We Are The Next 50!

The children that I am working with represent the future of Zambia and that was our focus for today.  The Camp Life 2014 theme is "We are the Next 50" and it refers to the years ahead for this community of children that will become leaders.

We kicked off the day with a small group session with the Camp Life Staff asking us, the American Counselors, to share our own testimony with our girls.  I noticed that hearing my testimony opened up a door with these precious girls.  Half way through, you could see the change in eye contact and a level of comfort that I had not seen before.  

Today during our big group time, we talked about moving our mountain of rejection, temptation, or whatever obstacle we may have through the strength and grace of God.  Blessing Times continued to be incredible.  Tina asks that we pray for her to be able to attend school.  Lungowe asked that God will deliver her mother and sister from starvation.  Judith asks that her longing for her father will become a peaceful memory instead of a painful desire.

All of the girls in my group have come to accept Christ throughout the day.  One told me that in accepting God, she found the strength to live through the night.  It is an amazing admission and a stark reality.  

We took the girls to the medic tent and almost all of my girls received treatment for something.  This is just another thing that I know that I take for granted.  It was heartbreaking to see how terrified they were of the medical staff.  

Each child received an "I am the Next 50" shirt and they will wear them tomorrow.  I wish you all could have seen their faces full of hope and purpose when we explained to them that they are the future!  It changes them!

Tomorrow, I will wear traditional Zambian dress to go and visit my children in their own community, Kabanana.

Again, I ask that you continue to pray for all of us here at Camp Life as we wind up our week with these wonderful orphans ~ scratch that..... amazing people!