In our continued effort to invest in the lives of refugees and raise up future leaders, we took a group of refugee teens to a youth camp in Michigan over the holidays. It was called SNOW Camp and joined teens from 3 other churches in Indianapolis. The individuals were selected for demonstrating leadership potential. We are planning on a leadership training for them in 2020.
We had to explain and show the students what a sleeping bag was and how to use it. We had to tell them that the woods were safe and no “bad people” were there. It was a new experience for all of them of taking risks and overcoming some fears. It was their first time to climb a rock wall, do a zip line, and do archery! A few of them braved the cold lake at 12:30 AM called the “polar plunge”, along with others at the camp!
One girl wrote to me, “Yes I’m so happy and it’s was my favorite trip ever and I wanna go to camping again so yes I will going to come and I will.”
Here are some comments and questions from these refugee students during our weekend:
- “When you pray do you get a second chance?”
- “Why is it hard to do good things and easy to do the bad things?”
- “God wants to use me to help others “
- “I thank GOD for IPS giving education to everyone” (Indianapolis Public Schools)
- “I could stay here for 2 weeks at this camp”
What was the favorite part of SNOW CAMP?
- “Singing”
- “Chapel and come to pray”
- “JAM” (Jesus and Me time)
- “Worship God”
- “Prayer”
- “Encounter GOD”
- “Talk about how to be a leader”
What do I need from GOD as I go back home? Comments made…
- “Future”
- “Life”
- “Help with decisions”
- “Do good things and not bad things”
- “How I can impact others”
- “How I can help people in my country”
