But here is what makes this camp so amazing to me. The focus this year is on refugees. So each of the crews of kids represents a country. Zeke is in Russia, Ellie is in Serbia, Anna is in China and Lia is a junior leader in Turkey.
Beyond just hearing some Bible stories and singing some songs, these kids are learning about what other kids from around the world, who are refugees, experience every day. They are learning that Jesus loves us all.....even when we are different. And then the kids are seeing exactly how blessed we are in the United States. Today's video Fereshata's Story - 15 year old in Afghanistan actually moved me to tears. I was thinking how good it would be for all of the parents to watch these videos that their children are seeing each day. Every day is a different country and a different story. In this video the children heard that Fereshata's father and brother had died. Her mother works for $20 a month! Yes - a month! Her two younger sister ages 8 and 11 make and sell bread in the camp to try to earn a bit of extra money. Only one sister age 13 goes to school. But she teaches all of the sisters at night. They have to walk to get water and they don't have electricity. Yes, I could see the shock and surprise on many of the kids faces. There were some very earnest prayers said for this girl and her family as well as all of the refugees in Afghanistan, after watching this video.
The homework for each night is really a family project that involves some kind of service. Today the kids all went home with garbage bags and rubber gloves and their homework is to clean up a park or some area in their own neighborhood. What a great way to encourage service from even the youngest children. Can you imagine some of the conversations around the dinner table after the kids participate in this kind of program? They are learning about the love of Jesus. They are seeing some of the issues in the world around us and then they are finding a way to share the love of Jesus right where they live. What a very powerful message.
Today as I was sitting in the China Camp (actually a blanket fort built out of chair stacks in the corner of the Sanctuary) with Anna, I was thinking about the more than 35 years that I have been around VBS programs. I love that this program is so relevant for today. Refugees are in the news almost every day. Now when the children see and/or hear these stories, they will have faces and names and pictures to put with them. They will know that they can pray for these people to know the love of Jesus. They will remember that Jesus loves us ALL - even if we are different. And each one of them will have learned some ways to serve Jesus right now at whatever age they are - right where they live. Their shirts say "Disciples who go make disciples" and that is exactly what this program is all about.
As I looked around the room at the end of the day at all of those very wet but happy faces, I could see some future missionaries, some leaders and teachers, some pastors and worship leaders. But every face was the face of a servant disciple. Kids who were being trained to go out into the world and show the love of Jesus and make disciples. Now that's what the world needs!
Jesus, thank you for Fellowship of Faith and the leaders who make this program possible. Thank you for all of the children that are participating in this program. Holy Spirit, help each child to hear and remember exactly what you know they need! Thank you for videos that help us all to understand better the trials faced around the world. Jesus, help us all to have servant hearts that want to show the world how much YOU love them! Amen
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