Summer camp is our busiest season of the year, as well as our hardest. I always forget how quickly time flies with the intense schedule and everything going on. This year there were many challenges, and each week had its own “catastrophe”: from false positive tests to a stomach bug there was always something that the devil used to try and slow us down, turn us against each other, and stop kids from hearing about Jesus. Each and every single time, God showed up and used that situation to draw us as a staff closer to Him, and brought us all through safely to be able to share His word.
Our theme was “Gold Rush” and we talked a lot about seeking the Real Treasure: Jesus and a relationship with Him. Over 250 campers heard the Gospel clearly and many of them made decisions for Christ – 28 for salvation and 47 for dedication. What an honor it is to be part of the work God is doing in the Czech Republic!
I managed the kitchen for the fourth year and every year I learn new things and improve on my Czech cooking and also my language skills! I was also Mentorship Coordinator this year, making sure that every one of our volunteers had a staff member assigned to meet with them a couple times a week. Discipleship of our volunteers is very important to all of us here and we had great conversations and saw amazing growth through those weekly personal meetings. I had a few girls that have been coming for four or more years now and I was so encouraged to see how much they have matured since they first came.
Bible School Week
A new part of our summer season was a week of Bible School. We want to encourage young people to study God’s Word, and give them the opportunity to learn about what it’s like to study at the Word of Life Bible Institute in Hungary. Two of the resident teachers from Hungary came to teach Proverbs and Bibliology, and they and their wives also taught workshops in the afternoons. There were evening meetings of preaching and encouragement and a fun trip to some local caves as well. We had 13 participants, and most of us staff were also able to join the classes. There are a few who attended who are considering going to the Bible Institute! It was such an encouraging week and we look forward to doing it again next year.
Ministry in the Deaf Community
Right now, I am cooking for the Deaf group that is renting our property this week. It’s been so wonderful to catch up with them and I’ve been working hard to gain back the language I lost while gone. They are having so much fun and learning a lot. There is a ladies’ retreat in October that I will be joining, and I’ll also be taking more classes this fall. I’m really looking forward to that as I will also have the chance to meet others taking the classes!
Local Church Ministry
Two churches have asked us to come and visit their youth groups in September. One of these churches doesn’t have a very strong youth program, but several of the kids that accepted Christ this summer are from their area and they want to be able to minister to them. We are excited for this opportunity to see the kids discipled and see the church grow as they pour into these young people. The other church has a wonderful youth group, and many of our summer volunteers attend. We look forward to seeing them and encouraging the leaders in their ministry.
Thank you for your prayers and support, you are all a vital part of God’s work here in Czech!!
Love in Christ,
Adele
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