7/9 Reflections on the Middle Two Days of Camp

July 8-9

Mark 8: 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.

The middle two days are also known as STM (our team) busy days. We have a schedule of all the day’s activities, along with who’s responsible for doing it and yesterday’s read: “STM, STM, STM”. Needless to say, we had pretty hectic and busy days. However, it was a lot more rewarding than tiring. We were able to share testimonies and show God’s love to the students in many ways. We were also finally able to break our no-Chinese policy and actively communicate with the students. The scheduled activities for these two days consisted of “station games”, skits, and “sing and play”. Station games consisted of each STM member leading a station where English was required to complete the station. To add to the entertainment value, both Sheen and Jason dressed up, Sheen as a “cute” (according to the girls) clown, and Jason as superman. There were also two skits, one about the prodigal son and the other about Lazarus being raised from the dead. Sing and games consisted of us singing Christian children songs with fun energetic actions and the students playing along with us. We really experienced the blessings of God these couple of days in being able to share God’s love. As we served and taught these students, we in turn learned numerous lessons about the character of God. In these remote villages, it’s hard for the people to be Christians. We’re here teaching the students to go on a counter-cultural journey, to go against everything they’ve been taught, and follow the love of Jesus Christ. In making a decision to follow what a bunch of students from America and a university, they will “lose” their life as they know it. They will almost definitely face harshness from their family or friends. Possibly risk getting thrown out of the house or beaten, but even with this understanding, we hope they may make this life changing decision. Upon reflection of what we’re asking them to do, we also see things in ourselves that are hypocritical. Our constant unwillingness to let go of simple Earthly things for a much better tradeoff and our refusal to submit fully to God’s will seems foolish in light of eternity. Things are so much easier when it’s someone else who has to do it, yet, the message we speak of applies to all. I pray to God that we may not be one “who wants to save his life”, but instead, unconditional, complete followers of God. What do we have to do to accomplish this, the Bible says so very clearly that we must “lose” our “lives for [Him] and for the gospel.”