Questions, Questions, Questions . . .

We are finishing up two weeks of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) Camp in Allendale. I had the wonderful opportunity to be a part of this, through my job at USC-Salkehatchie.

With over 40-50 children signed up each week, we had our hands full. We had great teachers and student workers, but I was still exhausted at the end of the day. I’m getting old!

Nonetheless, I was excited to see these children learn and enjoy themselves every day!

What else has been going on? I’m glad you asked . . .

Positively Contagious

Last Friday, these children left Allendale in our minivan and went to Greenville for the Elementary Camp with Grace Church. For the three boys (including my son Elijah) it was a return trip to the camp, and for the two girls it was the first time ever at a sleep-away camp.

Besides the two girls, we actually had more children ask about going, even though they had never heard of Grace Church. Why? Because the five children who went last year told all their friends about what a great time they had.

Their excitement was contagious. You could say that they were camp-vangelists.

(And, yes, all five were chatterboxes for the three-hour trip back to Allendale. Do you think they’ll spread the word, too?)

Uplifting Moments of the Week

With 90+ degree temperatures, we are in the dog days of the summer. But I was encouraged by these “cool” things that happened this week:

STEAM Camp:  This camp has been going on for over 10 years, but I’ve gotten to be a part the past two. I love seeing the students learn with hands on activities (robotics, art, dissections, technology, etc). And during the moments of free time, I love seeing them play and compete. It looks chaotic, but they are having so much fun being together. You can see more photos here.

Connecting Allendale, Summer Camp, and You

My son Elijah is excited about going to Camp Grace Rock Band camp, in less than a month. And he’s excited that five of his friends from Allendale want to come, too.

Read the story of one of his friends, Ardoine (“Doc”), who made a connection at a spring break camp that went beyond sports or activities. It was a connection with a Grace Church member, Ryan Voelkert.

“The reason we tell stories like this is not to promote Spring Break Camp in Allendale or Elementary Camp in Greenville. If we’re honest, a week at camp is not going to change a child’s life forever.

We tell these stories because they reflect the importance behind the Espinosa’s and Grace’s involvement in Allendale. Through the avenue of camps, a boy in Allendale gets connected with a family in Greenville.

The children in this family learn that friendships don’t have to depend on similarities in circumstance, race, or demographics. Lasting relationships are built. The gospel gets shared. Life change happens.

All because of a willingness to be a part of a community instead of coming in from the outside.”

That is exactly why we think camps are important.

You can read the full article on the Grace Church Pastor’s Blog or the Grace Church Kids Blog.

Will you support a camp experience for a child from Allendale?

Related Links:

• Reunited (And It Feels So Good)
• Positively Contagious

Why Summer Camps Are Important

Last fall, I was talking to someone who works for Allendale County Schools. We got on the topic of camps that we’ve done, and how we kids from other places come here to make new friends. (The relationships formed are the biggest reasons why we consider the Elevate Spring Break Camp a success.)

Then she asked me, “But have kids from Allendale gotten to go there?” Thanks to the support of many others, I was able to answer, “Yes!”

You may remember that more than $2000 was donated last summer to support students from Allendale going to a variety of camps. You may have even donated to that cause. If so, thank you for being a part of a life-changing opportunity.

Why Summer Camps?

Although we will be moving this summer, we will be involved with a few local camps. Local summer camps are an easy and effective way to engage children when school is out. However, there is a huge value in children attending out-of-town camps.

What Do We Know? Not Much.

Monday morning . . .

I don’t listen to the radio much, especially on the weekends. But whenever we travel on Saturday mornings, my wife and I like to listen to two shows, Car Talk and Whad’ya Know? Both of them mix humor with random (and occasionally helpful) pieces of information.

In the latter show, the announcer asks, “What do you know?” and the audience responds in unison, “Not much.”

And if you were to ask me (three years ago or today) what we know about running after school programs or day camps, I would simply and truthfully say, “Not much.”

10 Pictures from Elevate Camp

As you may know, we had our 3rd annual Elevate Spring Break Camp last week. I’ll write more in the future, but I at least wanted to give you 10 representative photos from the week.

Besides a little bit of bad weather (rainy 1 day, and cold for 1.5 days) and a bit of illness (including an apparent stomach virus in our family), it was a great week. We averaged about 55 kids per day, plus a dozen teenagers, plus another dozen adults. It was a great week of physical activity, fun games, arts, team-building, and more!

We are thankful for the adults, teens, and children who participated in this camp, and for the financial and other resources that were donated.

Enjoying the great weather on day 1

The 5th-8th grade girls group had perfect attendance!

The Most Important Thing in Missions (Sharing Our Story with CBC — Part 3)

Finally, I’m concluding this series. As I wrote over 2000 words in these 3 posts, I’m amazed that I was able to share all of this in 12 minutes at CBC – Savannah. I could be an auctioneer.

You can listen to the complete podcast of the sermon, including my talk, on the CBC Sermon page. Try this link or this one. My part starts with about 12 minutes left.

In the last two posts, I explained the Context for Hopelessness in Allendale and then how we can engage that hopelessness through true hospitality and incarnation. I will conclude this topic with a quick explanation of missions done well, then a few examples of “random” opportunities to teach, and then some additional inspiration for you.

Missions Done Well

For missions and being missional, the goal must never be the event or the project or the program. Those are good things, but life change doesn’t happen by a project or program all by itself.

The primary means of missions is engaging others in meaningful relationships, for the purpose of helping others worship God. Life change always happens best in the context of community.

When it comes to “missions” programs, most churches use the relationship as the means to get the project done. They connect with certain people, get the team there and back home, and then they are happy. But this is wrong, and often harmful in the long-run.

Elevate Spring Break Camp, Round 3

Every week since August, as I volunteer in the schools and eat lunch with students, students have been asking me, “When are we going to do that camp again?”

They might be referring to any number of camps that we were able to be involved with — including a summer STEM camp with my work, or my wife helping with arts and crafts during summer school.

But for many students, they are talking about one of the Spring Break Soccer Camps that we’ve been able to organize. And we’re happy to be able to help bring it back for the third straight year.

Beautiful Like a Flower

Did you catch this post, You Are Beautiful Like a Flower, on the Grace Church website a few weeks ago?

Our friend Taylor Beard, who has been instrumental in Grace Church’s ministry in Allendale over the past few years, helped us with our Elevate Spring Break Camp. That’s when she met Caleb, who touched her heart and soul.

Grace Church’s work in Allendale had an impact on boys like Caleb, who were able to

• be a part of this camp in Allendale,
• take part in the annual elementary camp at Look-Up Lodge, and
• go on a college field trip.

And the experience had an impact on Caleb’s mom, too. Be sure to read the full article to find out how.

Related Links:

• A Summer of Relationships and Camps
• Why Summer Camps Are Important
• Why Our Spring Break Camp Was a Success
• Allendale Cultural Trips (from Grace Church)