The Week that Was - Remedios' Youth Camp

Youth Camp is a week of living with the enthusiasm, creativity, thirst for knowledge and chaos that defines this age group.  They entered the conference center in groups cheering and waiving their color bandanas. They gracefully dealt with what I consider extreme heat and uncomfortable accommodations but for them is the norm.  They had fun and camaraderie abounded.

Most of the young people who attended camp..  Here we are at Rancho Luna Beach on the last Friday afternoon, the last day of camp.

For me it was time to focus their energy towards spiritual growth.  It requires the ability to touch their imagination with what can be.  To exchange the questions that define me from: what I have, I do, and people think of me towhat is God doing, what is God providing, what does God say of me. We focused on being God’s beloved, on the meaning of surrender and why it is important, and times of reflection to allow God to work in our lives.  All these are difficult concepts for an age group that is in constant movement. But I am not discouraged.  We’ve planted the seed.  They heard the word.  And many responded.  

Oscar checking in with one of the discussion small groups after his teaching

Camp opened on Monday night with the teams walking in displaying their color bandanas.  The idea was taken from the Olympics.

Over the years I’ve seen the growth in many of the young people who have develop a godly sense of purpose towards others, a deepening of their spiritual understanding and a commitment to their Christian beliefs.  I see these demonstrated as they move in a culture that is foreign to these principles. And I am full gratitude for them and the opportunity to participate in the Youth Camp which is supported by you. We will post their stories so you can get to know them and echo what God says about them.

Oscar

Young people with Jesus Ferro, (wearing a black t-shirt) a student at the Baptist Seminary who attended the Camp.   He preached on  Tuesday night.

Remedios' Youth Camp. July 16-21, 2018

  The theme of this year’s youth camp is “Dar y Darse” which is not easy to translate but it means To Give and To Give of Yourself.   We talked about gratitude at camp because without gratitude it is difficult to give of yourself. When we savor every single thing that we have, in the celebration of the life that is, we realize that all we have is a gift from God. When we are aware of all God has given us, during our life and every day, it is hard not to be humbled and pleased to give back.  Gratitude begins in our hearts and changes our behavior.

Young people at camp writing what they are grateful for on a poster at the conference center

The younger teens grateful for the cool water of the beach on a blistering hot day.

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Leonisbel

I grew up going to church. Then, when I became a teenager I followed my non-christians friends out of the church and into a totally different  environment.  Physical exercise was the most important thing in my life followed by work and parties. God was not part of my life.  Then five years ago, at 17, I was diagnosed with an aggressive form leukemia.  Because of my illness I cannot work. Finding the right foods to eat is difficult because food is scarce and what I need usually is not available. Yet, it has been through this illness that I came to better understand God and his purpose for me. I still have to deal with the environment and the friends that led me away from God; but I have a passion to show them how much better life is when we depend on God. This photo was taken when I was baptized.  It was one of the happiest days of my life.

Meet Amanda

Amanda lives in Remedios. She was diagnosed at age 10 with SLE (lupus), an autoimmune disease, and with hemolytic anemia that destroys the red blood cells faster than her body can make them. For her, the future is uncertain because she does not know what tomorrow will bring. She describes herself and her childhood as calm and relxed and is selective about her friends. Through the Baptists Church in Remedios, Pichy (who filmed the video and is an artist) works with her using art as a form of relaxation and expression; and Dr. Olguita provides additional health information for her to deal with her illness. Both give her "aliento" (encouragement, support, inspiration)