Niao Song camp has started - by Josh Brown

Oh, hello there. The last time this blog saw you, we were 2 days away from the start of the first English camp, and all doing fine. Well, we’re now 2 days in, and I’m happy to report that we are indeed still doing fine though maybe a little more tired. From last year there are a few things that I have totally forgotten about. First and foremost is the driving. I am not really sure how there isn’t an accident every other 10 seconds, but somehow they do it. Anyway on to more pressing matters, our camp! This camp has really been different than the ones that we were at last year. This group of coworkers has not really ever done this before, so we’re the ones with the experience. It’s been a really interesting experience because that leads to these workers looking up to us, asking questions, and really following our lead. It’s a really unique experience for me, getting to know people on the other side of the world that I would have never met before had it not been for Christ. How many times does a person travel to the other side of the world, meet random people who can barely even speak the same language, and then form a unique relationship with those people, listen to their problems, and share their lives with them? That is the power of the Body of Christ. Being such a new group, there have been problems here and there. Some of the scheduling hasn’t worked out, some of the events went a little rough. Yesterday, for instance, we were planning on having a huge water balloon fight with the kids; we filled up tons and tons of them in preparation. However things ran on a little long and before we knew it the kid’s parents were ready to pick them up. So a number of water balloons that were meant for ninety some kids ended up being used just between us and our co-workers. That may have been the best water balloon fight I’ve ever been involved in. We did also end up having a water balloon fight this afternoon also for the kids, and it worked out wonderfully. A verse that really sums everything up is Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” I guess finally I should probably give a team update. Chuck’s first. He’s an old man, and as such his hips and knees are giving out. Johnny doesn’t understand the word “old” and eats too much. Andrew has a wonderful grasp of Mandarin Chinese, his vocabulary is at about 20 words now. Claire and Andrew are eating like champs. Gina’s a little on the depressed side. That’s because she didn’t get to be on my team this week. (She just can’t function without me, you know how it is.) Finally as for myself, I have blisters all over my feet because I decided it would be a good idea to play basketball with no shoes on in the middle of the day on an outdoor blacktop court. Well, see y’all later. Thanks for stopping by! - Josh Brown