Camp Good News 2011
Posted by Ashley Hoover
A couple days after arriving in Honduras Camp Good News started. I was really excited to see what this ministry was like since I've never seen a CGN here in the states. We packed about 90 campers and counselors onto a bus (and that was just the girls, the guys had thier own bus!) and set off for camp. They sang camp songs a good part of the ride which I learned pretty well by the time we came back. My biggest song accomplishment was being able to sing "There's a hole in the bottom of the sea" as fast as they did. :)
This was the 24 year for Camp Good News in Honduras. My sister and I were assigned to a cabin with 6 girls ages 9-14. They were a whole lot of fun to be with. It took a little bit to try to get into the Spanish speaking/hearing groove but the first night of camp they elected me to play the princess in the skit so I couldn't take too long. That was also probably the most out of my comfort zone thing I did during the whole two weeks.
A normal day at camp went like this: (these times are estimates since I didn't really have a watch)
Get up at 4:30am and try to get all four cabins in our building through the one shower by 6:25am. It didn't always work so well but we tried.
6:25am Flag salute and cabin devotions. I got to lead several of our cabin devotions which I really enjoyed.
7:00am Breakfast! We ate a lot of beans, tortillas, bananas and coffee. All the food was really good and I don't think we will have any issues in that department. :) After breakfast half of the cabin washed our dishes and the other half went to make sure the cabin was all cleaned up for inspection.
8:00 We began rotating sessions of four different topics. There was a health class, Bible lesson, another class that varied each day and then our craft project. They made sock puppets as thier craft which ended up being more of a leader project due to the many details.
12:00 Lunch time and wash the dishes again.
1ish was nap time. Seldom did they actually nap but we tried to at least keep them a little quiet.
After nap time there was another Bible lesson and then we went for a hike. The first day's hike we went way up the mountain. It was quite the climb and I caught a couple hikers from taking a spill but the view from the top was worth it. We saw a scorpion on that hike too. During another hike we collected firewood for the bonfires at night. Also in the afternoon we had time for games. During one game we all got covered in mud from crawling under ropes in this mud pit they made. It was a great bonding experience. :)
5:00 We ate supper and washed more dishes.
After supper was the "hour of surprises" where there would be skits by the different cabins related to the theme of the camp. This year it was about the Christian's life and how we should walk by the Spirit and not by what our sinful nature wants. I was impressed with how well that theme was incorporated throughout every aspect of camp. In the Bible lessons, cabin devotions, evening bonfires, even game time and just conversation with the campers it was constantly reinforced.
In the eventings we had a bonfire where we sang songs and one of the leaders would give a devotional. One bonfire we roasted marshmallows and hot dogs.
After the bonfire it was time to have evening cabin devotions and head to bed. Depending on how long those took we would get in bed around 10:30 or later.
They were very long, busy days but it was also a lot of fun. One girl named Gracie in our cabin recieved Christ as her Savior during camp. Several others made professions of faith as well. Many of them come from non-Christian homes so please pray that they would continue to grow in thier faith and be a good witness to thier familes.
I unfortunately don't have any photos from Camp Good News since I was really busy and not really in a position to take many pictures but I do have lots of photos from the second week that I will post.
This was the 24 year for Camp Good News in Honduras. My sister and I were assigned to a cabin with 6 girls ages 9-14. They were a whole lot of fun to be with. It took a little bit to try to get into the Spanish speaking/hearing groove but the first night of camp they elected me to play the princess in the skit so I couldn't take too long. That was also probably the most out of my comfort zone thing I did during the whole two weeks.
A normal day at camp went like this: (these times are estimates since I didn't really have a watch)
Get up at 4:30am and try to get all four cabins in our building through the one shower by 6:25am. It didn't always work so well but we tried.
6:25am Flag salute and cabin devotions. I got to lead several of our cabin devotions which I really enjoyed.
7:00am Breakfast! We ate a lot of beans, tortillas, bananas and coffee. All the food was really good and I don't think we will have any issues in that department. :) After breakfast half of the cabin washed our dishes and the other half went to make sure the cabin was all cleaned up for inspection.
8:00 We began rotating sessions of four different topics. There was a health class, Bible lesson, another class that varied each day and then our craft project. They made sock puppets as thier craft which ended up being more of a leader project due to the many details.
12:00 Lunch time and wash the dishes again.
1ish was nap time. Seldom did they actually nap but we tried to at least keep them a little quiet.
After nap time there was another Bible lesson and then we went for a hike. The first day's hike we went way up the mountain. It was quite the climb and I caught a couple hikers from taking a spill but the view from the top was worth it. We saw a scorpion on that hike too. During another hike we collected firewood for the bonfires at night. Also in the afternoon we had time for games. During one game we all got covered in mud from crawling under ropes in this mud pit they made. It was a great bonding experience. :)
5:00 We ate supper and washed more dishes.
After supper was the "hour of surprises" where there would be skits by the different cabins related to the theme of the camp. This year it was about the Christian's life and how we should walk by the Spirit and not by what our sinful nature wants. I was impressed with how well that theme was incorporated throughout every aspect of camp. In the Bible lessons, cabin devotions, evening bonfires, even game time and just conversation with the campers it was constantly reinforced.
In the eventings we had a bonfire where we sang songs and one of the leaders would give a devotional. One bonfire we roasted marshmallows and hot dogs.
After the bonfire it was time to have evening cabin devotions and head to bed. Depending on how long those took we would get in bed around 10:30 or later.
They were very long, busy days but it was also a lot of fun. One girl named Gracie in our cabin recieved Christ as her Savior during camp. Several others made professions of faith as well. Many of them come from non-Christian homes so please pray that they would continue to grow in thier faith and be a good witness to thier familes.
I unfortunately don't have any photos from Camp Good News since I was really busy and not really in a position to take many pictures but I do have lots of photos from the second week that I will post.
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4 comments:
Such fun kids! And fun times...I think my favorite was getting covered in mud. :D
That was a great synopsis! I'd have to say a siesta would be a highlight of my day, especially with a rise time of 0430! I suppose staff probably stayed busy then too though. Also good to hear the theme was estabilished so well.
That was an interesting list you compiled of things learned there and I'm sure its just scratching the surface. I have found the list format is a bit easier for me to compile then a synopsis becuase each day gets so full and varied!
I can't view the slideshow at the moment, but I hope there are pics from the hike!
Yeah, the 430 rise and shine was really, really early by the end of the week. Especially those nights staff didn't get to bed until 2am!
I like lists as well and it could have been longer but I thought I'd keep it condensed. :)
Sadly, there's no pics of the hike which is probably a good thing. We had a hard enough time keeping the girls from sliding down so not having to worry about a camera was nice.
In the slideshow there are some pictures of the hikes from the second week during Jovenes Con Vision. Not the same mountain, but still a pretty view. :)
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