1 and 1

So, exactly one year and one day ago, I left the Netherlands and changed countries. My time in Canada has been very blessed, times with family, people at Redeemer, and God's plans for my summer are all part of the reason why this has been and still is such a blessing.
Today I am also halfway through my employment at SMC. It has been a really different experience, God is teaching me a lot, about His word, our mission and so many other aspects of life. In the weekends I am really tired, but it is really worth it, living on SMC property is some sort of new separate reality. Being away from the busy world is an amazing, but sometimes difficult thing. Therefore, also my apologies if contact with me has been very rare over the last 4 weeks. Saturday Session 3 is done again. And for me there will only be 3 sessions left. I ask that you would continue to pray for me and for all the other people at SMC, because God is doing miracles here. In a later part I will share some testimonies about everything here.

God bless, Willem

SMC

My blog (actually my blog template) was down for the last couple of weeks, I don't know exactly what all happened, but at least it is now running again. It is kind of too bad that my old template is gone because I really liked it, but this will do.

Two weeks ago on monday July 2nd I left for Scott Missions Camp (SMC). The first 5 days there would consist out of some intense training. I was happy there was going to be training, because I felt really unprepared. It was a week in which I met many many new people, and I really experienced encouragement through them. However, this was not yet camp, it was pre-camp! So, after I went back to Ancaster for the weekend, Monday I travelled to 502 Spadina Ave. in Toronto, to take the camp bus with the kids, the camp bus that would take me to the Scott Mission Camp property where I had completed my training (near Caledon).

My first week was a challenge, my co-counsellor (Rufio) and I (Vader) where in charge of the Anderson cabin in our first week. We had 9 kids between the ages of 9-11. Even though they were sometimes called the "Terror-squad" and they did give us sme hard times, it was a blessing. It was great to be able to share the gospel with all these kids. All 96 kids at this camp come from low-income families, most of the families reside in Toronto, even thought there are also a few kids that came from Brampton, Missasauga, and even Hamilton.

All the kids at camp are between the age of 7 and 14, and many have already experienced stuff that I will never experience. But, as I was told during pre-camp it is so important not to judge them, they are all God's children, no matter how many rules they abolish, they deserve this break! Some of the best times were during our evening devotions, or the evening pool parties. The last night (Friday) we had a pool party instead of an evening game. In the midst of all the hot weather the cool pool was refreshing, and when the counsellors where called up to do a diving board show the campers were very entertained. Let's say that the Belly flop I did, was still felt 5 hours later went to bed.

So, camp is pretty rockin', I would appreciate it if you would pray for what is happening at SMC this summer, and that God's love may truly be felt in the lives of these children. I hope this will do for another week or so, because blogging at a camp with hardly any internet access is almost impossible.

God bless, Willem (Vader)