We are 24 hours into our Mission trip and what a trip it has been already!
We arrived yesterday afternoon and got settled in. We then made our way to the Lynchburg Hill Cats baseball stadium. The kids did a beautiful job singing the National Anthem. We were then able to enjoy the game for a while. The kids seemed to enjoy having the time together and watching the game.
Day 2:
The next morning, we woke up and had an amazing breakfast prepared by our personal chef, Frank Priest. These waffles and bacon/sausage were definitely NOT the frozen kind.
Shortly after, we made our way over to Camp Timothy. This camp is housed at the Westminster Presbyterian Church but is sponsored by the Churches for Urban Ministry. It has been happening every summer for the past 63 years. It began by just 1 person starting something for 8 African American students and has grown to an average of 90 students each summer with a staff of 26. Its federal funding is limited because they refuse to give up the Christian foundation of the program. The Churches for Urban Ministry provides a large portion of the funding. The ACTUAL cost is $650 per child for the 6 weeks. However, through funding, it only costs families $125 per child for the entire 6 weeks! Yes, that's just barely over $20 a week. Did I mention they also serve them a nutritious breakfast and lunch while they are there?
We had the opportunity to join them for their morning "assembly". WOW! If you aren't praising the Lord by the end of that then you should check your pulse. Seriously, there is no way to have a bad day after an experience like that. They kids led prayer, performed skits, reviewed the key words they had learned through the week and sang. No, they didn't sing, they praised GOD and had WORSHIP! Think VBS on steroids!
The kids then split up and went to mingle with the kids in their different classrooms while some kids helped out in the office. We enjoyed a lunch of fish sticks, carrots and applesauce/fruit with them. About 30 minutes later, we performed our concert for them. The kids did another beautiful job. Then.....the staff thanked us by singing for us. It was beautiful. After that song, the kids joined in and there was song, after song, after song. WOW! 2 worship and praise sessions in 1 amazing day. We were all so blessed by this. We definitely got the words to some of the songs so that we can add them to our repertoire.
The sanctuary of the church we sang at. We didn't actually sing in here but it was beautiful.
Work/performance wise, this has been an easy day. Worship wise, it has been a huge blessing. Now the kids are out in groups exploring this beautiful campus of Randolph College. It is old and simply beautiful. We will be enjoying a dinner of tacos prepared by our chef then enjoy a night of challenges, Bible study and all around fun. (We are using a Survivor theme so there are challenges along the way to win immunity (the right to be first in line for the next day). We will also be voting for people that have gone over and above today. There will be no voting people off this island. 😁) Tonight's challenge is a baby food challenge.
