Camp transformations

The early morning air was chilly, but excitement was in the air! Daylight was still a couple of hours away as we gathered with our bags outside the residential center. Some girls stood patiently by, while others busily prepared the last few items. It wasn't long before we boarded the double-decker bus and began enjoying our morning breakfast of sticky rice and chicken. Many of the girls started chattering away and taking pictures, while others had succumbed to their drooping eyelids. We had braced ourselves for the 15-hour bus drive but the day of travel passed quickly. With ample stretch breaks, naps, and mingling, we were at the camp before we knew it.

It was after 8 p.m. by the time we got settled, but there were a determined cluster of girls eager to glimpse the ocean, most of them for the first time. With darkness upon us, there wasn't much to see. But the smell of the ocean and the sound of the waves was enough to whet our appetites.

The following two days were filled with much joyous activity. The theme for the camp was “He can, We can!” and the zeal from our Bible teacher, Rev. Dong, was contagious. Through testimonies and Scripture, seasoned with a good dash of humor, Rev. Dong spoke convincingly of the greatness of our God and of the amazing and seemingly impossible things that can happen in our lives when we put our trust in Him and live a life of faithfulness.

One of our girls later said, “I wasn't a Christian, and I didn't believe in God. But as I listened to Rev. Dong, I realized that there really is a God. Even though I don't know how to pray, I love God! I thank Him that He sent me to New Life Center.” Another one of our girls expressed that she held the messages from camp in her heart as she took her exams the following week. While all the other children were cheating and looking at one another's papers, this girl was resolved to be faithful to God. As she recounted her success, she said, “This was the first time that I was completely upright in my exam taking!”

The second afternoon at the camp, we set out for a different beach to have a baptismal service. When it was discovered that the waves were too rough there, we were grateful for the use of the pool at a local guesthouse. We had a beautiful service and celebrated the baptism of 15 NLCF girls! One girl who was baptized was the first one in her family to surrender to Jesus. She felt the Lord's presence with her that day, but she also discussed her concern about how to share the news with her family. She was worried that her mom would be upset with her. The NLCF counselor encouraged her, saying that the Holy Spirit would provide the right opportunity for her to share. Indeed, this girl was soon sharing with us how God provided the perfect opportunity for her to share the news in an extended family setting where she had just learned of her aunt's ardent faith in Jesus!

We ended the camp by standing in a large circle, holding hands, and singing the camp theme song together. As all exchanged hugs, tears and meaningful words, our hearts were full!