Old Friend, Met New World

When we were at Barakel, we worked with college students.  A lot.  One of these great "kids" was studying at MSU and then went on to get her Masters degree in Texas for bilingual speech therapy.  I know, right?!  How cool is that job?!

Well, Kelli's company just happened to send her to Costa Rica for a three day conference and when she got in country on Tuesday she was able to spend the afternoon and evening with us!  It was so fun!!  We took her to a soda (a little lunch counter sorta restaurant) to give her a taste of comida tipica, then up to camp so she could see the place, and then back to our house for dinner and a couple of compelling rounds of Uno.

It's so fun to see how God brings people back into our life.  And while it was short, it was a fun day, showing one of our friends from one world our new life in this world!

We're Glad to Turn Again

"To this blessed place,where Truth and Grace, from God's own word abound"

A couple of weeks ago now, (goodness, I am behind!) we spend a week at Camp Barakel.  You know, that place we called home for 4 years.  Noah was a high school week team leader, which if you've never been to a High School Week, means he was across between a mascot, a cheerleader, a coach, and your goofy older brother.

This year's theme was the election for the President of the United Sides of Camp Barakel.  Before we left, we made sure to stop at the Mission Store and get a suit, and a handful of ties.  Yep, those are now in the skit closet because I don't want to drag those all the way to Costa Rica.  But I am digressing.

Yes, this is a new way to play box hockey.

Here's Noah's campagin comericial.



Commercial - Noah Kamper from Camp Barakel High School Week on Vimeo.

See, you surely want to vote for him, right?

Noah was also able to share with the counselors during their circle time.  The boys and I did a lot of catching up with friends and just enjoying being in the woods again.  The hot weather finally broke and we were all caught a little off guard.  Noah hadn't even packed pants or a sweatshirt.  Silly man.  But we were able to borrow what we needed and life was good.

 It was so great to be around such sweet people again, being welcomed back into the work there. We're grateful for the opportunity to spend a week there this summer.  It was fun to see what the boys remembered, and what they were clueless on.  And it was neat to spend a week on East Side.  I hadn't been over there in the summer since I counseled way back in '01.

And now, if you are intrested, here's one more crazy video.  Look for me and the boys about half way through.



Camp Barakel 2012 Week Nine (High School) from Camp Barakel on Vimeo.

Hello Again. Remember Me?

Well.  It's been a while, hasn't it?  That's what 16 days on the road and getting back 5 weeks before you leave the country will do to a blog.

Let's see.  There is lots to share, our week at Barakel, our time with family in the North, camping and some exciting support stuff.

But that's all a lot for tonight.  We spent yesterday sorting through the entire trailer and making decisions about what to keep, what to get rid of, and what to take to Costa Rica.  And today was running to doctors appointments, more sorting and more decisions.  I am beat.

So I will leave you with a few photos from the last few weeks and promise I will get caught up soon.

Just Stopping By

Hey there.  Just wanted to pop in and say, "Hey".  We're heading to the North Woods of Camp Barakel for the week and won't be online much, although things have changed since we left, and there is rumor of wifi in different parts of camp!!  Noah is helping with the insanity that is High School Week and the boys and I are chilling.  Pray for all of us, will you?  It should be a lovely week, but it won't be without it's challenges, I am certain.

Have a lovely week!

The Next Couple of Weeks

Boy oh boy!  It's been a fullllllll couple of weeks, between zoos, gardens, family, and friends, we barely have time to clean and stock the fridge!  And now we are getting ready to head on the Northern tour portion of our time in the States. 

Over the next 16 days we'll be in 4 cities, well, that might be stretching the word city.  How about we say towns.  Ok, 4 different towns, speaking at 1 church, with 3 different families, camping for two nights, and spending a full 7 days at Camp Barakel helping with High School Week!  Noah will be running for the President of Camp Barakel (he has a perfect name, doesn't he?) 

Would you pray with us about a couple of things?

• Safe travels to and from and all over, somewhere around 815 miles and something like 16 hours on the road.
• Pray for cooperative, happy kids.  Hey, God says He does immeasurably more than we can hope or imagine!
• An effective week at Camp Barakel.  Noah will be doing a lot of the silly stuff, but the whole goal of the silly stuff is to point to Christ.  Pray for the speaker that week, that he would communicate the Gospel clearly to the High School campers, and pray for the counselors.  They will be in their second to last week of the summer.  They are tired and worn out, but they need to still be "on".
• Pray for me and the boys that week at Barakel.  We will pretty much be flying solo.
• Pray that God would lead people to join in the work that He is doing at Campamento Roblealto by partnering with us.

Thanks guys!! 

"Glad to Turn Again" a World Away

It was so great to be part of the daily running of a camp again.  We both got so excited when we heard buses pulling into camp on Friday night, just like Teen Winter Retreats at Barakel!   And  to wake up to the sounds of campers through out camp, doing what campers do, laughing, running, exploring.  Oh, so good!

Noah, being Noah the programer, couldn't stay away and even managed to get a baliada (flour tortilla with beans, sour cream and sometimes eggs) out of visiting the group that was in camp.  He came back with some great photos too.

And it was so familiar what the group was doing, breaking up in to cabin groups, making mascots for their groups, and spending time away from the ordinary in order to hear from God.  Camp is powerful, no matter if you are in the pine forests of Northern Michigan or the pine forests of Northern Honduras.

We learned that right now, 10% of Honduran kids grow up with a two parent home.  Yeah, let that sink in for just a second.

That means 90% of kids grow up with a single parent.  Most kids will drop out of school by the time they are in 6th grade.  The unemployment rate of 30 year olds and under is 60%.  As if all of this is bad enough, there are gangs just waiting to give these kids a "family". A war is on for the hearts and minds of Honduran youth.

 As we talked with Pastor Daniel, he said that the way Honduras is going to change is through reaching the youth of the country.  Changing the mindset of the people, one kid at a time.  Wow!  What a challenge, and how exciting to be a part of what God is doing through the Honduran churches to reach these kids with Christ!

We also got to help with some of the projects around camp.  Noah worked on finishing out making bunk beds for one of the dorms.  When Wes was showing us the dorm for the first time I was confused on where in the world I was.  For crying out loud, the floor was even painted the same color as Boys Dorm before carpet!

And I know if I looked hard enough, I could find a photo or two of Mike Baker or Dan Haines putting together bunk beds for one of the new lodges!
 

And check this out!  Yep, those would be Do It Best screws. And no they weren't brought from the States, there is a Do It Best in San Pedro Sula! The Fairview Hardware store (you know, the famed VIP Hardware Sale store) is a Do It Best!

It was mind blowing how God placed us in Northern Michigan, where there wasn't a single native Spanish speaker for at least a hundred miles, and how well that prepared us for where will be in Honduras!  I am so thankful for the time we had on the banks of Shear Lake, and for what God is doing there and what He is doing to reach the hearts and minds of the people of Honduras through Manantial de Vida!

Happy Birthday Noah!

Check this amazing use of technology out!!

Lessons from Today

1.  It may just take 2 buses and a taxi ride to meet some new friends at the park.

2.  Be forewarned, fountains in Costa Rica can apparentely have bleach added.  Yeah, ruined my favorite black dress today.

3.  June is not pineapple season according to my pineapple guy.  Could have fooled me.  And yes, I now have a pineapple guy.

4.  Always bring sunscreen.  Because even if it looks like it's going to rain all day, it won't.  And while your children will be just fine, your will be very pink.

5.  Always make sure to drink your 32 oz of liquid first thing in the morning, otherwise you will get dehydrated and cranky.

6.  Sometimes you will find very familiar things in the most unfamiliar places.  Like an antique firetruck that looks like it should be getting ready for tug in the middle of an amusment park in Costa Rica.

7.  Language comes in spurts.  Yesterday I was totally on.  I had conversations in Spanish all day.  Today I couldn't even get out what time I get to school in the morning correctly.  Uggg...

8.  Most of the time, you can't even imagine what the next year will look like.  Here's what we were doing a year ago.

Thankful

Today I was home with Elliot because of a fever and a cough.  Poor dude.  We have an appointment for tomorrow with the Doctor because he has been dealing with this cough for about a week now, and just yesterday develeloped the fever.  In some ways I guess we should expect this, with both boys now in school each day, they are bound to encounter more germs.  But it's hard.  It's never easy when your kid is sick, but now there is the added "do we keep him home?  Is it just a sniffle in the morning?  Is it something more?  Who will miss class today?  Do we take him to the doctor?"  And honestly, a big part of it is just guessing!  Ha, isn't that most of parenting, really?

So anyway, today I was home with him.  And I was very thankful for our recorder our staff family at Barakel gave us as part of our going away present!  We use it most of the time to record our homework for Phonetics class, but it came in handy today.  Noah gave it to one of my classmates in my two hour grammar class so he could record the class for me.  Apart from acutally being there, it's the next best thing! 

So this afternoon, I sat at my desk (another thing I am so thankful for, remember my lovely one back in Michigan?)  and listened to my grammar class and got most of the lesson today, which is great because I have another test this week.  So Thanks Barakel Staff!  We love you all!

You Haven't Heard Much from Me Because

well, take a look! 

We are on day 3 out of 4 of marathon packing.  We will be pulling out of Camp Barakel for the last time on Friday afternoon.  Pray for us.  We are getting a bit frantic.  Really everything needs to be ready to be loaded on the truck by Friday morning at 8 am.  Oh, and we are now at 75%!  Just 15 % more to go before we fly out to Costa Rica in a month!  See ya in a couple of days!

Cross Eyed

Noah has been gone since very early this morning and won't be back until late late tonight.  He and Dave Douglas spend the day at Spring Arbor University, recruiting for summer staff.  It's a great thing they are doing, but it's made me a bit crossed eyed today.  The boys are so very full of energy and by the end of the day they want to wrestle with daddy!  And mama is tired of being beat up!

Just a bit longer and they will both be in bed.  Good thing.  Now to tackle the laundry!

Archery for Jesus

When Wes and Cindy were home on furlough last year, there was a group that raised money for them to buy archery equipment for Manantial de Vida.  That was exciting, but Wes and Cindy really didn't know what to buy.

Well, one of the things Noah does around Barakel is take care of archery equipment and run the range during retreats.  He happened to know what to buy.  Coincidence?  I think not!  Anyway, this fall, he was able to spend some time looking through the archery catalogs and picked out what he thought would be best for Manantial de Vida.  And one day, his boss came to him with several bows that Barakel didn't need anymore to send with the new equipment that Noah was ordering.  How cool!

After months of mailing and shipping, the equipment got to Manantial de Vida.  Wes sent us photos just the other night of them testing everything out.  Amazing to see how God used money from Pennsylvania, and a camp in Michigan to provide equipment of campers in Honduras.  And it's so exciting for us to see how God is and will use what we have learned at Barakel to help with what He is doing in Honduras!  What an amazing God!

I love the fact that the ministry we are a part of right now is so eager to help the ministry we are going to.  It's beautiful when the body of Christ works the way it should!

The Fairview Branch of the Women Who Keep Me Sane

Can I just tell you how much I love these girls?  Over the last two years we have laughed, cried, studied the Word and prayed together.  They have been there to encourage and give a hand.  Since none of us have family around here (and most of our families are hours away) we have very much needed each other.

I am so thankful for their friendship and for their constant pointing me to Christ and for all the fun they are! They help me see the humor in being a mom of preschoolers!

Over the two years we lost a couple and gained a couple in our group as God has moved some on and brought some to Barakel. But we still talk and keep up on the ones that have moved on, and are so very excited about those that have come!
 

Right now we are learning about prayer.  And I love that instead of just talking and reading about prayer, we are simply praying.  So very good.  I come away from Tuesday nights ready for the rest of the week.

I am going to miss them so much when God moves us on from here!

Potluck and Pumpkins

Last night was a staff potluck.  Which is always fun.  Kids running everywhere, people bringing different food, and just time to be together without the reason of work.  What a fun community we live and work with!

The evening also included pumpkin carving.  The last time we did that as a staff, I was two weeks from delivering Elliot.  And Forrest was oh so little!

This time, both boys attacked the pumpkins with gusto, and then Forrest quickly decided he didn't like the way the pumpkin guts felt.  He let me clean his out.  But then he attacked his with a butter knife.  His sorta has freckles all over it now.

 

 Yes, Elliot clapped and jumped and was shoulder deep into his pumpkin the whole night.  Funny how the smaller pumpkin worked great for Forrest, he could manipulate it and do what he wanted to by himself, and the huge pumpkin worked great for Elliot because it was sturdy and big enough for him.

At about the point where the kids stopped being interested in the pumpkins and where the parents had to take over and carve the pumpkins (that was funny, looking around seeing all the adults working on the pumpkins and the kids just sorta sitting there because they were bored with the process) Dave got out a huge wash tub and started bobbing for apples.  I can't remember the last time I did that, 8th grade maybe?  Anyway, that interested the kids for a really long time.

Elliot was a bit too short for the game, but he tried and tried and tried all night, which looked like this

When all was said and done, we walked away with a freckled, smiley pumpkin and an owl pumpkin.  Noah was so excited that he got to carve Elliot's!

And when we got home the boys were in love with the magic of candles inside pumpkins.  So much so they asked for them to glow again this morning.

From My Time Out Walk

This morning Noah sent me on a time out walk.  Yeah, I was that cranky and overwelmed.

Mystery

Monday we took advantage of the fact that all the museums in Grand Rapids are free because of ArtPrize.  In case you aren't aware, ArtPrize is a different sort of art competition where the goal is to get people talking about what is art.  And I came away from the event realizing I don't have a good working definition of art.  So much of what I saw made me say, "well, that's sorta cool, but is it art?"  We had many discussions around the table with my sister (an graphic designer) my husband (an art minor), my brother (an artistic blacksmith).  Anyway, still don't have a good definition.

Ok, but back to the museum.  On our way home on Monday, we took some time to show the boys a piece that my brother Nate helped with, Plan B, but we also spent some time exploring the Grand Rapids Public Museum.  So much to look at and digest normally, and then with addition of ArtPrize pieces, the boys were a bit overwhelmed.  But it was good, and they did enjoy seeing everything.  In fact this morning, Forrest brought up a piece that we had talked about yesterday.

We also tried very hard to get them to enjoy the historical carousel.  Tried.  We thought they would love it.  Forrest liked the one at the zoo last year.  But something about all the people, the volume level of the music (Elliot kept saying "too loud!  too loud!) just didn't sit right with them.  Forrest unequivocally refused to go.  I managed to get Elliot on, but he would not sit on the horse.  So instead we rode in the sleigh.

As we were getting ready to leave, Noah overheard someone talking about us.  Not as in "look at those crazy people with their kids climbing all over everything to get Away from the carousel," but as in "Look, it's Noah Kamper from Camp Barakel!  I was reading their blog this morning and saw they were going to be down here." 

What a funny mystery!  Who are you?  We wish you would have stopped to talk!  We love talking to people who love Barakel.  Were you up during family camp?  Did your kids come to summer camp?  What are you making for dinner, 'cause I could really use some new ideas!

Would you help us solve the mystery?  For anyone who can give us a clue to who this mystery person was at the Grand Rapids Public Museum, there will be a fantastic prize waiting, which may or may not look an awful lot like a Barakel window sticker.

Can't wait to solve this mystery!