No Place Like Home.

I am back in the ATL! My plane landed last night at about 10:20 pm and i got home about 11:30.

The last two days of camp were pretty good. It was difficult saying goodbye to everyone. Which they actually wouldn't say, because apparantly I HAVE to come back next year. They decided. So all the Egyptians spread the word to tell me "see you later" instead of goodbye. It was funny.

Wednesday morning I was ready to go at 8 and the driver was supposed to pick me and another Egyptian counselor that was escorting me soon after 8. Well, he didnt show up until about 9:20. And i didn't get to go souvineir shopping because of it... not to mention i was so late getting to the airport that security WASNT GOING TO LET ME THROUGH! I would have been so upset. Luckily the Egyptian I was with did some fancy talking along with some begging and they let me through. So I got on a plane and spent the next 18 hours of my life either on a plane or in an airport.

But now I am home. And there really is no place like it.

Keep reading the blog over the next week or so.... I know a lot of you will want to hear some of the stories from my trip, and I don't want to be bombarded with phone calls and trips to get ice cream so i can tell everyone, so i will write them on here. Hope everyone has had a good two weeks! I missed everyone!

Camp #2 Begins...

Yesterday was the start of Wadi Sports Camp 3 which is for 14-16 year olds. I have enjoyed this camp a lot. I like the schedule better and the camp is just all around better put together than the previous one. But I haven't really gotten close to any of the kids this week. There are a few that were here last week that I have continued to grow closer and closer too, but for some reason i just can't seem to develop the same kind of bond with the new campers. I have been praying hard about this and please do so for me as well. 

However, there is one thing about this camp that I absolutely LOVE! Every night we have something called a Wadi Party. For you CAA people imagine a combined assembly inside of a small venue like midtown or uptown... but instead of campers being 4 yrs-8th grade, they are 14-16 year olds. Its essentially a giant Egyptian mosh pit. They sing worship songs, have dance offs, play games, and just simply rock out. It is so much fun. I came out of there tonight drenched in sweat like I had just come out of a hardcore show. 

The reason I think i like the Wadi Parties the most is that it is closest thing I have had to song worship in the last two weeks. I was struggling with not having something like that the first week and a half... so i have just kind of released during these Wadi Parties and it is awesome!

Also, I have been joined by a new team. This team is from Lake Point church outside of Dallas, Texas. They are all great and have welcomed me with open arms. I do miss the Orlando team, but the Dallas team has jumped right in and made the transition seamlessly. 

So one more day of camp, and then i will begin my trip home. It has been a great two weeks. I am ready to be home, but at the same time I will look over my shoulder as I leave. I have made some great friends and formed some amazing relationships. I wouldn't trade this trip for anything right now. 

Good Night. 

Back at Camp

So i have made it back to the camp to start the new camp. The kids arrive tomorrow. And it is definitely good to be back at camp. In cairo things are just so all over the place and you don't really know where you are going next and its good to just be back and it is just a lot more comfortable here. But I did get to go sight seeing today!!!

We started with the Cairo museum which was incredible. You aren't allowed to take cameras in, which was slightly disappointing. But the whole museum is just incredible. And to see Tutankhamen's sarcophagus was incredible! 

And then we went and saw the pyramids. I can not even begin to describe how cool this was. I was blown away by the sheer size of them. And at the pyramids i got to ride my first camel, which actually wasnt very fun at all. But hey, how many people do i know that have ridden camels? Not many. So thats cool. 

But that is all for now I believe. Just call me when i get back and i will be happy to go into more detail. Good night everyone! 

One camp in the books!

So the campers left today at about 3:00. Overall the camp was a huge success. I think i heard that somewhere around 40 kids accepted Jesus as their savior this week. Including 6 of the 8 in the cabin that i went and gave my testimony to. That is incredible to me and really left the camp on a huge high note for me. 

Tonight i will travel to Cairo where i will spend the next two days sight seeing. I promise to take lots of pictures. I do not know what my computer situation will be like the next couple of days so i may not get to post much. But I return to Wadi on the night of the 5th, so i will try to post then. As always, keep me in your prayers! Also pray for the kids that were here this week that they will not simply leave their faith behind them at camp but carry it with them wherever they go as it continues to grow!

July 1

The past two days have been very good. I have been getting to know more and more of the egyptians and they continue to amaze me. They are so incredibly friendly and nice and it is making my stay here so enjoyable. 

Yesterday i noticed during worship time that a lot of the boys i had in soccer were all in one cabin. They were the boys i had grown the closest to during soccer as well. So i asked their counselor if i could come during treasure time (Bible Time) and sit with them. He said yes and also asked if i would share my testimony. I agreed and this morning i went to their cabin and shared with them. I think they enjoyed having me, their American soccer coach, come in and talk about scripture and God. I hope that my being there will help them in their own relationship with God. 

It is incredible to see how God is working over here. I can see him through many of these kids, and I only hope they continue to grow closer to him. There are only two more days of camp left, so please keep these kids in your prayers. Thanks!