Day 5...One Team; Two Communities

What a wonderful day for these girls who served at the One Camp in Middletown, NY.  From soccer playing, to worship music and dancing, to bible study time, and just fun camp games, we had a blast. As we registered kids, they just kept coming.  We finished the day with around 80 children, with the expectation that we may have more tomorrow.  The day really was just filled with excitement and energy about getting to love others.  We are praying that as the week continues and our physical bodies are prone to get tired, that God will completely supply all that we need in order to fully serve Him.   We would so appreciate your prayers in that as well.  

As we loaded the vans for Newburgh, there was a lot of excitement in the air. As we arrived on location, the children started coming. The girls jumped right in and began conversations and games. It didn't take long until there was a large game of duck duck goose going on while last minute registrations took place. Once camp 'officially' started, there was much dancing, singing, soccer playing, arts and crafts, Bible stories, and fun. At the end of the day, close to 65 kids had joined us for camp. 

We finished the day with a great team dinner and Bible study.

What can I say about this trip, well for one it's changed my life in big ways and small ways, from going from big town, Rockford, IL, to a small town or spending all my time with a bunch of girls. It's incredible. Instead of just looking at a mission trip as simply a mission trip, we've become a family, something that we can grow in. The change is hard, but remembering who I've been and what I've gone through has helped.  God has been teaching me a lot about forgiveness, the ability to forgive myself, by showing me things other girls have been learning over the years. This week has been the hardest, from thinking I was leaving everything behind, to instead just starting a new life and looking at things and people differently, Home is where the heart is, and God has definitely shown me in many ways that my heart is here and that's where it needs to be, and most importantly where I'm supposed to be.

Amanda Jacobs, Freshman