The Final Post for Mission trip 2007. (except for photos)

Well - our time here is done, and it has been a most successful time. The ESCAPE camp finished this morning and the kids have had a wonderful time. The camp site is an Non-Government Organisation called Nation-Builders, and it is a bit like a nursery and conference centre rolled into one. The grounds are beautiful and the facilities, while basic, have been very comfortable. The temperature has been also quite pleasant - we've even had a bit of rain and the evenings are positively cool.

There were 34 children at this camp and then around about 20 ESCAPE staff who were their buddies for the weekend. The KidsReach team organised all the meeting times and games and activites. So for us it has been a much less intense camp - we were involved more as a support to ESCAPE and to the buddies, than the other conferences and camps. This has been good after the rather hectic pace of the past few weeks. Just to let you know what ESCAPE camp is all about - It is along the same lines as the Southern Cross Kids Camps in Australia. It is a specialist camp for children who have been affected by abuse in someway. The idea is to give them a safe and happy experience in a Christian environment and give them good childhood memories.

We were able to treat the children in many ways including some Mr Bean on the big screen which brought howls of laughter from children and adults alike. We made a visit to a local chocolate factory where everyone ate way more chocolate than was good for them and then felt sick afterwards. We had a big party on the second night and played lots of great games and it was just awesome to see kids that have been through so much to laugh and have a really great time. Some of the team thought that it wouldn't be a party without party horns so we gave every child one and then spend the rest of the camp wishing we hadn't - it was a noise that greeted us morning, noon and night! - and gave the campers great delight. ESCAPE gave each child a teddy bear on the first night and we gave each child a Foxy Dog soft toy as part of the the party night - but also to help the children to remember the Foxy cards which we gave each child after the Salvation presentation. We encouraged them all to keep reading their cards and keep living God's way.

We ran a KidsOlympics on the second day and everyone got very involved and had a great time - despite the rain at times, and in the evening we had a concert in which the kids all got up and performed songs and dramas and we all laughed and were thoroughly entertained.

Each morning we had also had a teaching/ministry time where we sang songs and played a few games, learnt a memory verse and then we gave a message. Pastor David spoke on how God created us for a purpose and not matter what He will always love us. Sarah gave a salvation message on the next day using the story of the Prodigal Son and the final message was by Shanthi who spoke on Holy Spirit. In all the times - children were responding - and the final message in particular was accompanied by a very powerful time of prayer and ministry with the children and buddies, many of whom we discovered were from Buddhist homes, so we know that the opportunity really was to the glory of God.

Today was the final excursion - as after breakfast the campers and buddies all headed to Pinnawalla Elephant Orphanage where the kids get to watch the Elephants all washing in the river and then follow them to where they feed them. It is really amazing to be so close to such massive creatures. As a final present, the kids will be given a photo album each with several photos of themselves on camp to help them to remember their time - all in aid of giving the children happy memories.

It really was a precious time, and we could notice the changes in children just in the time that they were on camp. Some of the children have been coming to camp for a number of years, and the KidsReach staff commented that they has been an incredible change in the children from when they first came.
We just can't help but thank God for all his blessings towards us on this trip. He has provided for us at each point - over and above what we imagined. There has been almost no sickness, the weather has been great, the events have all gone to plan, the team has worked together so well and we can really see that God has prepared the way for us.

Our theme of the Father's Heart and Be a World Changer have been realised in front of our very eyes. Lives have been changed and we truly believe that Sri Lanka as a nation will be impacted in big and small ways, by the work that God is doing in people's hearts.

We really thank you for your ongoing prayers for us, for your support in so many ways - whether it be by sacrificing to allow us to leave our regular lives for this time, whether it be through your financial contributions, whether it be in sending an email or text to keep us connected to our usual lives. We want to say Thank you and that you are all very much appreciated. This trip is as much testimony to your faithfulness and love than it is to what God is doing here in Sri Lanka.

There may be some final changes to this post when Pastor David gets to have a read - and I will be posting more photo's when I get a chance to set at a reliable internet connection, but apart from that, this is me - Sarah - signing out for this trip. Check back in the next couple of weeks for the final lot of photos.

Kandy Childrens Camp - WOW!

Kandy Camp - This was the big event of the trip. It has been organised by Shanthi and a local team of pastors and children's workers. They had spent months preparing and praying for it. The original number of children was set at 200 - however more and more children were added and eventually when over 300 had applied, applications had to be closed. We ended up with 350 people attending - children and leaders. The first night was somewhat chaotic with children settling in and beds being organised. But the conference was an incredible time. Particular highlights were the singing times - 400 people - when everyone was there, singing at the top of their lungs. What an awesome time it was. For the evening rally - the children were all holding pom poms on sticks and it was an amazing sight. The children all participated fully in every part - the action songs, the anthem songs and the worshipful songs. There was times of prayer and free worship and we were all inspired and moved by the fervour of the children to praise God.
The craftwork for the camp was a calico bag for each camper which they decorated with paint. The children spent quite a long time designing their pictures and then painting them carefully. The artwork was really good - Ben commented that his art teacher would be very impressed and he took lots of photos to bring back. When they were dry, many of the campers were carrying them with them everywhere they went.
The KidsReach Sri Lankan team were so very impressive - this was for them a conference similar to Australia's Hillsong conference. The local team lead with passion and dedication - always giving 110%. There was not much sleep happening - but we know one thing - lives were changed!
The evening meetings were a time when the Holy Spirit moved - and we all sensed that the second night was a crucial meeting. During the day we heard of a number of unfortunate events - a young boy had a broken arm in the games time, Dhanushka was confined to bed for the day after an issue with his throat. We had a real sense that Satan was really working to disrupt what was to take place. David gave a salvation message in the evening rally. Just as he was calling children who had put up their hands in response to pray the sinners prayer - there was some sizzling noises from outside on the street and a few seconds later, with an almighty bang and a brilliant flash of light, and transformer on the street beside us blew up! The prayerful mood was instantly broken and the children were all jumping up to look. We knew immediately that this was a spiritual attack. David and the leaders called everyone to focus back to the front, and in a minute the children were again quiet and we were able to continue. About half the children put up their hands - and despite not knowing just what they were responding to - whether it was a first time commitment or rededicating their lives to Jesus. It was an awesome response and their was a definite sense as the camp proceeded that many children had been impacted by the evening.

The theme of the camp was a jointly - The Father's Heart and World Changers. In talking with many of the leaders and team - there is a sense that this is the beginning of a change for the future of Sri Lanka. That these children will indeed go onto make a huge impact of their communities and on the whole nation.

Here are some of the comments...
"Children's hearts changed. One day they will be happy about this camp - will make a big impact on Sri Lanka. Children responded that they really enjoyed the camp and were challenged to believe that they could really be worldchangers. Kids were thinking that they weren't good enough - but they have realised that God's purpose for their life is to be a world- changers." Kobi - Tamil translator - KR Sri Lanka team.

"Holy Spirit moved on the children - many children were healed - from inside hurts.
Children realised their destiny - revival will come to Sri Lanka because of these children." - Asela - Graphic Designer and Youth worker, KR team, Sri Lanka team.

"We had prayed that we wanted to see the children worship God and that in this way, the power of darkness will be broken and children will be released. There was a good balance at the camp - fun but also the word of God. Many people commented that it was so good. Prayers of the people were answered as the camp. There were no complaints for people - the food and the accomodation were good. The teamwork amongst the churches in Kandy is building. Many pastors were there. Support for KidsReach is growing in many churches. Team worked well together - each person was given a part of the program was to pray for. The children praying around the map of Sri Lanka was very powerful." Shanthi - KidsReach Director Sri Lanka.

ESCAPE camp - our smallest children's camp. I'll let you know how we go but we are all looking forward to it.

Please keep praying - this is a camp with lots of broken children and we are really looking to God to work in a miraculous way to restore them. Thank you also for you patience with the photo's - keep checking back as there will be more to come.

Rathnapura continued and on to Madampe!

Well we're almost done over here and there is much to say. My last update was from Rathnapura and from there we stopped at Kandy for a day and up to Madampe. We then went straight to the big event of the trip - the Kandy Children's camp and we are now about to begin our final children's camp - the ESCAPE camp - also close to Kandy.

Rathnapura - The conference went very well. There was a very good mix of leaders present - quite a number of men and also several pastors which is always encouraging to us. We played games with them - showing that kids ministry while vitally important can be done with fun and creativity. The delegates only complaint was that they couldn't get to all the workshops. It was our first residential conference and that made a great difference to the atmosphere amongst the delegates. There was a real sense of unity. We know that many were challenged and inspired to continue to work with children and were given a fresh sense of their calling and purpose for their ministry. We stayed in a big old colonial mansion - now government run hotel. It was soon given the title of Fawlty Towers as we were never really sure when we asked for an item what would actually arrive - if at all. After the third request for a bucket to do our washing in and a sheet for the bed, Barbara and Tania both fronted up to the reception desk and refused to move until one was produced. We hung our laundry to dry on one of the porch areas and were disturbed to see what looked like some more clotheslines just off the balcony - but were in fact power lines! We ate our meals with the delegates and the food was basic but good. Overall we feel that Rathnapura was a successful conference. We have also heard that many leaders were greatly touched by Therese's theme song - "The Father's Heart" - and have been at every conference so far. Shanthi has said that delegates have commented that their heart was burning with a desire to reach out to the children in their community that don't know Jesus.

Kandy - We drove back to Kandy and unloaded the bus at around 8pm. We stopped on the way for dinner at a roadside restaurant and had a lovely dinner - buffet style. For me - some of the best local food of the trip. A good selection both fresh and hot. We finally got to Fair Havens - our guesthouse in Kandy at around 9.30pm only to find that they had allowed another guest to extend their stay and so while there was enough beds for us, there was not enough rooms. Pastor David jumped back on the bus and stayed the night with Dhanushka and his family. Fair Havens is now under new management and has been spruced up with all new internal furnishings and drapes - a very different look to previous years - much more simple, but a lovely place to stay and relax - even if only for one night. We spent the morning doing some running around and touristy shopping for gifts. Tania and Ben took the opportunity for a sleep in, and we all met up at the office for packing and emailing. Heading out to our next stop in the afternoon.

Madampe - Situated up north - further up than our first conference in Negombo, but not on the coast. We arrived in the evening and discovered that the accomodation was a single building for the entire team. One room with bunk beds - enough to sleep around 14 people, with a bathroom area with two toilets and a wash basin. It was immediately apparent that this would not be suitable for a mixed gender team, so the camp organisers moved the boys into another building and we spoke with the local AOG minister and found off site accomodation for the foreign team. I decided to stay with the ladies on site, and on the second night Ben and Tania also came and stayed onsite. The shower block was at the other end of the camp ground - a huge area covered in bungalow style buildings and many coconut trees.
This was a somewhat different type of camp as it was a joint children's camp and leaders conference - all in one. This was the national Baptist children's conference - so there was children and leaders from the whole island. The local team was responsible for the children's camp program - there were around 250 children. The foreign team was responsible for the leaders conference - which ran concurrently with the children's program, and there were about 50 leaders from the Baptist churches and then a further 20 or so from the local AOG churches. We found it a little frustrating because the program was constantly changing because it was not being organised by us - we were given set times to do our programs in. Despite that - it was a really great time. The kids had a awesome time - they got much out of ministry and teaching times and there was lots of fun and games for the rest of the time. Ben spent his time hanging out with the local boys and playing with them. Pastor David and the team also gave the Kids Keep Safe message in one of the sessions and we understand that it was received with great interest and the children were really paying attention. Some of the leaders later said that they feel it is time that these matters were addressed.

The leaders conference was a more conservative feel to other conferences - but this was the first time that many of these leaders have heard any teaching specifically on children's ministry. It was a great privilege to encourage and equip the leaders and our annointing service on the second morning was particularly special. Shanthi relayed feedback to us that many of the delegates were really encouraged to continue working and teaching children and that God had really spoken to them. It was Yan and Michelle's final camp as they were heading off to Singapore and Malaysia to attend a real estate conference and to visit family. It was sad to see them go and they had really been a positive influence within the team - both contributing so much to each of us - encouraging us and supporting us. Michelle gave her final workshop and we prayed with them and waved goodbye. We left the camp after dinner - gave out lots of glowsticks to the the kids and leaders and headed to our next stop - the big conference centre in Kandy for the Kandy Kids Camp.

Rathnapura continued and on to Madampe!

Well we're almost done over here and there is much to say. My last update was from Rathnapura and from there we stopped at Kandy for a day and up to Madampe. We then went straight to the big event of the trip - the Kandy Children's camp and we are now about to begin our final children's camp - the ESCAPE camp - also close to Kandy.

Rathnapura - The conference went very well. There was a very good mix of leaders present - quite a number of men and also several pastors which is always encouraging to us. We played games with them - showing that kids ministry while vitally important can be done with fun and creativity. The delegates only complaint was that they couldn't get to all the workshops. It was our first residential conference and that made a great difference to the atmosphere amongst the delegates. There was a real sense of unity. We know that many were challenged and inspired to continue to work with children and were given a fresh sense of their calling and purpose for their ministry. We stayed in a big old colonial mansion - now government run hotel. It was soon given the title of Fawlty Towers as we were never really sure when we asked for an item what would actually arrive - if at all. After the third request for a bucket to do our washing in and a sheet for the bed, Barbara and Tania both fronted up to the reception desk and refused to move until one was produced. We hung our laundry to dry on one of the porch areas and were disturbed to see what looked like some more clotheslines just off the balcony - but were in fact power lines! We ate our meals with the delegates and the food was basic but good. Overall we feel that Rathnapura was a successful conference. We have also heard that many leaders were greatly touched by Therese's theme song - "The Father's Heart" - and have been at every conference so far. Shanthi has said that delegates have commented that their heart was burning with a desire to reach out to the children in their community that don't know Jesus.

Kandy - We drove back to Kandy and unloaded the bus at around 8pm. We stopped on the way for dinner at a roadside restaurant and had a lovely dinner - buffet style. For me - some of the best local food of the trip. A good selection both fresh and hot. We finally got to Fair Havens - our guesthouse in Kandy at around 9.30pm only to find that they had allowed another guest to extend their stay and so while there was enough beds for us, there was not enough rooms. Pastor David jumped back on the bus and stayed the night with Dhanushka and his family. Fair Havens is now under new management and has been spruced up with all new internal furnishings and drapes - a very different look to previous years - much more simple, but a lovely place to stay and relax - even if only for one night. We spent the morning doing some running around and touristy shopping for gifts. Tania and Ben took the opportunity for a sleep in, and we all met up at the office for packing and emailing. Heading out to our next stop in the afternoon.

Madampe - Situated up north - further up than our first conference in Negombo, but not on the coast. We arrived in the evening and discovered that the accomodation was a single building for the entire team. One room with bunk beds - enough to sleep around 14 people, with a bathroom area with two toilets and a wash basin. It was immediately apparent that this would not be suitable for a mixed gender team, so the camp organisers moved the boys into another building and we spoke with the local AOG minister and found off site accomodation for the foreign team. I decided to stay with the ladies on site, and on the second night Ben and Tania also came and stayed onsite. The shower block was at the other end of the camp ground - a huge area covered in bungalow style buildings and many coconut trees.
This was a somewhat different type of camp as it was a joint children's camp and leaders conference - all in one. This was the national Baptist children's conference - so there was children and leaders from the whole island. The local team was responsible for the children's camp program - there were around 250 children. The foreign team was responsible for the leaders conference - which ran concurrently with the children's program, and there were about 50 leaders from the Baptist churches and then a further 20 or so from the local AOG churches. We found it a little frustrating because the program was constantly changing because it was not being organised by us - we were given set times to do our programs in. Despite that - it was a really great time. The kids had a awesome time - they got much out of ministry and teaching times and there was lots of fun and games for the rest of the time. Ben spent his time hanging out with the local boys and playing with them. Pastor David and the team also gave the Kids Keep Safe message in one of the sessions and we understand that it was received with great interest and the children were really paying attention. Some of the leaders later said that they feel it is time that these matters were addressed.

The leaders conference was a more conservative feel to other conferences - but this was the first time that many of these leaders have heard any teaching specifically on children's ministry. It was a great privilege to encourage and equip the leaders and our annointing service on the second morning was particularly special. Shanthi relayed feedback to us that many of the delegates were really encouraged to continue working and teaching children and that God had really spoken to them. It was Yan and Michelle's final camp as they were heading off to Singapore and Malaysia to attend a real estate conference and to visit family. It was sad to see them go and they had really been a positive influence within the team - both contributing so much to each of us - encouraging us and supporting us. Michelle gave her final workshop and we prayed with them and waved goodbye. We left the camp after dinner - gave out lots of glowsticks to the the kids and leaders and headed to our next stop - the big conference centre in Kandy for the Kandy Kids Camp.

Next stop Rathnapura - Gem capital of Sri Lanka.

We have now moved to Rathnapura (pronounced Ratnapoora).
This area is famous within Sri Lanka for it's precious stones and gems. It is inland and so a bit warmer than at the coast where Colombo and Negombo are. This conference is a residential conference with about 120 delgates. So
we are running our usual program for the daytime but also having dinner together and then running an evening program with drama and performances from the delegates. Toffa will make an appearance in the Heart of the Father drama and this is usually a chance for the delegates to participate and contribute in their own special ways. It is a time of fun and laughter and also of deeper connection as the language barrier is less of an issue when people are singing or performing. Sri Lankans are great story tellers and performers so we are really looking forward to this evening. We will also be asking the delegates to perform the drama of the worst sunday school class and that has been picked up by the delegates in all our conferences so far. Especially the delegates from Colombo who spent quite some time practising their parts in order to receive the prize of 2000 rupees of resources from the KidsReach bookstall.

To keep you up to date - we prayed for Barbara's leg yesterday which has been OK at the beginning of each day but getting very swollen and uncomfortable by the end of the day. Last night upon arriving at Rathnapura, she was very pleased to see that her ankle was much less swollen than normal and we thank God for the improvement there and we are believing that God will keep healing her.

Will probably post more details when we get to Kandy and also hopefully some photos.

Colombo Conference Full Steam Ahead!

Well we've just done the first day of the Negombo Conference. Yesterday was our shopping day.
Yan and Michelle's flight was delayed by 4hours so we planned to go shopping while Dan and Ken picked them up. We did the big shop at House of Fashion - bought lots of gifts and a few clothes for ourselves and generally spent up big...Sri Lankan style - we didn't spend over $100! We got to check out a bookshop and then grabbed some dinner before heading back to the hotel via Tuk Tuk (three-wheeler) which was a memorable experience. Yan and Michelle finally arrived and we all got an early night ready for our first big day of ministry.

Up early this morning for a quick breakfast and team talk then we jumped on the bus to get to Negombo. The traffic was thick through the heart of Colombo and we were almost out of it when we discovered one of the roads that was usually one way in our favour, was now one way in the wrong direction - so we had to back track for quite a while and got to the conference just a bit late. Time is very flexible over here so it was no problem as the delegates were still arriving also.

We launched into our first conference with the local KidsReach team running a time of singing - teaching some new songs to both the delegates and to us also. There was about 40 delegates - almost entirely women and mostly young - in their late teens and early twenties. They started off feeling a little shy and reserved but were soon fully involved - participating in the workshops and the larger group. We ate packets for lunch which is Sri Lankan takeaway - a portion of rice with several different curries to accompany it. It is all wrapped in a piece of clingwrap and the whole lot is wrapped in a piece of newspaper. We all ate some of it before our tastebuds went on strike from the chilli.

That evening we went back to our hotel, a big hotel just opposite the beach in Negombo. Some of the team had a splash in the pool and others just relaxed before going to have dinner in the hotel restaurant.

We were up for a team breakfast before having a quick walk on the beach and then heading back to the conference for the final day.

The delegates were late to arrive - not surprising given the distance that they have to travel and the inconsistency of public transport. We finally got underway - with some new faces because it was Saturday. We had a wonderful time of corporate prayer in keeping with the theme of the conference - the Father Heart of God.

After lunch the delegates put on some dramas to illustrate the worst Sunday School teacher and we all laughed together at the antics of the teachers and the students.
The winner got 2000 rupees to spend on resources from the KidsReach bookstall with 2nd and 3rd place also winning resources due to an anonymous donation.

The last lot of workshops were a mixed bag with Asela running crazy games outside, Janet running a workshop for the older leaders on leadership according to Nehemiah, and a brand new workshop being run by our youngest team member Ben, who taught the delegates about how to work with balloons - making all sorts of creations from swords, to flowers and even lambs - with object lessons attached. There was lots of laughter and balloons popping but the delegates were all having a great time and learning about how to reach children in fun new ways.

We finished the conference off with an address by Shanthi and an altar call where we prayed with the delegates and annointed them to go and do God's work with renewed confidence and vigour.

We jumped back on the bus - hot and tired but with a real sense that God had revealed Himself to the delegates and also to us. It was a great time of fellowship and encouragement for us all. As we left we promised that we would continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Negombo - they go back to tough situations - often facing resistance within their own families. But God is faithful and we believe that the delegates have a new or renewed sense of their calling to be a part of God's ministry to children.

Things are going well!

Well we've just done the first day of the Negombo Conference. Yesterday was our shopping day.
Yan and Michelle's flight was delayed by 4hours so we planned to go shopping while Dan and Ken picked them up. We did the big shop at House of Fashion - bought lots of gifts and a few clothes for ourselves and generally spent up big...Sri Lankan style - we didn't spend over $100! We got to check out a bookshop and then grabbed some dinner before heading back to the hotel via Tuk Tuk (three-wheeler) which was a memorable experience. Yan and Michelle finally arrived and we all got an early night ready for our first big day of ministry.

Up early this morning for a quick breakfast and team talk then we jumped on the bus to get to Negombo. The traffic was thick through the heart of Colombo and we were almost out of it when we discovered one of the roads that was usually one way in our favour, was now one way in the wrong direction - so we had to back track for quite a while and got to the conference just a bit late. Time is very flexible over here so it was no problem as the delegates were still arriving also.

We launched into our first conference with the local KidsReach team running a time of singing - teaching some new songs to both the delegates and to us also. There was about 40 delegates - almost entirely women and mostly young - in their late teens and early twenties. They started off feeling a little shy and reserved but were soon fully involved - participating in the workshops and the larger group. We ate packets for lunch which is Sri Lankan takeaway - a portion of rice with several different curries to accompany it. It is all wrapped in a piece of clingwrap and the whole lot is wrapped in a piece of newspaper. We all ate some of it before our tastebuds went on strike from the chilli.

That evening we went back to our hotel, a big hotel just opposite the beach in Negombo. Some of the team had a splash in the pool and others just relaxed before going to have dinner in the hotel restaurant.

We were up for a team breakfast before having a quick walk on the beach and then heading back to the conference for the final day.

The delegates were late to arrive - not surprising given the distance that they have to travel and the inconsistency of public transport. We finally got underway - with some new faces because it was Saturday. We had a wonderful time of corporate prayer in keeping with the theme of the conference - the Father Heart of God.

After lunch the delegates put on some dramas to illustrate the worst Sunday School teacher and we all laughed together at the antics of the teachers and the students.
The winner got 2000 rupees to spend on resources from the KidsReach bookstall with 2nd and 3rd place also winning resources due to an anonymous donation.

The last lot of workshops were a mixed bag with Asela running crazy games outside, Janet running a workshop for the older leaders on leadership according to Nehemiah, and a brand new workshop being run by our youngest team member Ben, who taught the delegates about how to work with balloons - making all sorts of creations from swords, to flowers and even lambs - with object lessons attached. There was lots of laughter and balloons popping but the delegates were all having a great time and learning about how to reach children in fun new ways.

We finished the conference off with an address by Shanthi and an altar call where we prayed with the delegates and annointed them to go and do God's work with renewed confidence and vigour.

We jumped back on the bus - hot and tired but with a real sense that God had revealed Himself to the delegates and also to us. It was a great time of fellowship and encouragement for us all. As we left we promised that we would continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Negombo - they go back to tough situations - often facing resistance within their own families. But God is faithful and we believe that the delegates have a new or renewed sense of their calling to be a part of God's ministry to children.