Week 1 Cochrane

Our first week started off a little rough. This camp had about 60 kids registered (which is a lot), but the coordinator did not want to do a volunteer orientation. She said that because the orientation would fall on July 1st, that no one would come anyways. So basically we had a whole bunch of volunteers who did not know what they were doing on the first day of camp.

Another challenge we faced at this camp was that there were so many younger kids and not many older kids. We had to split out groups into 5-6 year olds, 7 year olds in their own group, and 8-12 in one group. (which is a huge range) Another thing about this camp was that it was only 4 days because they didn't want camp on July 1st, so we couldn't run our normal 5 day camp. We had to combine some of our lessons and rush some of the skills that were supposed to be taught.

Despite not having orientation, the volunteers were really helpful. We even had a man in his mid 70s help us out. He had a pacemaker done a few weeks ago, so obviously he couldn't play the games with us. Instead he sat in his lawn chair under the tree and took care of any injured kids, any kids who needed rest, and lead a small group. Great example of how God can use you no matter what, you just have to be willing to serve.

The week went pretty smooth besides the first day. The kids were well behaved, and good thing too because 60 kids are quite a handful. I met a lot of kids from camp last summer as well, and it made me glad to know that they remembered me too! My small group this week was pretty chatty but I would like you guys to pray for 2 boys in particular.

Thomas. Great kid, very strong soccer player in his age group. He was very confident in everything he did and said. But when it came to our gospel presentation, and I explained how we were all on the "wrong team" because of sin and I think that really troubled him. I said that people who have decided to follow Jesus (Christians) become on God's team because we decide to follow his master plan. He then told me he was not a Christian, he was a mormon. In fact he said his dad was the "priest" or I guess one of the leaders in their mormon church. When I asked what was the one true way to heaven, Thomas told me that we had to do good things. When I told him that the only way through Jesus, he told me that he agreed. When I talked to him on the last day, he seemed really conflicted. I think he was conflicted with the beliefs he was brought up with and the message that us coaches were telling him. Pray that the Lord will work in his heart, and help him realize that Jesus Christ is his true savior, and only by believing him can he truly be saved. Pray for the desire for truth in Thomas' heart. He may continue to ask questions and question his mormon faith. That he will not be deterred in his quest for truth even when his parents of the mormon community teach him lies. And finally pray that in the pursuit for truth, Thomas will find Jesus Christ our Lord.

Matthew. He was at camp last year and he was not a believer. His family does not go to church, but him and his sister always go to the soccer camps. Both siblings have extensive knowledge about the bible and about the gospel, especially for non church kids. To me, Matthew had a better grasp of what Jesus did for us and why he did it for us than any of the church kids in my group. Yet when I asked Matthew if he was a follower of Jesus Christ he said not yet. But you can sense that they have a hunger for the word of God. Especially his sister who goes around at lunch asking coaches to read out of the bible to her and goes around asking questions. Pray for these two siblings that as they seek, God will reveal himself to them. Pray that whatever it is that is standing between them and God be taken away. Pray that these two kids will just be a light in their family, that because of their curosity and thirst for the truth, that they will bring family members to the Lord.