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| Easter Camp 2009 |
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Tuesday 7th April 2009, the day had finally arrived, after all the planning, praying and fundraising. A team of eighteen students with a passion for sharing Gods word set off to Warsaw. "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed"
This was such an encouragement to us, as some of these children, were so enthusiastic to tell us their favourite bible verses and sing. This was the beginning of our work with these children, and from the very beginning, we were blessed. We also had the opportunity to have a ‘Northern Ireland V Poland’ football and basketball match, which obviously both our team and the kids loved.
Before we left, we had to prepare 50 bags of food, things like flour, sugar, cheese where included. This was a very different experience to what we are all used to. However, it was amazing to see the crowds of people who were gathering in this room, to sing and listen to Gods word. Our team also has the opportunity to share in testimony of what God has done in our lives and sing songs. As the camp drew to a beginning, we met the Polish leaders, and also a true blessing of a family from Nashville, Ted, Beverly and Megan Holmes. Throughout the days of camp we formed a friendship and a bond with the Holmes family. During the week, we had organised many different activities for the children. Workshops included Cookery, Arts & Crafts, Bible, Dance, Surprise, Outdoor activities, Sport, Cupstacking, English, Music. The theme we chose for the morning meetings was Joseph. We went through the life of Joseph, and different lessons we should learn from his life. In the evening meetings, we talked about the wordless book, the children also made wordless book bracelets in the surprise workshop. Our workshops enabled us to form a relationship and a connection with these kids. Some of the dance workshop taught us a dance to the hillsong worship song ‘Tell the World that Jesus lives’. This was our theme throughout the whole mission.
And all I want in this lifetime is You Tell the world that Jesus lives No longer I but Christ in me C'mon, c'mon we'll tell the world about You The kids loved this dance, and at the end of the camp it was amazing to see everyone dance and sing along.
We also had two special guests at camp, two puppets Yola and Thomas. The children loved the excitement of this. We used the puppets to talk about bible verses and sing songs in which the children could join in. we also brought two huge costumes along that where sometimes included in the meetings. On Friday, Saturday and Tuesday after the children got an opportunity to go to the local swimming pool, where we either played sports or went swimming. The children where full of energy and really had fun playing and having fun (as did the Northern Ireland team haha!) On Tuesday the camp came to an end, this was a very emotional time for everyone as we had formed relationships and now where going our separate ways, we didn’t know what they where going back to but the reaction of the children leaving was heartbreaking. This camp really touched the team and meeting these children was an encouragement to us all. On Wednesday we woke up to silence, something which we hadn’t had for a while. But there was no time for resting, the next two days where spent at a school in Warsaw for 16-19 year olds, Dorota Hury is the maths teacher in this school. We went to the school as native English speakers to help the children with their English studies. This was a great opportunity to witness to the children. After camp we all had a chance to help Henryk with food drops, this was a time that everyone was shocked by. We thought we understood the poverty these children lived in but until we seen it first hand it didn’t truly affect us. All in all, out time in Poland was a truly amazing experience that will not be forgotten. The aim of the camp was to show the children of Poland the love of God and we pray that children will come to understand what God has done for them, and put their trust in him.
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This really grabbed the kids attention, as sometimes they were funny illustrations, however, they had a deeper meaning of the gospel. We also thought, instead of a couple of people standing up each meeting and giving their testimonies, with them having to be translated, we would try ‘cardboard testimonies’. On a piece of cardboard, we got translated what our lives were like before we became a Christian, then on the other side, what our lives are like now we have Christ in our lives. 
