“KINGDOM QUEST” Summer Camp 2011

Up, down, up, down, went the flying top. The one that stays the longest at the ceiling wins the game. They do this several times. His toothless grin shows every time he’s winning. Nobody is giving up. Not until the top broke that the game stops.A lot of times we give up on ourselves, on other people, or on children.But God does not.

Pursuing and chasing kids for the kingdom of God, Camp Sonshine finished its 12^th year of summer camp with this year’s theme Kingdom Quest. Indeed God’s hand was upon this endeavor as 1,200 kids from all walks of life joined the camp coming from nine locations.

Every time a child registers his or her name for the camp, it’s like registering that child’s name in the Book of Life.

The two and a half days camp was filled with fun memories. There was eagerness and anticipation from the campers as they watch the skit unraveled day after day. Persistence, teamwork and unity were displayed during the games. Creativity and ingenuity was discovered with the stroke of a crayon during craft time. Sincerity, gratefulness, faith sprang forth during praise and worship. Values such as service to God, forgiveness and value as a person were imparted to through object lessons. Never been a verse rang so true as this one: “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it”. (Prov. 22:6)

Just as a treasure hunter sets his pursuit to find a treasure of great worth, so does God

persistently reaches out to children to come to Him and that He loves them more than they could ever imagine. Many of these kids are hurt, broken, indifferent and neglected. But as the Holy Spirit touches and moves the heart of these children there was unexplainable joy, unequaled cries and outpouring of tears.

Another 12 years from now, no one knows what will happen to the lives of these children. But one thing they have learned is that God has a wonderful plan in their lives.

As the verse from Jer.29:11 states: “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future”. All we can do is trust the Lord that He will lead their paths in the right direction.

By: Feb Janay (she volunteered as full time counselor for the summer)