Tacoma Team Report from Kitsegukla - Days 4 & 5

Dear Friends,

It's over, and as usual it went by way too quickly. Despite the rain in camp yesterday morning, once we got to Kitsegukla the roads were dry and we had no rain. We finally got a handle on the kids (big and little) playing soccer in the gym, so it was much quieter when we were doing our skit and lesson (no soccer balls bouncing in the background).

Our theme yesterday was how Jesus gives us peace in the midst of life's storms, so we acted out the story of Jesus calming the storm. We created an imaginary boat up front and invited the kids to join the team members "in the boat." Lydia then narrated the story while everybody acted it out. It was a big, noisy storm, believe me! And when Jesus woke up, looked over the edge and said, "It's not that bad. I'm going back to sleep," the terrified protests could be heard throughout the village! (Or at least at the back of the gym.)

Last night's Family Night went well; we had a couple of quick showers while everyone was lining up for dinner, but everybody just pretended not to notice them. I don't think we had as many people as last year, but it was still a good-sized crowd. After dinner the four kids gave their testimonies - a couple of them through tears. It's always good for our guests - teens and adults alike - to hear that these American Christian teens don't all have perfect lives back home. Or to hear how God continues to work in their lives even when they haven't given Him much of their time.

After campfire there were many activities going on simultaneously. I got a group going with the Double Dutch jump ropes (and even managed to jump a few times myself). There was a volleyball game in addition to tossing a football and kicking a soccer ball around. Some hiked out to The Point (the confluence of the Bulkley and Skeena Rivers), and several sat around in small groups, just chatting. Everywhere you looked, you saw visitors mixed in with our teens - we were very proud of their hospitality!
This morning we awoke to at least a hundred crows calling to each other. I'm sure of the number, because on my way back from the shower I counted at least 40 in one tree! It was a very cold morning, and the line for the women's showers was looooong because the last of our visitors had left so late last night that no one was allowed to shower before bed.

After our final planning session we headed up for the last day of VBS. Everything was different because we had to meet in a church basement instead of the gym (there's a big wedding this weekend, and they were going to decorate the gym). My team adapted well, and once again we had around 70 kids. It was easier to hear the skit in the church basement, but it sure was crowded!

After VBS we handed out the Goody Bags - large white lunch bags filled with donated items like toothbrushes, Beanie Babies, books, and school supplies. The veteran VBS kids know these are coming, so they were quite excited all morning. Because it was the warmest day of the week, the afternoon was spent not only playing soccer, but also sitting in the shade playing hand games, and sitting in the cool basement having final conversations with new friends.

At last it was time to say our tearful good-byes - always a difficult time on both sides. We piled in the van for camp, but made a scheduled stop on the highway to load up on huge boulders to be dropped over the single-lane bridge which spans Hagwilget Canyon. It was a fun way to celebrate a great week!

As I write this, the traditional VBS Canada vs. USA soccer game has begun in a nearby field. The winner gets the double-flagged trophy created by a team member a couple years ago, plus bragging rights for a year. In the time I've been coming up here, I believe the wins have been split pretty evenly. However, the Canadian team usually has to borrow a few Americans to boost their numbers, so it's often unclear who the real winner is.

Tomorrow is a free day: a group of about 15 is heading up to Alaska to view the glaciers and visit the ghost town of Hyder; others are driving an hour into Smithers and taking a hike up by the ski lifts; still others will sleep in, maybe catch a movie in town, and hang around camp all day.

Derwin asked at the campfire the other night who felt they had been changed by this trip. Almost every hand went up. When he pressed for details, answers included, "I appreciate how much I have," "I have a new perception of how awesome my family is," and "I can talk much more easily about my faith and what Jesus means to me." Derwin challenged them to make those changes a permanent part of their lives back home.

I can hear cheering from the field - time to go check out the score!

In Christ,

Sue Acuna

I will sing to the Lord, for He has been good to me. Ps. 6:13