Church “Source of Life” with God’s help, conducted another camp for teenagers, but this time in the tents. It was awaited and prepared for a long time. It was held in a forest near Sviate village in Zdolbunov area. After a long break brothers have decided to start a tent project again. After all, such wonderful memories and moments of life are associated with it, that we do not want to forget them. Especially, not to pass them to the next generation, so that they may experience them would be at least unfair. In such camps God like nowhere shows His love, care and kindness.
However this time, we met a lot of obstacles to its implementation. The biggest problem and prayer request at the same time was the refusal of the local forestry to give us a consent to the campground. Their argument was that there were a big drought and fires were possible due to careless leisure travelers. Of course, we understood our responsibility and danger, but still did not stop praying that God decided where our camp should take place. We have met with firefighters, for whom our pastor spoke the Gospel and God has arranged their hearts – we got the permission to conduct the camp. We were convinced once more in God’s care for His children.
The theme of the camp was not chosen by chance. That was based on the age of the children and their position in the church, most of them were Children from christian families. With a lot of correct theoretical knowledge acquired in the walls of the church and Sunday school classes, unfortunately, they have little practical basis about how to live with this wealth of knowledge. And God has given us the grace to see and to be in the gap for our young friends, caring about their characters and hearts.
Our goal was to open the old problem of self-righteousness and blindness to your own sin:
- To open what forms of avoiding the truth people acquired in the history and various religious movements and individual positions.
- To learn to work virtually with their own heart.
- To call for real Christianity and following Christ.
- To show that God works through our weakness, but not our strength.
- To show that our life is a path of trust and dedication to God every day.
At the end of the camp, as always, noone wanted to leave (new friends, acquaintances). For short week God gave us a wonderful fellowship with teens and time when many of them have made great conclusions for private life.
One girl, 17 years old, wasd at our camp not once, but this time she promised herself that she will not attend Bible lessons, and will not listen to the sermons. At the end of the camp, she told that on the very first day, God broke all her heart intentions and arranged to hearing the Word and important decisions for her own life. She wants to go to church and home groups to learn more about God. We pray for her, that the obstacles that she will meet at home, will not break the taken decisions.
We pray for all who have been in the camp, because we understand that camp life is very different from the ordinary (at home). We pray because we understand that only God keeps every heart in His hand and can give them life. Thanks to all who prayed and continue to pray for us, for the children and the ministry that God has given us to do.
In this camp has worked a great team, which consisted of 22 people, of which 6 cooks, 6 teachers, 2 sport instruktors, 3 craft teachers, 4 guards and 1 administrator. It is always easy to work with devoted and faithful people who are always there and ready to be a support in different situations.
Michail Grigoruk
