You're a Star

in order from left to right: Olivia Anderson, Jonell Campbell, Alanis Espinosa. 

We are all from cabin three at Jam Camp and are enjoying every single moment!!!! Today as JamCampers 2012 we made history by having our very first bonfire.

It was like a hot sauna but it was fun. We have learned that no matter where you are from, we are all unified in God. He is the one who brings us all together from all around the world. It's only the second day of camp and we have learned so much and made many new and strong relationships with one another. That's what camp does and we are forever grateful for that. During the starlight devotion we all gathered together under the stars learning about how small and yet significant we are to God. Can you guys just imagine how big the universe may be but yet still God took the time to create us individually in His own image. Do you still wonder if you're special? Still wondering? Well you are.  

camp is the best

This is my first time & I LOVE IT!

Alexis

and this is my first time counseling and i loooove it!!!!!!!

Rachel

cabin cleanliness

(insert southern accent here) Hey Ya'll!!

So today is day 2 of JamCamp 2012, home of the "Swamp Olympics", you should see our banner it's pretty awesome -per Jeff picture coming in a soon-to-be post ;). Right now out on the field now all manner of games are underway, so i've chosen now to do the sneakiness called cabin judging muhahaha ;). i must say initially i was having kittens about judging the girls cabins, it really wasn't so bad. For the most part the girls did a great job of putting their stuff away and cleaning the floors. i do confess some of them did weasel their way into my heart by being creative in how the tidied their spaces and used what was available to em to give the best impression. What i did learn (actually learning as i write :), is that cabin cleanliness really is a team sport. It's about being unified as one, working as a unit the same goal in mind; doing as the scriptures say "aiming to show each other as perfect". If you don't do your part and don't look out for your cabin mates then its quite likely that something won't be done or someone will miss something and for that your cabin will lose points. So in effect cabin cleanliness is not about you. Its about all of you. I guess that's a lesson for us all, we should carry our own loads, but we must also carry each others burdens. 

- Dion

JamCamp is on!!!

Well, all the Jamaican campers are here and this picture is the beginning of everyone doing the Cupid Shuffle spontaneously after dinner and dodge ball, of course. We are so glad to be here.

We had a super service with Montego Bay Christian Church and then they made us lunch as we hung out at the beach.  We then took a bus three hours to the camp; up and down some little winding roads.  Wahoo! What an adventure.  We got here about 5pm Sunday and had some great time hanging, training, and getting to know each other (the Jamaican counselors were with us).  There was a miscommunication and so we had no dinner--we thought the staff here was going to have dinner for us--and didn't know how to get any because there was no transportation; Mark & Diedre and the rest of the Jamaican volunteers were not to arrive until later that evening.  So proud of the kids, not once did they complain or get antsy about how they were going to eat. We just kept saying we may have a fast for camp. After the Jamaicans arrived, four people (two of which were Tim & Lacy) drove to the nearest town (back down the windy roads) to a KFC and got us some food.  We ate around 10pm.  Amen!  I think the small KFC was taken back when we ordered food for 40 people. We cleaned them out!

The Jamaican campers arrived today around 11:30AM, and it has been electrifying ever since.  So great to see them again.  Many new faces this year as there are 35 more kids than last year.  Wow!  The word is spreading.  Mark just spoke after showing us a clip from Facing the Giants--the scene called the Death Crawl where the football player crawls 100 yards carrying another player on his back; he challenged us to know that with God we can do more than we can imagine.  He said who would have imagined there would be a camp here and now look: we have people from Brazil here and we've gone to Barbados and South Africa!  He used the word "we"…wow, he really gets that we are worldwide family!  How cool!

Everyone is safe and happy!  Continue the prayers!

Much love, Jeff

Encouragement Dates...Free Ocean on Me

We are finally here!! Our flight was awesome since we didn't have to stop in Miami first! We aren't in our usual hotel, but we love it here! We are right on the beach! And the water is so clear (and salty) All the locals think we are crazy, which is probably true! We watched the beautiful sunset and we are eating right on the beach! It's been like a mini vacation!! Tomorrow camp starts and we are so excited!! It's weird because we have had the amazing opportunity to watch this amazing dream take off and now this is the last year , so it will be bittersweet but an amazing last year here in Jamaica Mon. -Kati and McCall

Eating on Saturday

Eating at the twisted kilt with a awesome view of the sunset. :D its going to be great -Alex P. from Athens

BimCamp

Man BimCamp was amazing!! It really will change your life and change the kids life. The kids are always so happy to see you and they love to play with you and just have fun. You will not want to leave and plus it just gives you a chance to meet new people and learn about different people and how they live. So my advice is just go and see how much fun you can have. 

-Anthony Hansen 

I Am A Bajan... I Am A Bajan

I am still pumped from last night's 2 hour dance party Haha. I learned so much more than I ever thought I would. Last year was fun, but this year was so much better. Let's just say that the Bajans KNOW how to have fun. I learned how to speak like a Bajan and I think its pretty much unanimous to everyone in Barbados that I am officially fluent... I'm pretty much a pure bred Bajan. It was so great to see everyone again and to see how the camp last year had such a big impact on the kids. I love my Bajans and will miss them so much but I am so excited to be going home. I can't wait to see ny mommy and daddy. Ducessss!!!!! (:

--Ali Lynn

BimCamp

Man BimCamp was amazing!! It really will change your life and change the kids life. The kids are always so happy to see you and they love to play with you and just have fun. You will not want to leave and plus it just gives you a chance to meet new people and learn about different people and how they live. So my advice is just go and see how much fun you can have. -Anthony Hansen

Tommy's Blog

We are all sitting in the Barbados airport waiting to board the plane!!! The week at BimCamp was amazing, we all had an amazing time. I realized how important Swamp was to me, and how it has helped me evolve as a teen disciple. I also really enjoyed seeing everyone connect and enjoy being together as a family, so to speak. The Swamp always leaves everyone pumped, and this time I am really excited to leave the little world we created and bring it to school, and the rest of the world. -Tommy Perkins (and Kalyn and Adam and Jordan and Jordan and Austin and most of Ashlyn and David's hand)