The camp is held in the Milton Abbey School. It's an absolutely beautiful setting - out in the middle of nowhere which is great but a bit of a bummer to get a mobile signal.
Everyday the children spend the morning in collective worship and bible teaching. In the afternoon they do ministry and mayhem workshops. They choose which ministry workshop they want to do for the week (stomp, dance, multimedia or puppets) and the the mayhem workshops they all have a go at (Craft, T-shirt printing & sports). In the evening we have different activities such as a games and quiz night, the big games night (with inflatables and giant connect four etc..), a video night (it was High School Musical this year), the talent night with a disco and the final celebration.
As it was my last year, they organised a cheeky little surprise party on the Monday night which was good fun - thanks guys! It proves as the camp director that I have absolutely no knowledge of what the staff or the kids are doing really nor do I have any control over them!!
Each day we have a theme day which we keep a secret from the children and then wake them up in our fancy dress. Monday was Pirate day, Tuesday was Wacky day (an old favourite), Wednesday was Circus day and Thursday was Wild West Day. We try to decorate the theatre and dining hall accordingly and do extra little bits during the day to fit in. On Wednesday for circus day in the afternoon we had people come to teach the children circus skills such as juggling, plate spinning and acro-balance which was really cool. We also had a surf simulator and Jackie face painted for four hours!!!!
The theme for the week was I'm Livin' It! and we looked at what it means to live out God's greatest commandment: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbour as yourself" . We looked at a different parable each day which fitted in with the love that we were looking at that day eg: love with heart: the Pearl of Greatest Price and the Hidden Treasure; love with soul: The Barren Fig Tree; love with mind: parable of The Talents; love with strength: the parable of The Sower and finally love your neighbour as yourself: The Good Samaritan. When you truly think about what it means to love God in these ways - it's actually really difficult and was a massive challenge to us adults as well as the children.
Each morning during our collective worship there was an opportunity for us to spend time on our own with God. Everyone was given a prayer journal and a daily devotions booklet to help focus our thoughts for the day if needed. At the end of the day we had our Quiet Celebration where we did the Fanfare of the Day (when we celebrated something 5 different children did for the 1st time that day - they receives a specially made medal, we gave them a standing ovation and they lifted the trophy up accompanied by the Olympic anthem - it's fab!) and then in groups the children discussed what they had learnt that day and whether they had managed to live out that specific love for God.
The staff team as usual were absolutely fab and I love them very much. God has given them such amazing gifts and it was really amazing and heartwarming and encouraging to see them using those gifts to encourage 65 children in their relationship with God.
At the end of the week as Adrian drove me home up along the beautiful main drive he stopped the car, made me get out and look back at the school and we prayed. As he prayed in that evening light - just as the darkness was closing in - the most perfect, bright and single star was shining right at the centre above the school. I believe it was God's sign that he had set his seal on MaM and was well pleased!
laters
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