I was extremely blessed by our Akina Kids Camps in Wisconsin this year. I had the privilege of teaching the girls camp, and Dan was able to teach the boys. One of my favorite things we did was a throw back to my Ft. Myers Master's Commission Days. We talked about the woman who poured her perfume at the feet of Jesus. This story alone is super powerful considering where some of the kids come from. They deal with shame on a level I may never know. Then, we gave them time in small groups to write down all of their pain, shame, and sin on post-it notes which they placed in small, cardboard boxes. At the last lesson, as the students were given the opportunity to accept Christ, they were able to burn their boxes. This was a way to symbolically offer their brokenness to Christ, and joyfully embrace the start of a new life!
I was amazed how much the kids wrote things down, and opened up about their lives. God was so faithful, and when the time came to burn their boxes, it was a thoughtful and anointed time. I am so excited to see how the Lord will continue his healing work through Akina Kids club this year. What a blessing we have to remain in the community and keep telling these world changing kiddos about the love of Christ!
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Thursday, August 31, 2017
O Canada!
Hello Partners!
We have had an amazing summer. One of our most epic I think. But of the highlights was our big trip to that strange, far away country of Canada. Okay, so it really isn't that strange (although they have ketchup flavored chips and chocolate smarties), and it was only marginally far away compared to say, Australia. But it was life changing on many levels.
We were invited to speak at Eagle Lake Bible Camp in Ontario during their "White Dog" week. They had only read about us, and we had never met them. The camp sounded interesting as they bussed in kiddos nearly three hours from the White Dog reserve to minister to them for the week. The reserve is so secluded the only access is a one way road across a huge dam!
Our hearts are definitely for Native youth, but we have never written curriculum or even thought about teaching at a week long camp, but we felt God nudging us in that direction. The message God gave us was about restoration, while presenting a clear message of the Gospel through story telling and pictures. Writing the curriculum was fun and a great way for Dan and I to work together.
Eagle Lake Bible Camp was a beautiful place filled with amazing, committed believers who truly loved God. The kids from the reserve were amazing too. Many had stories that would break your heart. It was great to see them respond to God's message of healing and restoration for them. There were reports from many cabins of kids asking honest and thought provoking questions, and requesting Bibles.
So much happened during this week that I can't nearly write it all. I will try to add more details later. Until then, please pray for the White Dog reserve. It sounded like they did not have an active church on the reserve. Pray that God will finish this work of healing restoration in their lives.
We have had an amazing summer. One of our most epic I think. But of the highlights was our big trip to that strange, far away country of Canada. Okay, so it really isn't that strange (although they have ketchup flavored chips and chocolate smarties), and it was only marginally far away compared to say, Australia. But it was life changing on many levels.
We were invited to speak at Eagle Lake Bible Camp in Ontario during their "White Dog" week. They had only read about us, and we had never met them. The camp sounded interesting as they bussed in kiddos nearly three hours from the White Dog reserve to minister to them for the week. The reserve is so secluded the only access is a one way road across a huge dam!
Our hearts are definitely for Native youth, but we have never written curriculum or even thought about teaching at a week long camp, but we felt God nudging us in that direction. The message God gave us was about restoration, while presenting a clear message of the Gospel through story telling and pictures. Writing the curriculum was fun and a great way for Dan and I to work together.
Eagle Lake Bible Camp was a beautiful place filled with amazing, committed believers who truly loved God. The kids from the reserve were amazing too. Many had stories that would break your heart. It was great to see them respond to God's message of healing and restoration for them. There were reports from many cabins of kids asking honest and thought provoking questions, and requesting Bibles.
So much happened during this week that I can't nearly write it all. I will try to add more details later. Until then, please pray for the White Dog reserve. It sounded like they did not have an active church on the reserve. Pray that God will finish this work of healing restoration in their lives.
Monday, July 10, 2017
Hi Friends,
Wow! It is already well into summer and we have been hard at work prepping for our upcoming events. We've been writing curriculum for our upcoming camps, and our theme is "restoration." We know that the Lord wants to heal and restore the wonderful children we work with. We want to introduce them to Jesus, who loves them, and took their sin and shame!
We just went down to Little Earth and had an amazing time registering kids for camp. It was great to connect with them again. Plus, nearly everyone was home (even the people who had moved out) which is miraculous, if you ask me! We also were able to fill our ten scholarship spots for a sports camp happening at Emmanuel Christian Center in a few weeks, which was also an answer to prayer. We are very excited for these upcoming events. Please continue to pray for us and our family, as well as the community. God is faithful, and he is doing great things!
Wow! It is already well into summer and we have been hard at work prepping for our upcoming events. We've been writing curriculum for our upcoming camps, and our theme is "restoration." We know that the Lord wants to heal and restore the wonderful children we work with. We want to introduce them to Jesus, who loves them, and took their sin and shame!
We just went down to Little Earth and had an amazing time registering kids for camp. It was great to connect with them again. Plus, nearly everyone was home (even the people who had moved out) which is miraculous, if you ask me! We also were able to fill our ten scholarship spots for a sports camp happening at Emmanuel Christian Center in a few weeks, which was also an answer to prayer. We are very excited for these upcoming events. Please continue to pray for us and our family, as well as the community. God is faithful, and he is doing great things!
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