Tuesday’s theme was “hope when we face challenges.” We compared David’s challenge of facing Goliath with our own “giants.” Students shared experiences ranging from lifting a very big box to taking entrance exams to dealing with the death of a close family member. No matter our challenge, we learned that the battle always belongs to God.

Tuesday afternoon, Pastor Miro and Pastor Janka took the team to a crystal shop where we tried our hand at glass-cutting. Some team members may have discovered their hidden talent! Such excursions are certainly fun cultural experiences, but they also give us an opportunity to evangelize outside of camp. As exuberant Americans, our joy is  evident, so we strive to simultaneously share where our joy comes from.

Wednesday, we discussed “hope when we are in danger.” Lately, more than a few team members have mentioned the danger of exhaustion. Traditionally, the concept of “hump day” has rang true on Wednesdays– students’ energy levels peak while teachers find themselves needing one or two extra cups of coffee. The team prayed together for renewed energy and set forth to conquer the day. While there may have been fewer piggyback rides than early in the week, God nevertheless gave us sufficient strength for the day. We practiced patience with the perler beads in crafts, cooperation with soccer futbal in sports, and grace as we tried using newly acquired vocabulary with friends (English for the students and Slovak for the teachers!) God hasn’t failed us yet, and the love we have received from these incredible children has more than restored our spirits.

Wednesday afternoon, the Americans and a few translators went to Štrbské Pleso in the High Tatras mountains for dinner and fellowship. Along the way, we passed a young girl whose face brightened when she recognized the driver as Pastor Miro. The genuine commitment to serve God is apparent among the three congregations in Svit, Batizovce, and Gerlachov. We have over 25 Slovak volunteers at English Bible Camp, most of whom are connected to the church. The congregations continue to support Ukrainian refugees by providing housing. Additionally, relationships between the church and local schools continuously grow through religion classes during the school year and this camp in the summer.

Children who may have limited exposure or understanding of the church are gaining a new perspective. They are seeing peers who are comfortable discussing the faith they have in Jesus. They see adults who care about them and are willing to be silly while maintaining a Christian example. Most importantly, they are seeing people for whom God is very real and present in good times and bad.

Thursday and Friday will round out our week as, with a mix of joy and sadness, we wrap up our week in the wonderful town of Svit. We have been so well received and graciously hosted. We will have strong memories of this city and the local church for many years to come. The Lord is doing something amazing here and we are honored to join in, if only for a brief season. Your support is central to us being ablr to do this mission. So, thank you!

Please pray for the team as the end of camp approaches. While teachers have gradually been introducing the Gospel through comparisons to the story of David, enough trust has usually been established by Thursday to have truly impactful discussions with students about the purpose of Christ in our lives. We will rely on God’s wisdom to guide these conversations and open hearts to receive the truth of His love.