On Monday, July 28, 45 participants arrived at our camp, including two from Stellendam and one who previously lived in Stellendam. And also a volunteer went along as a participant.
Everyone is welcome, are you for the first time or for the umpteenth time. As a team of 17 people, including 3 cooks, we want to see everyone and be there for everyone. One female and one male leader form a group with about 7 young people from a variety of cultures. Every morning we have half an hour of quiet time after breakfast. It is then really quiet in and around the place, we always try to give guidance to the keeping of quiet time and personal Bible reading and prayer. Special to see this, so many young people with open Bibles in their own language. They are Dutch youth, refugee youth, Muslims, Christians, atheists.... But there is a lot of respect! The theme is "upside, down." God looks at we humans differently than we look at each other. Where we sometimes "put people out or discard" people, God puts people in.
Then there will be an introduction to Bible study and then break up into groups and Bible study until about a quarter to 12. In the afternoon there is room for relaxation and fun activities. In the evenings there are varying activities, also to get to know each other's culture better. Almost all evenings we end the day at the campfire, so wonderful what happens. Young people dance to the music from their country or just a Dutch song. They sit next to each other, talk to each other, golden!
We work with the Bible studies toward the evening of the cross on Thursday. The cross is the focus then. What does Jesus mean to us? We sang "Yes, God is good, God is good to me" in everyone's own language. Goose bump moment when you hear everyone sing that, especially if you've heard many harrowing and intense stories in that week what young people have been through or are still in. It was rainy in the afternoon and we wanted to go outside, to the cross we had prepared and where we had prayed with some team members. Extraordinary how the light broke through the clouds. "Lord, Your light and love shine, where You are WILL the night disappear". After singing, everyone wrote a bill with a desire, a confession, a question or whatever to nail it to the cross later, so bring it to Jesus and leave it there. Impressive moment when one by one the young people go outside to the cross, nail their bill and sometimes kneel down before the cross. Great when young people get to give their hearts to Jesus there! A lot of stories and emotions come loose. We may then cry together, be happy and pray and give thanks. The highlight of the week!
We end with a fun day, bonte evening with a real three-course meal in your finest attire. Food also always does well that week. Cooks make an effort to provide a hot meal twice a day and also all kinds of food from all kinds of countries. You can see the faces smiling gratefully! Saturday morning we conclude and the young people go home again. Many young people said they felt they had gained an extra family during the week. Of course we have to let go of each other again, but we do so in relaxation: trusting that the Father places new people in their path who will take care of them. And God's Word never comes back empty...sown, God will provide the harvest!
They all got a card to take home with the group photo and where everyone was allowed to write something. I see all happy faces and I am sure many have the card hanging above their bed and smile again when they see this!
I am grateful that I get to be a leader at such a week and see God working there right in front of me! A boost for my own faith life. It costs me nothing, it only brings me very beautiful things.
Thank you for sponsoring and praying with us!!! I gladly recommend the work of the Gave Foundation to you. Is your interest piqued? Every year they are still looking for leaders? So feel free to sign up!
Mieke Korpershoek
