Hey everyone, just want to give a quick update and a few highlights of the first 3 days of our trip. We left Calvary on Saturday at 8am and made the trip in 13 hours. Van rides were smooth and left everyone with new connections entering the week.
Sunday, the team went to church at Clarkston International Bible Church, where we are partnering with Push The Rock. The team spent majority of the day at the church participating in a refugee loss simulation. the students were put into real life refugee stories, so they could learn about unexpected, unknown, and uncontrollable loss. This simulation gave us all a better understanding of the lives of refugee families and the losses they have faced. After this heavy, but intentional time of learning, we divided into groups and went to three different homes hosted by different families for dinner. Each home was a different experience from three different cultures.
Monday was our first day of camp for refugee children. Students were divided into different age groups as volunteer leaders to guide the children from station to station. While some students were divided between stations such as sports, science, academics, and art. Throughout the day the children were taught a bible lesson that was reinforced through activities and follow up questions. Once camp was over we had dinner at the church and played a game that taught the team about understanding other cultures.
This is Jessika Kibodeaux and my highlight of the first three days was meeting Mariam from Pakistan and eating Pakistani meals on the floor with everyone. She shared her story of how God has worked in her life, which was encouraging through her obvious and joy and thankfulness for everything God has given her. Later, after our meal, we danced in Mariams living room which was a new and exciting experience. I am so thankful for her open arms to us entering her home and her love for those around her.
This is Lily Reedy and my highlight of the first three days was connecting with and meeting so many new people. One specific person was Nasrin from Iran, who was hosting dinner for some of us. She told us all about her faith and wondered why we were scared to share our faith and the gospel to people while we can do it freely and it was really an eye opener. Another highlight was leading group time with Alex for some of the 6th-8th graders at camp.
-Jessika Kibodeaux & Lily Reedy
Sunday, the team went to church at Clarkston International Bible Church, where we are partnering with Push The Rock. The team spent majority of the day at the church participating in a refugee loss simulation. the students were put into real life refugee stories, so they could learn about unexpected, unknown, and uncontrollable loss. This simulation gave us all a better understanding of the lives of refugee families and the losses they have faced. After this heavy, but intentional time of learning, we divided into groups and went to three different homes hosted by different families for dinner. Each home was a different experience from three different cultures.
Monday was our first day of camp for refugee children. Students were divided into different age groups as volunteer leaders to guide the children from station to station. While some students were divided between stations such as sports, science, academics, and art. Throughout the day the children were taught a bible lesson that was reinforced through activities and follow up questions. Once camp was over we had dinner at the church and played a game that taught the team about understanding other cultures.
This is Jessika Kibodeaux and my highlight of the first three days was meeting Mariam from Pakistan and eating Pakistani meals on the floor with everyone. She shared her story of how God has worked in her life, which was encouraging through her obvious and joy and thankfulness for everything God has given her. Later, after our meal, we danced in Mariams living room which was a new and exciting experience. I am so thankful for her open arms to us entering her home and her love for those around her.
This is Lily Reedy and my highlight of the first three days was connecting with and meeting so many new people. One specific person was Nasrin from Iran, who was hosting dinner for some of us. She told us all about her faith and wondered why we were scared to share our faith and the gospel to people while we can do it freely and it was really an eye opener. Another highlight was leading group time with Alex for some of the 6th-8th graders at camp.
-Jessika Kibodeaux & Lily Reedy