An End and Another Beginning

This summer I'll experience many beginnings and ends as campers come and go each week.  Last time I wrote about a beginning, but this time I'll start with...

AN END

Teen camp ended last Friday night.  It was a great week filled with activities and fun, but more importantly solid Biblical teaching.  In twice-daily chapels, the campers learned about the life of David and about what it means to live by faith.  I was encouraged by attending the chapel services and, as many teens testified at the Thursday night campfire, God used His word to change their lives.

I had a good time teaching the teens about missions too.  Each afternoon we spent some time looking at different aspects of the science of language (linguistics) and what it actually takes to translate the Bible.  I walked the teens through short lessons I had prepared on the topics of phonetics, phonology, grammar, and translation to help them understand what Bible translators actually do.  Interacting with the teens during these lessons was fun, and from the feedback I heard, they enjoyed them!

Presenting the linguistic lesson about grammar

Aside from talking about linguistics, I presented the need for Bible translation around the world and challenged the teens to think about what part they could play in Bible translation.  On Thursday, I used an illustration to show how many people doing all different kinds of jobs it takes to translate the Scriptures.  Below you can see the 10 volunteers who helped me out by representing (from L to R): a Bible translator, an IT guy, a financial supporter, a prayer supporter, a language surveyor, a pilot, a nurse, a teacher, a carpenter, and a Bibleless person.  

Campers illustrate all of the people needed for the Bible translation task

After having this weekend to rest from the busyness and excitement of teen week, it's time for...

ANOTHER BEGINNING

Tomorrow morning, the first week of day camp starts.  Pray that God will work in the lives of these young ones.  Also pray for the counselors and staff to have wisdom and strength.