I promised, now I will deliver, and finally answer what we did in India.
It has been about 110 days since we have returned, and, still, I miss it every day. I miss the people and the amazing example that they set of joy and hospitality. I miss the culture and the colors. I miss doing something everyday that completely was within the strengths that God gave me.
While we were in India we ran camp. We were asked to come along on the trip because a need was identified that the children of the Irula Colony needed to know that they are loved and created by God and adopted as heirs into His family.
As the people who were brought in from SpringHill, we programmed the week in the style of one of the day camps we run in the states. We themed each day, planned crafts, Bible stories and games. We trained the team on debriefing, songs, and small group team building. We invited the village, paid their wages so the adults could attend too, and we prayed . . . a lot.
Before we left, we heard a lot of "Well, you could try that, but be ready to change your plans", and so we were ready. We had plans and back-up plans and they changed on a daily basis during the week.
We split the 100 or so people who showed up for our program into 5 color teams (Blue, Red, Yellow, Green, and Purple) and we divided our GCC team and ourselves up onto those teams as well.
God used the programming in ways we couldn't have imagined. He engaged a village through our activities, crafts and Bible study times. We watched 86 year olds engage in what we were doing with the same enthusiasm as the six year olds and no one who experienced that week will ever be the same.
Because an entire village was engaged, we know the impact of the week of camp will last longer. Whole families were impacted by the Gospel. If you think of our trip to India, please take a moment to pray for the missionaries who are planted in the colony, that they, through God's grace, would be able to continue to the share the Gospel to this group of precious people.
If you haven't seen the video of our trip yet, please check out this link to see our trip in action.
It has been about 110 days since we have returned, and, still, I miss it every day. I miss the people and the amazing example that they set of joy and hospitality. I miss the culture and the colors. I miss doing something everyday that completely was within the strengths that God gave me.
While we were in India we ran camp. We were asked to come along on the trip because a need was identified that the children of the Irula Colony needed to know that they are loved and created by God and adopted as heirs into His family.
As the people who were brought in from SpringHill, we programmed the week in the style of one of the day camps we run in the states. We themed each day, planned crafts, Bible stories and games. We trained the team on debriefing, songs, and small group team building. We invited the village, paid their wages so the adults could attend too, and we prayed . . . a lot.
Before we left, we heard a lot of "Well, you could try that, but be ready to change your plans", and so we were ready. We had plans and back-up plans and they changed on a daily basis during the week.
God used the programming in ways we couldn't have imagined. He engaged a village through our activities, crafts and Bible study times. We watched 86 year olds engage in what we were doing with the same enthusiasm as the six year olds and no one who experienced that week will ever be the same.
Because an entire village was engaged, we know the impact of the week of camp will last longer. Whole families were impacted by the Gospel. If you think of our trip to India, please take a moment to pray for the missionaries who are planted in the colony, that they, through God's grace, would be able to continue to the share the Gospel to this group of precious people.
If you haven't seen the video of our trip yet, please check out this link to see our trip in action.
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