news

Girls' Getaway Camp

Mon, 1 Aug 2011 09:27:00 EST

A few of us ladies had been working to organize a girls’ three day camp, but it was a challenge to gain the parents’ trust and permission for their daughters to be gone. In this culture, girls have a lot of responsibilities at home (caring for the men and boys’ every need) and aren’t generally allowed to sleep anywhere else.

Just before the start of the camp, however, three sisters and a friend unexpectedly asked last minute if they can come. What an answer to prayer!

The camp went very well and even though it was small, the girls that came were the right ones. We were able to not only have fun, relax and play but we had great teaching times and conversations about our value and beauty in God as young women. After a few days of being encouraged in who they were created to be, we were able to share more about Jesus’ sacrifice for each of us so that we can have the hope of eternity with Him.

-JG

Preparing for a Busy Camp Season

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 08:23:00 EST

Camp construction is officially underway! We've already poured sixteen columns on the second floor. Sound easy? Think again. We make the concrete, one 50kg bag at a time, with a small gas mixer, water, and about 64 shovels of gravel. When it's ready, we have to push five or six wheelbarrows up a ramp to the second floor, then bucket the concrete up into the forms. Thankfully we had a team of six from Great Britain here for a week to help us with the work, as well as learning that there is a HUGE difference between our cultures. After announcing that we were having a breakfast casserole the next day, there were silent, confused looks shot our way. Ha. Casseroles for breakfast? Yes, actually, we Americans make them with eggs, bread, milk, cinnamon and apple slices on top.

This past week, a few of us were able to set the bolts at our small climbs near camp, then return to test them out while cleaning thick moss off the rocks. Our prep work was cut short when a storm blew in and lightening struck the hill next to us. Phew!

During several weekends, I had the opportunity to join other single coworkers to visit a nearby village with many poor families. What a joy to pull off on the road by the homes and see the kids' eyes light up as they begin flailing their arms in excitement to see us. It melts my heart to see their huge smiles as they run towards us! We played games, drew with crayons, enjoyed lemonade, and talked about plans for their week at camp in August.

-JG

Rock Climbing Training Underway

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 04:38:00 EST

Four professional trainers in rock-climbing and back packing/trekking have arrived to prepare for camp. We went up to camp today to setup the courses that will start tomorrow and run through Tuesday. The courses will be attended by 40 local ministry workers. They will learn the skills to lead these activities and the Bible lessons that correspond with them.

Please pray for these activities—for safety during training and good weather. Pray also for those that will attend and that God will be honored during this event and the future events that will stem from it.

New Year: New Possibilities

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 01:20:00 EST

As we stood in the front yard overlooking the city below, fireworks exploded in the sky, lighting up rooftops for miles out from the hill where we watched. It was pretty impressive. The continuous sound of the cracks and booms echoed against the mountains.

Bundled up tight, pocket video camera in hand, I filmed the spectacle in front of me and smiled. Well, I smiled until someone pointed at five small, orange specks that sailed in line up into the blackness and said "Ooh, look...tracer bullets!" Seriously? Do they not know the saying "what comes up must come down"?

It was then that my mind entered lah-lah land as I considered the eulogy that would explain how I died. I'm sure it would say something about why I had moved overseas only to be taken out by a neighbor's tracer bullet, shot off in celebration of a new year, as it returned from the atmosphere. Random.

After realizing how silly my thoughts were, I sat back and enjoyed the show. As excited as the people are here to ring in a new year, I think our group was even more thrilled to see how God would work in their hearts in 2011. We'll have a long, challenging, and tough year of work ahead of us, but we are ready to dig in and anticipating great things from God. Happy New Year!

Read more at Jenelle's blog.

Prayer rocks in the garden

Wed, 26 May 2010 12:00:00 EST

As a child growing up in the fertile soils of Iowa, I was intrigued with rocks. We just didn't have any. Now, decades later, I tend to carry a pail with me when working in the garden. The harvest of rocks seems to be unending. I have started to use this task as a prayer tool; putting a name to each rock as I reach for it. A name of a lost Albanian whom God desires to bring to salvation. I believe the meals this season will be extra special as we serve the fresh produce of the camp's new "prayer garden" to our prayed over friends.

As for the camp, with the help of our co-workers we have made good progress with several projects. Over the past week we have verified most of the summer schedule for camps, always interesting in this day by day culture. It is however getting easier as people are learning that if they don't reserve their days for camp ahead of time, they will miss out. We are now almost completely booked from June 1 thru the end of August. The few open time frames will likely fill in too. Just today I got an email from a Pastor across the country who wants to bring a group for their 1st time.

It is no wonder to us why so many want to come, we don't cease to be amazed by the beauty of the lush mountains our Lord has us laboring in. It’s a LONG way from Iowa’s flat plains.