The last two days have been times of breakthroughs and celebrations.

We have celebrated some major breakthroughs during the last full day of activities. Check out these pictures.

And after all of that fun, last night we had our camp fire. Due to official camp fire ritual regulations we cannot disclose photographs but what we can say is that we made it rain, we sang songs and best of all we are going to be baptizing about 10 brand new baby Christians!!!!. Whew!

We are only an hour or so away from the bus coming to pick us up. We can’t wait to get home where we can get some rest. Thanks to all of you who have followed us on this blog, who have covered us in prayer and who have sent and or sponsored campers. May G-d bless you and keep you moving forward and only forward.

Pastor James, Ms. Jenn, and the the entire Summer Camp 2011 Team!

P.S.
If you enjoyed the camp video shows, leave a reply. We just might make the 5 video shows available on DVD, so that you can enjoy the week of camp for many years to come.
PJK

he, he, he, he, the plan is working, he, he, he, they are wearing down! The counselors are victorious once again.

Today is Thursday! The entire camp team thanks you so much for helping us get through the toughest day of the week. Your messages on the blog were the hit of the night. Campers who thought that they had been forgotten received messages and let me tell you they were all smiles.

Thanks Ms. B for the shout out! I'm all smiles and giggles. Oh wait, I'm always smiles and giggles LOL

And for those of you did not see the video from last night’s leadership meeting, I need you to know that I have not found my mustache, however; there are a few prime suspects that the camp CSI team is processing right now! We should have the culprit in custody at any time now. Here are two mug shots.

I didn't do it, I've always had a mustache!

"What had happened was, may Daddy forgot to pack my razor. What's up with that?"

Enjoy these pictures of your favorite campers! Pastor James

Ms. Jenn isn't giving away camp points. They just love her like that!

I make Summer Camp look good!

Can I get my learner's permit on this?

"Git along little doggies!"

" I got this, one hand in front of the other."

"I can't believe we both missed our mouths by this much!"

Ahhh, this is the life!

Sometimes the simple rides are the best rides! The Merry-Go-Round!

"I am Robin Hood"

Chillin' on the Monkey Bars

Today’s blog entry is a combination of days one and two. I know, you are saying how can you show us pictures from day 2 when it just started? Well, the blog entries are posted one day later. We are actually experiencing day three!

It's just so cute! There will be a surprise in my suitcase on Friday

So, here is the real point of today’s blog; Wednesday is usually the hardest day of camp for most of our younger and first-time campers. little things like feeling homesick, missing family pets and parents start to kick in. Your messages have been a bright spot in many of our camper’s days. With that said, I need you to let all of the Camp Parents know that they need to visit the blog, and send a message of encouragement to their camper.

Now this is a "necklace!"

That's What Friends Are For…keep you company at the "Giant Swing."

I’m going to be just a tiny bit creative with today’s entry-rather than post a bunch of pictures, I’m going to link you to the two evening slide shows that your campers have enjoyed. I hope that you do as well.

Day 1 Camp video Show

Day 2 Video Show Link

Also a few of our campers have sent some messages home. You can click on their pictures to hear their messages!

Don’t forget, click on the camper to hear their message to home! Enjoy. Pastor James

Hear Kennedy's Message To Home

Tiffany's Message To Home

Evan's Message To Home

Kyle's Message To Home

Tiffany's Message To Home

Good Safe Clean Fun

You see there is nothing to worry about. What could be safer than children playing on an old childhood favorite? We even have video: click on the link. Day 1 Merry-G0-Round Video

Your Campers have enjoyed three healthy meals along with two snacks!

"MMMM, Just like Mom used to make!"

"Hey Mikey!, He Likes It!

We have done some things that everyone expects at a camp, like boating and aquatic activities.

The love boat crew.

Here is some live waterfront video to check out this link! Row, Row, Row your…canoe gently down the stream….

Team Building

Alex getting her guitar hero working

"The earth is the Lord's and everything in it."

Rabbits at the nature center and very tame and cuddly

Looking good at breakfast

Can we eat now?

See you all for day 2, peace!

This is just a few of the looks of your children when they arrived at our new home for the next five days.

The Summer Camp staff is really enjoying all of the return campers. There is noting like the bond that is created in an environment that lends itself to new experiences and relationships. We are also having a lot of fun with the new Campers. So far no one has been homesick or even cranky.

Everyone is invited to check out the blog daily. I will do my best to post the latest pictures and video of your favorite camper.

If you are a Camp Parent let’s just say that visiting this blog is essential for keeping up with your child, sending and receiving messages and updates. This is how this will work:
Visit the blog, and leave a message for your camper. At the end of each camp day, we have a big worship time that is followed by a slide/video show. We will then read your messages to your respective camper! How cool is that. They will have opportunity to send messages to you as well.

I know some of you are saying “why can’t I just call them?” Good question, one of the main reasons why we aren’t doing phone calls is that it really breaks the flow of the week and a simple phone call has a way of changing the direction of the remainder of the week for many of our younger campers. Camp does a couple of amazing things for your children: For one, they are able to be out of an environment that can be full of distractions. Here at camp, no phones, iPod, radios or TV. They get to make their own music, run, play, and entertain themselves. All without batteries. Second is that Camp allows your child to learn to trust appropriate adults, adults who are experienced, trained, Godly, vigilant, and have your child’s best interest at heart. Every young person needs a few safe places and a few safe people. One phone ill-timed call from home can tear down days of trust, fun, and a really great experience.

So the journey begins. Share the link, share the love and I look forward to sharing your comments tonight!

Pastor James and Ms. Jennifer

In our worship time there are a number of songs that have really taken into some deep places. I thought I would do my best at blogging a music video with out the video or music. Just words and pictures.

Blessed be Your name
When the sun’s shining down on me
When the world’s ‘all as it should be’
Blessed be Your name

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Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun’s shining down on me
When the world’s ‘all as it should be’
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there’s pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I’ll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

I know that this post is coming a day late. We really have had some long days. It takes some time to try to condense a day and 20 different perspectives into a short page.

Day four will come on day five. Will post more– we have to be “locked and loaded” by 6:30 am. Blessed Be The Name…
PJK

A few more random pix of mission life.
PJK

What I mean is that we can do some cleaning, building, sorting, and moving, and then just leave. But everything changes when a person proclaims that they are alive because of the work that others have done and they assure us that because of our work the “life saving” work will continue. Josh Hurley, a 14 year old Freshman at Whitney Young had such an encounter.
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Josh: today being here really hit me when I started meeting all of these people at the Salvation Army Mission, where I was working today. Everyone had a unique life story about how they got to the Mission. Like I met this guy named Shaggy, he was a guy like who went through some really hard times when he was young. He later sold drugs while in high school and in college. He lived a double life with his Christian friends and his drug customers. He was busted while in college and went to prison.

When he got out a friend brought him to the Salvation Army Mission so that he could have a place to stay. That was years ago. His life was saved by coming to this place.

The main thing I learned today is that anybody’s life can change from one bad decision and God can change any life that has been messed up if we let Him.

I’m learning to decrease by not focusing so much on me and what I want to do all day. I’m going to allow Christ to Increase in me by really trying to focus more on talking to God.

The students are really starting to bond with their work sites. Wednesday, “hump day” is going to be very hard. Everyone will change sites and have new work assignments. They are also starting to get tired and that means that tempers can flare giving a foothold for the Evil One. Pray for our rest, patients, and Godly wisdom to bear each other’s burdens.

Hope you enjoy more random work site pictures.
More tomorrow. Pastor James

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Today’s devotion was focused on Psalm 64. We meditated on the word Selah– to rest/pause/reflect. We are asking for your prayers so that we might learn that decreasing so that Christ might increase requires that we make time to “Be.”
Here are some pictures from other sites today. Please pass on this blog to others and to parents, the Students really need and appreciate all of your comments.

Learning to just Be.
Pastor James

Remember everything that we do is on a time schedule. 75 people can’t take all the time they want to bathe. We can truly do what we thought was impossible.

We close tonight with some pictures from our evening activity and an interview with first time Student Missionary Sydni Johnson who is a 15 year old sophomore at H-F High School. This is her first trip.
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PJK: How did you find out about this trip?

Sydni: My friends Danielle and Sadie Banks and their family invited me to come with them. I looked in to it, and read the information. I really started to look forward to going.

PJK: Wow, what did they tell you, did they put pressure on you?

Sydni: No, not at all. Honestly they really didn't tell me a lot, but they did say that I would be helping people. I did PADS before and I liked it and wanted to do something similar. Plus they said that it was fun too.

PJK: So did your parents have questions and converns?

Sydni: At first my parents were a little bit concerned about me going on the trip. Mainly because I don't attend Emmaus and they didn't know who I would be going off with. They also questioned my motives as well. "why would I want to do some thing like this?"
They really wanted to know if my heart was sincere about going on the trip. They had already spent a lot of money last month because it was really busy for me. They just didn't want to waste money if I was just going to "kick it" with my friends.

PJK: I know that you enjoyed the van ride, has there been any high moments for you so far?

Sydni: So far, the best part of being here has been when I was serving food at the Soup Kitchen. I liked knowing that I really was helping someone. I felt like that I was giving back for all the blessings that I have enjoyed in my life. I also painted a book shelf at the Genesis Center. It was in this HOT warehouse. I have painted before, I painted my bedroom, but it was the first time painting for someone else.

I really didn't get painting in this hot warehouse but now I understand that we are all a part of a really big process that helps the "less fortunate" individuals and families here in the city.

The thrift stores sell donated goods, like my painted bookshelf, that support and employ the really large homeless population here in Jackson. Places like the Genesis center and Gateway are so efficient at what they do, they can take one dollar and provide 4 meals for hungry people. So, when I paint a bookshelf and someone buys it. That money directly goes to feed people like the ones that we served today, provide after school and summer programs for kids, and even rescue and treatment for people who have addictions.

It feels pretty good knowing that my little efforts in the heat today will go so far to show God's love and hope to people that I will never know.

PJK: Thanks Sydni. Are there any areas in your life that you think can decrease?

Sydni: Yes, for one, my stress and my busy schedule. I can see how I can have a little more room for Christ in my life.

PJK: Anyone you want to say hello to?

Sydni: I want to say hello to my mom and dad, brother and sister and my dog CoCo.
The one thing that is decreasing in my life right now is stress and my busy schedule.

More to come on Day Two. PJK