Six months of planning had come to an end. Kids were signed up for every open spot and our team of leaders was ready. Then came the forecast: rain for the entire week of camp.
Are we prepared for this, Lord? Or do You have something special in mind? Maybe you want us to slow down, to remember that while plans are good, it’s the Lord who works through our gifts, preparations—and even the rain—for His glory.
Run the Victorious Race
With a little reshuffling, we dove into learning about Saul (Paul) and what makes life a “victorious race.” Naturally, our seven teams also competed in some creative competitions. Turns out, the rainy weather was a blessing. The cool temperatures made our non-airconditioned school building much more comfortable, and the occasional drizzle added to the fun of our outdoor games.
There was only one activity we had to cancel: a full-day outing. But in its place, we organized a morning scavenger hunt from Narnia Elementary to our church building (about a 40-minute walk), followed by a picnic lunch on the lawn and afternoon relay games in the park nearby.
During the scavenger hunt, we tracked down stories of Paul’s ministry, discovering a new city at each stop. The kids eagerly took turns carrying the Bible and reading aloud, working together to follow the clues and find the texts.
For many of the children, a highlight was visiting our church. Our pastor gave them a tour “from basement to attic,” even showing a secret passage where Bibles had been hidden during communism. Parents picked up their kids at the church that day, which sparked meaningful conversations—some children wondered aloud why their families don’t attend church.
Two moments especially stayed with me. During one main presentation, the speaker explained the good news using John 3:16. A first-grade student, eyes sparkling, leaned over and whispered, “I remember that from Bible class—you taught us that!” Another time, a second-grader from a non-church background summed up the heart of the camp: “Stop being an observer. Get down from the bleachers and join the race.”
People expressed gratitude and admiration for volunteering and serving during my summer break, but truly, I am the grateful one. I’ve been blessed by:
- Bonding with brothers and sisters of all ages as we served together
- Sharing time with my students in a less formal, joyful setting
- Spending a whole week centered on the Good News
We’re already looking forward to follow-up events during the school year, praying God will use them for His glory.
Wilma Findlay says
Great to see these photos and hear about how camp went this year. Todd, I wonder if any of the co-workers we met 34 years ago smuggled Bibles into your church? Wilma Findlay
Todd says
Hi Wilma, good question. I’ll have to ask around at church this next Sunday. There’s probably no one here that would have had contact with them. Our oldest member, who was (almost?) 98, died in August. He was the longest practicing doctor in Slovakia—practiced medicine for 72 years, retiring when he was 97.