KIDS CAMP!

Four days last week we got the privilege of being 'assistant' counselors at a streets kids camp! i say assistant lightly because we do not speak the language....but more hands are always appreciated!! We are interns here with Action ministry so we had to have some responsibility of course! But anyways, Action organized this camp by working with many churches in the area. They network with each other to reach out to many of the homeless street kids around the Manila area. All together there were about 60 street kids who poured into camp. These kids were the roughest of the rough. Addicted, dirty, alone, forgotten, hungry, abused, unloved, and so very broken. They were all previously searched before coming to camp, so they were free of Rugby (an addictive glue that they sniff to make their hunger pains go away), cigarettes,knives and anything else they could possible have that would distract them for the next 4 days. Some of them were going through withdraws of this Rugby and could barely sit for 20-30 minutes. They would put their heads down and they would be gone. I am sure that there are many many stories or how lives were changed in those few days. But i saw those kids broken after just a few days of simple messages, fun games, good food and loving staff all around them! I couldn't understand pretty much anything those kids said...but i loved to sit with them and let them laugh at me, or try to communicate. They need love...and i tried to give it in anyway possible...even if all i could manage was a smile!
The way the camp is set up is that all the churches will stay in contact with the kids they invited...and i pray that God sues those churches in every way possible! Some of these kids made life changing decisions and they are forever a part of me! i hope that you will take a moment to pray for kids around the world who are not in quite the same position as the kids we know. i was so touched by these kids, and how excited they were to build a tower out of straws...and then go praise God, with their little hands raised above their heads. I was so blessed to be a part of this experience.