The Hub: Week 1 Malibu 2014

This week we had campers and leaders from Portland, Spokane, Skagit Valley and Hong Kong!

It was quite a mixed group. The weather was great. It rained for a day or 2, but has been beautiful otherwise.

Some favorite highlights:

Watching kids from Hong Kong learn to let loose and have a fun time and be silly. With their guarded culture, it was really a leap for them, but they jumped in! I think they were really surprised to hear Jeff’s stories during club about embarrassing moments or failures as they usually don’t talk about that kind of thing. Usually, they save face. It helped them to be more real with each other about their faith and struggles, which helped them make major leaps in their depth of faith.

One kid, Darrien, came to Jeff on night 2 after hearing that God created him and thinks he is ‘very good’, and explained that his parents made him one night at a party. That was the only time they were together. They weren’t even friends. His whole life he has felt like a mistake. But for the first time ever, he feels like he wasn’t a mistake to God! Wow.

Dietrich did the ropes course. He was the youngest kid to do it. He was nervous and a little scared, but did it anyway! We are very proud of our brave little man.

The kids play a lot. I’m trying to find jobs around camp for them to help where they will really be helpful and not create more work for the work crew. Janna has been cleaning the lodge playroom and kitchen. Deek will help set the dining hall this week! Pray they find joy in serving others.

No injuries. Dietrich did fall out of his bed in his sleep onto the hardwood floor, landing on his face. He has a small black eye. Other than that, we are wonderful.

Our Real Life Panel did a fabulous job. They shared their stories with campers and the campers were very responsive to the presentation. We may trade out some of the panelists to give them rest. I may step in as a panelist for 1 week. Pray about this.

The last night at camp, most of the kids at camp stood up at ‘say so’ indicating that they had made significant progress towards God. For about 20 of them it was the first time ever, for 100+ others it was a re-commitment or big steps towards starting their faith. Jeff aimed to honor where every kid was at.

At midnight, Jeff stopped by the cabin Darrien was in to pray with them. Actually to pray a ‘blessing’ over a few of the guys he talked with this week. One of the guys opened up earlier in the day that he was really beaten down as a kid by his family and had dark thoughts creep in his mind often about himself. Jeff led them into a prayer time for him, inviting them all to say a word or phrase about him of what they sense God thinks of him and his identity. It was powerful. Then every other kid wanted to be prayed for too. Darrien seemed like he was ‘made’ to speak truth from God. He had something specific and personal for every single kid in the cabin during prayer. I was no accident that Darrien was made by God to be one who speaks truth, hears from God and is a powerful encourager. So cool to see how God’s plans for people can come out so quickly after they begin to live for Him.

Jeff is doing a great job being 100% himself, 100% about God and 100% clear. That’s about 300%! He is doing a great job. His talks are well connected with wonderful and vivid illustrations. Kids love listening to him. He has been overwhelmed with encouragements and leaders and campers pulling him aside to share how God has spoken so specifically and powerfully through him. Keep praying! This week is Wenatchee, Chelan, Minnesota and New Jersey kids, Monroe/Duvall, Lake Stevens, Snohomish, Glacier Peak, Northshore, North Whatcom County, and others.