The Price Is Right

What would be your terms if I were to ask to buy your car? What about your time? What would you ask if I wanted to buy your heart? You discover lots of things when you participate in these kinds of intense, ministry/mission events. Actually, that’s not true. You discover lots of things about your kind and gracious God when you let Him show work and when you pay attention.

Day two, Tuesday was a good day, but in a different way. In some ways the kids took it easy on us on Monday. Smiles and good times Monday was, but Tuesday was a bit more challenging.

There is no question they remember us. The recognition of tradition was strong yesterday as Gennady (the director at camp #14 – the older kids) spoke during the opening moments. He has the kids line up in lines, almost like patrols in boy scouts, and then the kids announce their names and whether they are all present and accounted for and then they recite their “poem” or motto, really. Gennady then took a good ten minutes to talk about the camp and to talk about our commitment to them. It’s like we earned a new level, a new rank, amongst them.

The price of this new level of recognition is … whatever price we are willing to pay. You see, Tuesday had more frustration than Monday. At #14, the older kids camp, they were a little more aggressive. Not necessarily mean spirited, but they began to treat us like they treat one another. This would be great if they were gentle kids, but the camp environment is far more Darwinian than Utopian. The strongest and largest and meanest often gets the respect. The week, the disabled, the small, the meek get most of the abuse. Some of the abuse is … typical of kids. Some, however, is not.

Instead of developing a special handshake, a kind nickname, a particular motion or action, we were given a glimpse of their frustration I believe.

I was speaking with one of the translators and with one of the camp leaders and was hearing a story that truly broke my heart. The older camp is now experiencing “second generation” kids. These are kids that have come to the camps, gotten pregnant (sometimes by choice, sometime by force) and now the children are sending their children to the camps. It is a story that often becomes more sad and lonely as it is told.

But, in spite of all this and in many ways, in light of all this comes the following realization. Their treatment of us indicates, in my opinion, a sign of expected acceptance. It speaks of us becoming one of then. The window to their world has grown from a peephole to a full size window.

The price of this acceptance is that we are absolutely willing to take and see the worst in the kids because we want to give and show the absolute best. The love we have for these kids shrinks away like dried fruit in light of the love God has for them.

Please know that we covet your prayers. Yesterday was a little frustrating for some, but not for all. We had some challenging kids in both camps. We’re not getting all the time with the kids we had hoped for, it’s chaotic at times, and we’re still trying to sleep in an environment of “White Nights”. But we are absolutely looking toward the day when one, some, or many of these kids will confess with their mouths and believe in their hearts that Jesus Christ is Lord.