Our 2010 Summer Camp
We had as many as 72 in our camp April 5-10 extending six full days! This is our final day picture with certificates and some of the parents who came and participated in the awards time. It was one of the best summer camps we have ever had and all of the camp for these kids was hosted right here at our Sawang Dandin Baptist Church.
Our camp program theme this year was "Working together in Love." Each day was filled with opportunities for lots of sports utilizing our church facilities which has a combo basketball, volleyball, takraw (an Asian sport) and short court soccer area.
Each day began with morning calisthenics, then morning devotions, followed by breakfast and the morning Bible study session. We had group games outside in the cooler mornings with some of the craziest games for kids on earth and in the hot afternoons we had more games inside and English classes until the evening meal. Smaller children were taken home after the afternoon classes and games (exhausted by the way!).
Our evening session was really special with great preaching, singing and special music from the fellow campers. Then we had "Sports with a Passion" under our flood lights until bedtime. Many of the young men slept outside in pup tents scattered on the east side of the property. The young ladies and lady leaders slept in the "Youth Building," which was our ladies dorm this year on the south side of the church. Overflow boys slept in the auditorium on the floor and stage. Thai kids do not mind sleeping on a floor mat or rug. So sleeping areas were easy to come by.
Even though camp week was one of the hottest weeks in 2010, the general health and well being and attitude of the campers was great. The youth really did not have time to get bored since our helpers kept them busy all day! When they did have a little free time they were basically ready for a rest.
Our cooks had worked for weeks preparing the menu and meals. Our food this year was almost like eating out in a fine Thai restaurant, thanks to our helpers and especially Miss Kunya from the Santisuk Baptist Church. Needless to say, our camps will be well attended in the future with the team we have.
I was reminded once again how just three years ago at this time of year, Gail and I were at one of the lowest points of our 30 years of ministry with a burnt out rental home and uncertain future. We are amazed and praising the Lord seeing how has taken this destroyed and useless situation and made it one of the finest facilities in Northeast Thailand for the Lord's grace.
Matthew 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
Many of our helpers came from member churches in our Romprakhun Fundamental Baptist Church fellowship. All of these churches have been planted by the Philippine Association of Baptists for World Evangelism. Gail and I work as fellow PABWE missionaries in this fellowship of churches. We had Thai Pastor Sawkham and Orn, who are church planting in Cha-am in the evenings with Romprakhun Baptist Seminary student, Khun Wichit. In the mornings, we had visiting ABWE missionary, Ron Powell, who came to help out from California. One special helper, who has been a long time friend of our ministry was Miss Walangkana Mandee, a church staff member of the Bangmot Baptist Church near Bangkok. She brought a new convert and growing Christian Dr. Tdu who shared her testimony and helped out with the youth. Our cook is Miss Kanya from our own Santisuk Baptist Church where we are co-pastoring and church planting. Helping the cooks were three ladies from the Thai Church of Nongphok, including the pastor's wife, Mrs. Plernjit Panangtang. Our other helpers were from our own church, Matthew and Kaew Panangtang.
Needless to say, the last evening with many new converts in the group (perhaps 10) there were many tears that the camp was drawing to a close and some of the helpers were going home. I always say, better not enough than too much! The kids did not want to end the camp but we only had our final day. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
