Sam and The Band (is their haha name)

Photo's all courtesy of Jesse's web site where I ripped them from....Thanks Jesse! :)...I had...uh....camera problems....

Camp was a success!

While the rest of South Africa was buzzing and writhing under the fear and confusion of Xenophobic attacks and retaliations, Monte Christo Ministries was holding it's first ever multi-cultural youth Leadership Camp. We took 85 students from Mbekweni (Xhosa), Paarl East (colored) and Central Paarl (white Afrikaans) to our farm about an hour and a half away. Literally, we drove through mob scenes in order to pick the teenagers up from our partnering community centers. MCM has been in the communities long enough to establish a pretty good reputation so even while driving through streets lined (and filled) with confused mama's, angry youth or little ones just enjoying the energy of the scene, we felt safe and were allowed passage. Sometimes you can see God's angels part the waters.

The camp was sweet and exciting. Diverse in more ways than language. We erected several big army tents and held our meetings out in a field, generally in the pouring cool rain. Jesse, Joey and Sam lead worship (Joe/bass and Sam/drums). Quentin did the teaching...making all of the appropriate adjustments as we realized after the first evening that probably half of the kids there were not believer's in relationship with the Creator. About 25 students ended up making first time commitments and another dozen or more made a significant decision to move closer towards a Christ-centered life.

We divided the students up so that they bunked/ate/ sat interracially. They never balked. I love teens, they are so open, so willing for others to get to know them better. Azusa Pacific University (sans Jenna :( ) had a short term team here and they were very helpful in implementing the program that the MCM Interns had designed. We've had about 5 students show interest in coming alongside MCM's discipleship programs in the communities and helping with our Bible studies/soup.

Yes, it's true, we had to come home on Sunday, back to a valley in the middle of political and civil unrest, but we did what we could to broaden their views of their 'brother in Christ' and trust that the Holy Spirit will continue to work in their lives even as we go our own ways.

Thanks to all of you who prayed feverishly for the success of our camp, including those MCM Staff members who fasted and prayed in shifts for the two weeks before the camp...we had enough left over in that prayer account to sustain us through the refugee crisis as well! :)

Monte Christo Leadership Camp May 23-25,08