session 1

Click here for pictures of camp.

Admitedly, I was a bit pessimistic going into the whole matter. The songs were fluff. I thought the raising and lowering of the flag, accompanied by the pledge of allegiance, was inappropriate for Bible Camp. Oh ... and I was teaching kids and not women.

I'm ashamed of my nasty attitude. But ... it only lasted the first afternoon. After I began leading the kids' Missions Session, I was energized and gung ho to be used of God to reach these kids by living and speaking the Gospel in front of them.

While the girls were at craft time, I had the boys.

Seeing how the World Cup was being played in Germany (my home), I decided to use the World Cup and Soccer as my themes.

I split the boys up into two teams, had them choose a country and a fan cheer for when their team scores a goal.

Some of the countries/cheers they came up with:

South Korea - Kimchi Kimchi Goal Goal Goal
Mexico - Taco!
Italy - SpaghetiOH!
China - Shout to the Lord (the girls were trying to spiritual about it all)
Madegascar - Lemur! (I like to move it move it!)

Then I took them out to the basketball court.

What do we need to play soccer?

The kids named all sorts of things ... often shouting that a ball was needed (a plea I faithfully ignored) ... We essentially had everything we needed (except the ball) and I had half the kids on the field and the other half playing the part of the fans. Finally, it was to play.

"But, Kious! We don't have a ball!"

Smack forehead ... "Ha ha ... silly me ... um, let's see ..." Looking around all I had was a water bottle. "Here! Play with this!"

The kids kicked the water bottle around for a bit ... continuing even when the thing exploded after a particularly mighty kick, spraying water into one little boy's face ... eh, it was hot outside. No biggie!

After a couple of minutes, we headed back to the chapel.

"There are some areas of the world where children are too poor to buy a soccer ball. But that doesn't stop them from playing a sport they love. The find other things to make do, like a tin can, for example."

I had the children look up the following verses followed by a discussion:

Philippians 4:11-12
11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

I then asked them to help me make a list of things that they LOVED about the United States.

Pizza, Hot Dogs, Movies, English, Family, Electricity, etc.

"Now, imagine you're a missionary kid in a completely different country. It's so easy for missionaries to be sad and miss the things back in their home country. How would you feel if you didn't have these things we listed over here?"

"Homesick!"

"Exactly, but if we are to be like Paul and be content (by this time the word had been defined), what can we do so that we are not focussing on what we don't have and being thankful for what God has given us?"

"You can learn the language!"

"You can eat that country's food and learn to like it just as much as you like pizza!"

etc ... the kids were brilliant.

We ended the session by reading the lesson out loud together.

"Be thankful for what God has blessed you with and do not focus on what you do not have."