Amanda, the camp director, took a few minutes out of her busy summer schedule to give us an update from Lil' BlueSky, the day camp for 4-7 year olds that took place this week. You'll want to make sure to read it all because there is a very sweet story about how the Lord was at work in one little guy's heart.
Little BlueSky has been awesome! The first few kids who arrived on Wednesday were a bit timid and shy, but pretty soon some super excited 5 year olds ran up to our registration table chattering about
everything and hopping around excitedly and uncontrollably. We got them started with side walk chalk where thy drew all sorts of imagined creatures including narwhals, pirate ships, and camouflage whales who turn into dragons. I knew right away Little BlueSky would be different than our typical camp weeks.
We took them through introductions and a short session of camp rules (it’s really just two rules: stay together and “when the hand goes up, the mouth goes shut”). We did lots of Camp BlueSky activities: skills like archery, kickball, wiffle ball, frisbee; the BlueSky Avenger made a special appearance and told us about the cheetah and where he was hiding, sprout ball, arts and crafts, and field Olympics. These younger children loved every minute of camp. Some of them have older siblings who have been coming to camp for a while and already know so much. It feels like we are doing something special when some of the children already know the songs and some of the traditions. Camp is very important to many families here.
We are also using the same camp theme, “Rescue.” We have adapted our devotion guide to suite our young audience and to tell the message of God and His Bible in just three short morning devotions, focusing on Creation, the story of Jonah, and Jesus.
This week Tyler, one of our counselors and new full time student ministry workers has particularly bonded with 4-year-old Liban. None of us have met Liban or his family prior to him registering for Little BlueSky. Liban loves Tyler. Each day during arts and crafts Liban’s picture has 2 characters, one is Liban and one is Tyler. You won’t find one without the other. Today after all the camp activities were finished Tyler was chatting with Liban while they were drawing for arts and crafts. Today’s art assignment was to draw a big fish and decorate it. Tyler was going over the story with Liban when Liban asked, “Is God the same thing as Heaven?” Tyler explained as best he could that God lives in Heaven and that Heaven is a place while God is a being. Then Tyler asked if Liban had ever heard about God. Liban answered he hadn’t really ever heard anyone talk about God. Liban said the first time he had heard anything about God was yesterday when Lexi told the story about creation. Liban went on to recall the creation story and the story of Jonah with amazing accuracy. He even said, “Jonah was in the fish and God rescued Jonah, and God wants to be our friend.” We were all so encouraged and amazed that not only had Liban never heard, but that he heard and understood the stories so beautifully.
There have been several little miracles like this in the past two days at Little BlueSky. We are so thankful that this program went so well. Please continue to pray for these young hearts and the ministry of Camp BlueSky.
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