Just like kid's camp

Painting                                                        Bobby telling the story of Joseph with a translator

Today was just like Kid's camp- well, sort of. Many of my friends and family have just gotten back from CHR this year and as they have been telling me about it I realized how much I missed it. It would have been my 17th year (I think- give or take a year). Several times today I thought about how what we were doing was so much like camp. Games, crafts, a bible story, and my favorite- skit bags! Everyone was having fun and even though the culture is different kids are still kids. Right?

Practicing their skit                                                             Playing "human knot"

But several times today I was reminded that this place is different. The kids we were with today have lost their innocence. They have all been abducted by rebels and forced to do things that no child should be a part of. Many have been forced to kill. They were taken from their homes, forced to march miles and miles, some were part of satanic rituals (that supposedly give them protection or power) and others physically tortured. So catching a glimpse of a limp or a scar or just a fraction of a second of pain in their eyes that isn't hidden as well as usual, reminded me that this isn't just a day at camp.

We picked the story of Joseph to share because Joseph was a slave like many of these kids. He was mistreated, falsely accused and had every reason to lose hope, just like many of these kids. He could have hated those who caused his pain, yet he chose to forgive. And Joseph could see that God was able to use all of his hardship and pain for a much greater purpose. And that is the message we wanted these kids to hear. God has a purpose for their lives. They have reason to have joy and hope and can continue to love life. So today we played games and had fun. We didn't tie dye t-shirts (maybe next time) or go tubing on the river (we practically did that as leaders on the way there) but the point was the same. We took a group of kids and tried to communicate that GOD LOVES YOU! Isn't that what camp is all about?

These were the roads to get there and that is all the "river" I wanted this year!

Feeding the group- not quite walking tacos or burgers on the grill.