One Day Left

Nature camp has been a great success. Yesterday, 29 children showed up. The clouds threatened to drench us, but didn’t. In fact, the overcast sky kept the temperatures in the low 70s most of the day. Watching this team get ready (at the last minute and with a crash course in how to lead it) has been humbling. They have been resourceful, committed, and so flexible.

Camp began with lessons on gun safety (with BB guns) and archery. Denny and Sean taught these courses, which the kids LOVED—I can’t tell you how much! Along the way, though, the lesson was really about hitting and/or missing the mark. In essence, the children learned about sin and the need for a Savior.

We did end up changing our plan for where we would have nature camp. Originally, we were going to transport the children to the 240-acre Camp Dayspring. Logistics forced us to base it in a park in town. It could not have been better. At 9 a.m. yesterday morning, children started showing up from all directions. It was so fun to see them arrive and even more fun to listen to them as they left. I heard one ask another if he planned to come back. He said, “Are you kidding? This was so much fun!” And come back they did! This morning, we had 28.

Should you ever be lost but have a compass, the kids from nature camp would be who you would want to have with you. They know all the fun sayings to help you remember the details of the compass: Never Eat Soggy Waffles to teach the cardinal points, and how to put Red Fred in the Shed, how to orient your compass to magnetic north. Several members of the team rose very early this morning to lay four courses where the children could put into the practice the lesson they were taught on orienteering. The compass allowed the team to teach the principle that God’s Word is what we should use to guide us. Denny is teaching from Psalm 23 each day and Mary Ann Friday and Sean Doyle are leading the group with beautiful guitar music as they worship.

Today we had extra food to serve for lunch. As we compared notes last night, we realized that several children had not eaten breakfast before coming to nature camp. A couple of them admitted they had not had dinner the night before, either. You could not believe how excited they were over the “gourmet” PBJ and turkey/cheese sandwiches that Cindy Traylor made for them. Today was no different. Chef Cindy, who also taught a course in first aid, knew what they would like!

Meg Anderson and Kate Wheeler led the craft time yesterday and today. They have done so many cool things! Today they taught children to make ropes. I must admit I didn’t get to hear the whole lesson that went with this and haven’t had time to ask, but heard something about the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. You’ll just have to get them to give you more details back in B’ham!

Phyllis Hamm is such a great greeter for the children each morning. How could you not feel loved and welcomed when Phyllis sees you walking across the parking lot to the pavilion and shouting “Hey, Brianna (or any of the other 20+ names). I’m so glad to see you!”

The children on our team have been precious as they have, without prompting, blended in and taken the Fairmont kids under their wings and loved on them. My most favorite memory from this trip will be the conversation that I heard 7-year-old Thomas Anderson have with a couple of other little fellows. In their own little boy, scuffling way, they were debating where you have to be to pray. Thomas set them straight. You do not have to be in church. “You can even pray laying on your bed at night and ask Jesus into your heart.” He then proceeded to tell them why you would want to ask Jesus into your heart. It brought tears to my eyes.

Continue to pray for all on this team and for the children they will leave tomorrow. They only have four more hours together.

Construction on Mrs. Ann and Mr. Robert’s house has made great progress today. A good deal of siding was completed and the deck is getting closer to being finished. We’ve realized today that our team will not be able to side one end of the house that we had planned to side and are sad about this. So much work has had to be done replacing rotten wood that the progress has been slower than anticipated. The good news is, as Todd Anderson put it, that the house is really in better shape structurally than it would have been had they just slapped up some siding. We hope that another team coming in next week will be able to complete the job.

More important that what has happened on the house is what has happened in the prayer life of the construction team and in Mrs. Ann’s life. The team has been praying for a restoration of relationship between Mrs. Ann and her estranged three children. Since those prayers began, two of her children have called and expressed a desire to see her. God is answering prayers!

Ballet camp continues to grow. Today there were about 14 children there—including a couple of boys and two children who have special needs. One of these two even came with his walker. I haven’t had a chance to talk with the ballet folks and will have to get details tonight to share later. I know there will be lots to tell about teaching ballet to a child using a walker. How great is that!

We have one day left in Fairmont. We are getting to feel like we know our way around and are making special friendships with folks here. Please pray for our last hours with them. Pray especially for our friend "Sally." She is not a Christian and is very interested in what it’s all about. It was worth the trip to have the time we’ve had with her.