Camp for Ilyinka Village Children

Here is a report from the Children's Camp Director about the camp for the children in the little village of Ilyinka. (You can see a picture of the small mission church on this Blog.) These children are from homes where there is heavy drinking and drug use. They are not Christian children. This is the first summer of "free camp" on the Black Sea for most of them. Read now the report and pray for these children andtheir families:

"From June, 20 till June, 30th this year God has given us an opportunity to lead a children's camp at the Black Sea Camp for twenty three children who visit church in Illyinka. From the very beginning of the organization and preparations for the camp God plentifully blessed us. Sincerely believing Christian teachers have offered time to organize for children not only rest on seacoast, but also the interesting program with fascinating Bible lessons. The goal of the program, called "Traces to the Source", was to help each child learn the main Biblical truth about the way of salvation through accepting Jesus Christ as personal Savior.

Every morning children did exercises and attended a general meeting where they sang, told verses from the Bible and got acquainted with the program for day. We had two levels for Bible lessons - younger and older children. During lessons of needlework each child showed the imagination and creativity. Often their hand-made articles corresponded to a theme of a Bible lesson. Many children made beautiful Bible verses and hung up them above the beds to see the Word of God constantly. During day the children studied new songs, verses, dramas and presented these in the evening worship with enthusiasm.

It was difficult to work with these children at the camp as all of them are from faithless families and their parents do not visit church. But our Christian Brothers and Sisters prayed for us and our Lord has helped us to overcome all difficulties and to find the approach to each child. We thank God for those minutes when we could talk to each child alone, listen to them, pray and tell how God loves them. Children changed every day and we observed with pleasure as they learned to speak kind words, to help each other and to get new friends instead of quarreling.

Nine days slipped by. The final day of camp came. It was a special day since we were going to call children to make a decisive step and repent on evening service. On evening service after singing there came the moment when there was full silence in a hall. Children attentively listened to the story about the prodigal son. After the sermon the children were invited to repent and many children came to a front of a hall and prayed to God. The joy filled our hearts when we saw as children come to the God. After the evening service we had farewell campfire where children again heard an invitation to receive Jesus in their hearts. And again we saw how new children come to Christ and receive Him as their Savior. Most of the children from our camp have repented that day. We are grateful to God that He has allowed us to work with these children and allowed to be witnesses of how the Holy Spirit led children's hearts to understand who He is and what He has come to do in their lives."