Friday Morning

Thursday was a full day at the Bible Camp topped off by a banquet at dinner.  As usual the day started with exercise at 6:10, (yes, parents our youth are getting up at 5:45 or so and in place by 6:10; do you think that will continue when they get home?!?) followed by devotions, breakfast, praise music, and Bible Study with the campers; plus our youth planned with their groups the skits or songs they will perform as part of the evening worship.

Happy Birthday, Nick!

Thursday was Nick's birthday, and he was "front and center" during the morning assembly as the whole camp sang several verses of "Happy Birthday."


After lunch, we took a break from camp during rest time and the social issues segment to ride out to the Kings Children's Home.  Two years ago our youth painted some of the boys' and girls' rooms at the Kings Children's Home in Belmopan.  The orphanage was a small, overcrowded building that was always in need of repair.  Up to 50 children shared space in what would be a modest-sized home in the U.S.  Since our trip in 2012, the Kings Children's Home has moved to a new location east of Belmopan just off the Western Highway.  Our youth were anxious to see the new building and some of the children they and met two years ago.  A picture of the building can be seen on this link to their website.  The Home's policy is not to allow pictures of their children on social media, so I will not be posting pictures of our youth with the kids.

The building is spacious, clean and new, and secure.  We were given a tour and our youth had time to visit and play with some of the children.  Miss Leonie, the director of the home, told me there are over 100 children in residence.  She and some other workers were cutting cloth to sew 81 uniforms for the school year that begins in September.  All children in Belize wear uniforms that they must supply.

We returned to camp in time for sports in the afternoon and then time to clean up for the banquet.
All the  evening activities a revolved around the banquet.  The children dressed for the event, as did our youth.  The chapel was decorated for the banquet with tables and tablecloths, flowers and other decorations.  Several of our youth and adults helped wit the decorating.

The tables are set for the banquet.

Bird of Paradise centerpiece.

Our girls all dressed up for the banquet.

And the guys . . . they did the best they could.

The campers knew to wear yellow, the color of the banquet this year.  They were dressed up for the special occasion.

The campers dressed in yellow at the banquet.

More campers

The banquet started with everyone parading in front of the group and striking a pose for photographer Matt.  Dinner was served followed by the daily quiz competition among the three camper teams.  There was special music and dance throughout the evening.  Our youth sang "Come Ye Sinners" and did a skit about being a youth group and making a difference in the lives of others.  Dan Smith sang a solo, "How Great Thou Art."  The camper groups did skits and songs.

"Come Ye Sinners Poor and Needy"

Today is Friday, our last full day of camp with the kids.  It promises to be a full day - with a bonus 2 hours tacked on to the 10:00 PM close - so looks like we will be active until midnight.  Prayers are appreciated as we close out the camp.