VBS CAMP 2017

God’s Hidden Treasures Camp 2017

This summer a team of 8 Californians came to us through The Sending Place mission organization to run a camp for children with disabilities.  We had a fantastic team who were true servants, completely focused on loving these kids with all their hearts this week.

(Left photo, from left to right, we have Rylie, Cindy, Phyllis, Marjorie, Erik, Kim, Grace and Janet)

This was our 14th year of hosting  summer camps and yet this year was truly a unique situation.  For the first time we invited campers from the war-torn East of Ukraine to join us.  It was an amazing outreach to these children and their families who came with them. When they arrived, fresh off of a 15 hour train ride, I witnessed something incredible.   A young girl Anya from the east got out of the van, went right to another girl from Bila Tserkva, who was new this year to camp, introduced herself, and became instant inseparable best friends.   It was so fun to watch these two together all week helping each other wherever they went.

Anya and Lena, instant best friends!!

To add to the uniqueness of this year, we also invited three young sisters from one of the local orphanages Valoshka.  They came from a broken home but were able to become part of a new family this week.  The whole camp of moms were watching out for them and helping their grandmother take care of them.

Phyllis handing out the awards to the three sisters.

God worked powerfully in the lives of these families through this Sending Pace team.  The kids learned about the love of Christ, and how God can carry us through any storm in life.  The week involved daily Bible studies, crafts, worship songs and much more.  Every night the kids had an opportunity to share their talent with the group.  The last talent show of the week was the moms singing songs thanking the American team and the GHT staff for the camp.

While the team has made it home safely back to the USA, we look forward to continuing our ministry to these children.  They are all invited to our annual picnic, and they have been told about our plans to begin church services for people with disabilities at the local CP Center.  Thank you so much for all your prayers for our camp.  One of our campers from the East, Nikita will be having an operation on his leg around the 5th of July, so please keep him in your prayers.

Nikita working on his craft with Epic, oh wait, I mean Erik.

 

God bless and thank you for your prayers

God’s Hidden Treasures