Nikos isn’t the
end of this kind of love for these kids. They will be loved on all year
by people volunteering in the after school program, at Big Fish Club,
during art centers, and at Crosstrainers. This made a huge difference
in the attitudes of the campers as we left. Although we still had kids
who wanted to stay and live at camp, there was definitely a peace and
hope of more to come. Group leaders and their campers exchanged contact
information to be able to keep in touch, and many of these campers will
see these amazing people throughout the year.
Thank you so much for your prayers this week. We have felt them and
have been encouraged by them. This camp is always amazing, but this was
an incredible year. There were hard times and every leader and staff
person was stretched to his or her limits. It would not be a lie to say
that we were blessed at least as much (if not more) as the children
were by the experience.