Camp Week 2.0 - God at work

After a few days' "breather," we took the camp plunge once again. This time we went as a family; it was tough for Andy to work on a rigid schedule, but it was well worth it. This camp, Nuevas Aventuras ("New Adventures"), brought together almost 50 teenagers from all over Spain. The camp ran nine days, July 8-16. We arrived toward the end of their week together, on July 14 (also my brother's birthday; a shout out to Indy) and stayed for their last 48 hours.

We had been invited by our friend David (he of paella fame), and I had the privilege of teaching for one session, within an hour of our arrival. Later in the evening we also got to share together as a couple about how the Lord worked in our lives to bring us to Spain.


After teaching, Dani wanted to talk. Dani is a youth of Romanian descent (of which there are many in Spain) who lives in a suburb of Madrid on our side of town. I was humbled by his desire to talk on a deeper level about the theme from my lesson, and it was clear that God had a purpose for our presence at the camp. (He's happier in person than he looks in the picture, I promise!)


Here's Mommy and Andy goofing off in our room. The accommodations at Pinos Reales ("Royal Pines") were quite nice for a camp. We basically had a hotel room, with our own bathroom and everything. We did have trouble getting the little man to eat well. We didn't have a highchair, and he seemed to be a bit stressed by the atmosphere of the dining hall...


... but that didn't stop him from enjoying some chocolate ice cream. (Anyone interested in signing up for the Knox School of Parenting, give us a call anytime. Operators are standing by.)


We spent an hour or two each day at the pool, mostly playing water polo and watching a handful of guys throw anyone they could into the pool. It was convenient to have Andy in our hands, cuz, you know, even rambunctious young'ns know you don't throw a baby in the pool.


We met all sorts of good people from churches around the Madrid area. Here's Andrew with Monica.


On the last night they had a variety show. This student, Melissa, sang a song for the whole group. She took a song she likes by a German artist, with English lyrics, and rewrote the lyrics - in English! - with a Christian message. She did an artful job, both writing and singing, particularly when you consider she was conveying spiritual themes in her second language. She wanted to conserve bits and pieces of the original lyrics, and it came off... well, like a song. She asked for my English help to work through some writer's block on the second verse, and it was an honor to be invited into the creative process of a bright young woman with a passionate desire to follow Christ.

A very full 50 hours. We're very thankful to David for his invitation and to God for all he was doing in the lives of everyone at the camp.

Snapshots from Nómadas 2011

As a lad I went to Hell with my family. Now I've been to purgatory (or, more specifically, Purgatory Falls). It's a proud day.

David plays Gollum with a dead trout we found.

Two hippies and a guy who just got out of the shower - must be costume night.

Three guard dogs stopped us in our tracks on this hike.

What can't be captured in pictures: an incredible surge in the level of connection I have with these students; an opportunity to teach and a chance to share my life's story of how Christ got a hold of me in my teen years; a youth trusting me confidentially as we processed through his personal stuff; the mix of emotions I feel (excited, nervous, humbled) as I take over as the "point person" for the youth group. Also night games. Don't have the right kind of camera. And the smell of teenage man-sweat in our bunk room; still waiting on the scratch-n-sniff technology to come to digital cameras and computer screens.


My sentiments exactly, Eli - it was a great week, but I'm exhausted. :-)