Youth Camp 2014 Sunday

Day 1 Sunday – And they’re off

The SHBC youth adventure team left the parking lot bound for points north and west.  A mere 2-1/2  hours (and 20 miles out of cell phone coverage) later the SHBC caravan of a 55 passenger bus and three support vehicles  converged with another bus and 15 cars for the final 8 miles of hills and dirt on a one lane track. After eating dust for 30 minutes we arrived at the camp check-in.  The bus was quickly emptied of students and their voluminous gear with everyone looking for the closest shade tree. 

Students met their camp staff leaders who kicked off some get-to-know-you games.  The kids picked these up quick, the sponsors – not so much.  One particularly interesting game involved competitive screaming and in the junior-senior high group, you guessed it, a parent won.  The old guy has got a set of lungs.

Next the group met for the kickoff praise and worship.  Our speaker for the week did a two minute summary of last year’s lessons in Genesis then picked up where we left off and introduced the theme for 2014.  We were all designated Children of Israel and headed to the Mine for traditional Egyptian food and a skit by the camp staff depicting the death of Pharaoh.  Our camp pastor explained how things changed for the children of Israel with that event and what they (and we as designated Israelites) would have to endure.  The leaders then marched the students to toil in the brickyards where they have to scrape together dirt, rocks and straw to prepare their bricks.  The sessions ended with sharing about who God is and what he means to us in good times and bad.

Students had free time until lights out which they used for games, snacks, and talking, and talking, and talking…  Sponsors retired to the camp lounge for some well-deserved soft drinks and Wi-Fi.  Good night for now, breakfast is at 8