Camp in Misahualli

Despite my best efforts to escape from the rainy days of Shell, it followed me.  March 14th-15th was Camp de Crecimiento (Campaigner`s Camp) for the Pastaza region (Shell and Puyo).  We used a camp near Misahualli, nestled by a river and surrounded by beauty.  It rained as we headed to camp.  It rained during pool time.  It rained all night long.  It rained as we returned to Shell.  The miracle is that right before our time to have a bonfire, the rain stopped.  When the bonfire was over, the rain started up again.  Sometimes I breeze over those small miracles but as I look back, I am reminded that God is into the details.  

 

Camp de Crecimiento is specifically for kids who have made a decision for Christ.  In this weekend away from home and distractions, we remind them that they are not alone on this walk.  We talk about the struggles of living in the world but not of it.  We get together to encourage and lift each other up.  Of course, we also have a lot of fun in the process.   It was especially exciting to see the club directors for Shell and Puyo take the lead and head up this camp.  As YL continues to grow in Ecuador, we see God raising up leaders. 

Can you guess our characters?

13 people in a 9 passenger van

March 21st-22nd was camp for those in Cuenca and Quito.  A team of leaders was sent to help lead and serve at each camp from Pastaza.  I was on the team that went to Cuenca.  An eight hour drive later and surprise, surprise it was raining in Cuenca.  Of course.  

We were in Cuenca a day early to run last minute errands and make the final preparations.  That morning, I read the news that a friend of ours was diagnosed with stage 4 esophageal cancer.  It is a complete shock, not only to myself but to our friend and his family.  His time is measured in months.  He is a faithful servant of the Lord and has made an incredible impact on the lives of teenagers through YL.  My Facebook feed was immediately flooded with comments by mutual friends sharing how their lives have been influenced by his walk with God and their best expression of unity and community.  As I read the posts, I felt like hands were being stretched out to lift this family up.  The sorrow is real, the shock is real, the struggle is real.  But in the words of our friend, ¨The good news is still good news and it`s still the most real reality.¨

Heading into the camp, my mind was a bit distracted.  My heart hurting.  The first talk at camp was about the temptations of the world, the enemy seeking to destroy us, and our fleshly desires.  The enemy will use anything to get us undone.  A broken down car.  Tiredness.  Bad news.  Cancer. 

 

In John 10:10 it states that ¨The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.¨

As we sat around at night and had a time of testimonies at camp, I was so encouraged.  It was that same feeling of hands being stretched out to lift one another up.  We`re a family.  We care about one another.  We walk this path together. 

¨Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?---No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.¨ Romans 8:35, 37-39