The Come Down

After the long trip and the check out of the hotel we sit and relax waiting to get home. As much as we would all wanna stay and had a good time we just wanna get on the plane and go home. It's been a long and wonderful week with the kids and camp in the Bahamas, one we'll remember. We look forward to getting back to the states and being in home sweet home.

Heading Home...Maybe?!

Wow. Would have liked to have a few more posts for this week. Everyone was so busy and having a blast. Sorry about that. Per Delta as of 11am, our flight has been delayed to depart at 3:50pm. We will see how the day unfolds. Hey another day in the Bahamas?!  Right now we are waiting on our bus to the airport. More to come. Later.

Just arrived!!

We have just arrived in Nassau!! After a quick 2 hour flight we are riding on a bus towards the Bahamas Youth Camp, hoping to find some food soon.

- Emily

The Bahamas Beginning

As we all sat in the airport waiting to board, we made sure to get our coffee and get refreshed. 5 am? Nothing with coffee in your system! We were ready! We sit waiting looking at our beautiful view of the airstrip with carts going across. One of them possibly with our luggage! The luggage that shall accompany us on this trip to the Bahamas for swamp! A experience that will be more then just swamp, swamp around the world! We were ready with smiles on our faces and excitement for the week ahead.

Fantastico Semana!

What a fantastic week! As we are waiting in line at passport control I can't help but reflect on our time here:  the campers said it was the best family feel yet, the counsellors loved the campers tirelessly and wholeheartedly, the volunteers jumped into their roles as if it came natural, and Samuel and Shirley led confidently. They are ready!

We are now making plans to have a team come to The Swamp next summer; another chance to taste and drink the camp culture and to see our dear friends.

Can't wait to see you parents; again very grateful for your support and trust to let them change the world one camp at a time. See you in the morning! Bom noche. Jeff

Seeing Rio

In just a minute we will take off to hike a small mountain called Sugarloaf. From there we will take a cable car to another mountain and see a great view of the city. Fun!

O final 😣

Year 3 of Camp Swamp in Brasil was a SUCCESS! But, with sad hearts, we have to pack our bags and head back home. There are no words I could say to possibly express how great of an impact this adventure has had on my heart. The fact that we only spent about 5 days at camp, and being able to see the impact that it had on both myself and so many of the other counsellors, campers, and staff there, goes to show how powerful our God is. And because the God we serve has no limits, we have officially completed year 3 of bringing the Swamp to Brazil!  The camp is now completely the Brazilians', and I have no doubt in my mind that it will only continue to grow and change more and more people's lives as time goes on.

I have had an amazing time here, to say the least. Watching my campers in Girls' 2 laugh at me for trying to speak to them in Portuguese, learning how to properly Samba, and trying foods I don't know the names of are just a few of the awesome memories that I'll take back home with me. We're going to spend tomorrow in Rio and then we'll be on our way home! I'll miss this beautiful place, but, as Jeff said, "we may not be here, but [the Brazilians] will be with us wherever we go."  -Abby

Eight Legs Dancing with Girls 1!

It's crazy to think today is the last full day of camp- it's gone by so fast. Last night, we had our fiesta which wiped out all the campers, so we slept well! Girls 1 had a little adventure of their own at the dance party. During the middle of it, we stopped to read love letters. Two letters in, we hear screaming because there was a giant, tarantula-like-spider. It was huge and gross!! Half of my cabin was scared to death and crying when the lights went out for the party to start again. One poor girl Nicole has a phobia of spiders, so she had to be carried back to the cabin. Needless to say, last night was an adventure. Other than the spider, we have had a blast out here and are looking forward to an EPIC last day! Now off to clean the cabins! 

-Rebecca 

Bom Dia!

It is now the 3rd full day of Swamp in Brazil, and I have learned more Portuguese and gotten better at my sign language quicker than any Duolingo or Rosetta Stone could have taught me! It is amazing to see how the camp here has the same heart of camp as the Swamp back home, but the people have made it their own with their beautiful, animated culture. I have had the best time getting to know my brothers and sisters here, and I am continually in awe of God's love and how it goes above and beyond any skin color, language, etc. His love is blind, and I see that so clearly here each day through the Brazilians, who are all so diverse, yet love each other so much and love me despite the fact that I usually don't understand what they're saying. I only have two days left, but I'm going to continue soaking it up as much as I can and trying foods with names I don't know. Tchau for now! -Abby 

Adventure awaits in Brazil

The Brazilians speak Portuguese and we speak English but friendship speaks all languages. No matter what language you speak you can always make a friend. I know these friendships are going to last a lifetime. I've met so many new people! We danced we sang and we played swamp ball together. Through this amazing week I have made some amazing bonds with campers in other cabins and even with the workers. I know I'm going to miss the new friendships I've made but it's been so much fun to get to know them. This trip has been an adventure you don't want to pass up and I'm so grateful I got the chance to do this!