Estonia Camp Gideon Team, July 5, 2008

Hey everyone! This is Sterling giving the daily update. We started out today with an end-of-camp worship service and award ceremony. The "American" team was actually given a huge bar of chocolate in thanks for coming to Camp Gideon. After a quick lunch, we had to say our goodbyes to the campers. It was extremely hard. All of us got very emotional. After saying goodbye, we cried our way to a nearby castle in Narva, which we toured. Right before we left, the girls decided to dress up in 18th century Russian clothes so Ryan and I decided to join them. Then after the castle we returned to camp, played a little soccer and took a dip in the Baltic Sea, which was about 15 degrees Celsius. It was another great ending to a great day!

--Sterling and the team.

Estonia Camp Gideon Team, July 4, 2008

Hey everyone! This is Jennifer. So I was supposed to write this on Friday night but we have been pretty busy lately. I'm sorry. Well Friday was the last full day of camp and it was definitely a great way to end our week even though they changed the schedule on us for the day! After breakfast we started the day off with some worship which was so good! After the worship service, the campers had small groups so our team went back to the cabin and listened to some techno and rock. Sterling was climbing all over the furniture because he got so into it. It was hilarious! After that was sports time where we played jump rope, water balloon volleyball, and this game where you get into a circle with your opposing team and try to get them out by having them knock over a bucket. They all were so much fun but now we are feeling a little sore! Then we went to lunch and after that was crafts which was kinda sad because, other than Amy, only a few people came. But it was okay because the campers were all in their sports groups getting their skits and videos prepared for the night. Later after dinner, we went to the brown building for church. It ended up that we watched all the team videos and skits. For us, they were funny but the campers found them hilarious! I guess it just wasn't translated the best. Haha! After that it was time to get snacks. Then we went back to church for worship and a short sermon. The worship was AWESOME! Almost all the campers were in the front or in the aisles dancing! It was amazing! After it was over, it was time for bed. And that was pretty much the end of great day!

--Jennifer and the team.

Estonia Camp Gideon Team, July 3, 2008

Well I'm (Kevin) doing the update again tonight because the girls are at a midnight chapel service and the boys are showering. (The boys thought they might have gotten too sweaty during the sports activities today.)

I am really proud of our youth! The boys presented a great devotion this morning. Then they all helped the worship band lead the worship service. Tiffany played drums, Sterling played bongos and Erin, Hanna and Jennifer sang. They really did a great job. They have also been doing a great job with the crafts and sports. They are participating in all of the small group activities and making some great friends. The camp leaders and the campers really seem to appreciate us.

Artur, the camp director, is really sick and needs your prayers. He started feeling bad yesterday morning and was pretty sick by early afternoon. His wife, Valetina, said that his doctor called it something like Rosa and that it is caused by stress. This is the 4th time he has had it. I think that is probably Shingles. Please pray for a seedy recovery for him. Also their son Erikki has been in the hospital because cut part of a finger off and cut his hand on a power saw a couple of weeks ago. I think that it got badly infected. Anyway I imagine that Valentina's stress level is pretty high right now and could use some prayer too.

Thanks again for your prayers and support!
--Kevin and the team.

Estonia Camp Gideon Team, Tuesday, July 2, 2008

Well today we started our day out with trying to get the campers to go up to the front of the chapel and get into the worship this morning and we crashed and burned according to Sterling and Ryan. We went fishing today for Red Fish (Salmon) and caught our lunch. Erin's and my fish basically bled to death, Jennifer and Tiffany's was gigantic and had its face torn, and Sterling and Ryan's first fish was like 1 inch long. We saw Russia from across the river, the largest lake in Europe and a Russian Orthodox convent with nuns. We were disappointed when we returned to the camp because we heard the afternoon games were so much fun and pretty funny!

The evening service was really great with lots of great music (in Russian of course) and a really great speaker. He is a lay preacher in the Tallinn Methodist Church and talked about God's grace.

We love you all!
Hanna - for the team.

Estonia Camp Gideon Team, Monday, July 1, 2008

We had another great day today. Everyone is really connecting with a lot of the campers and leaders. In fact I am the one writing tonight because our youth are all hanging out with the Estonian kids. I have been able to spend quite a bit of time with Artur and Robert. I believe that I have been successful in convincing Artur that it would be much better to have a small tractor than an ATV to mow with.

We were able to get the old mower going but, it's with the rough cut attachment. The finish mower attachment is much bigger and faster but it is in too bad shape and needs too many parts that we don't have to get it going.

Tomorrow morning Ryan and Sterling will be presenting a devotional. On Thursday we will helping to lead the worship music and the Russian speakers will be doing the music all in English.

The arts & crafts are a big hit.

God bless you all.
--Kevin - for the team.