AWANA MaxOut Camp 2013

I was blessed to be able to stow away with Greyson and Avery to their AWANA MaxOut Camp this past week.  The week was packed with learning God's Word and having lots of fun through many activities.  My job was to be a Counselor for the "Blue" team and for my cabin (Little Lulu) of middle school girls. As always God taught me much.  Every time God sends me somewhere I assume it is to help and serve others, but God always changes me in the process.

For those that do not know, the AWANA MaxOut Camp is for any rising fifth graders to seniors that have completed an entire AWANA book from the past year. This camp is filled with young adults that have learned many verses and Bible truths.  They encourage and inspire me so much.  This year 57 were in attendance - 31 of them were from my home church.  Go West Cabarrus!!  :)  The young adults were split into color group teams:  red, yellow, blue, and green.  They competed in games, Bible quizzing, and verse memorization. Along with that fun, they had morning devotions, morning chapel, evening chapel, and nightly devotions. Needless to say, these young adults were being greatly enriched by the Word of God.  The campers were taught the main point from each New Testament book through the Walk Thru the Bible program and taught deep truths (meat) from the book of Romans nightly.

I came away exhausted, with lots of smelly clothes, a greater love for God's Word, and deep appreciation for a wonderful group of young adults.  God started prepping me before this week for an important lesson He wanted me to learn.  Then He clearly showed me what I needed to learn during the week.  I am a "doer". If there is something that needs to be done I will do everything I can to complete the task. God showed me last week that He wants me to allow others to help in the "doing"...mainly young adults that are ready to share God's Word. I need to invest my time in helping them do just that:  share God's Word.  At camp, I saw MANY young adults, strong in His Word, leading the younger students.  I saw the training and discipling that was poured into these young adults over the years come to fruition.  They willingly started training and discipling the younger campers.  I wish you all could have seen them help the younger campers learning their verses, encouraging them in game time, and quizzing.  Oh how it made my heart happy! This is what the Great Commission is all about!!!  I'm so thankful it is happening here and I so look forward to being apart of the training and discipling in Nicaragua soon!

Along this thought, please pray for our students at West Cabarrus this week.  They are having their "I Love Cabarrus" camp.  This week the teenagers will be working in many different service projects throughout the county.  Our prayer is that the love of Christ will shine through them as they connect with people in our "back yard". One of the projects I will be helping lead - VBS at a Hispanic Church.  And guess what?...I'm leading but not "doing" it.  The teenagers will be teaching the lessons, leading the music, and running the craft, snack, and game time stations.  I can't wait to see what God will do through them!  Avery, my usually quiet daughter, will be helping with teaching the children dance motions to the songs.  Greyson will be teaching the Bible lesson on Wednesday.  I'm so thankful for their willingness to serve God...even when it is out of their comfort zone.

Please also continue to pray for our monthly support needs.  We are almost 1/3 of the way to our monthly goal need of $2,700.  We give God all the praise for this!

Below are a few pictures from MaxOut Camp.  Enjoy!
                                          The Blue Team Flag.

                                              Our Cheer.

                                          Verse Recitation Time.

Game Time!

Of course, we have breakfast, lunch, and dinner time!

Some Fun.

Horseback riding 

Yes, we even had a waterfall hike.  My favorite!

 Bible Quizzing 

Three Happy Campers.  :) 

                                        Nightly Worship and Teaching

      



      

No Lazy Days of Summer Here!

This past week was extremely BUSY, but that is how we work around the Perry house.  :)

Each day was filled with activities that we know will prepare us for the mission field.  Actually, we are looking at each event, activity, etc. differently now.  We are taking each day as more training from God.  This equipping/training will be useful here or in our future location.  Of course, each of us, Christians, should look at each day this way.  God has a purpose for us every day He allows us to live.  We need to be actively looking and seeking His Holy Spirit's guiding.  I, Wendy,  know I can become too busy at times to hear His calling.  I pray I can become more sensitive to His calling!

Now to summarize our past week...

Monday through Wednesday morning my sister, Susan, ran a volleyball camp for 6th graders and up.  I was able to help her in the coaching and our daughter, Avery, was able to participate.  This was an enjoyable experience!  I LOVE volleyball and I was able to learn a great amount from my sister.  Thankfully, volleyball is one of Nicaragua's favorite sports!!!  YAY!  If God opens that door in Nicaragua we hope to minister through the sport.  What a great way to reach the youth.  This could easily be a time of fellowship, shining for Him, and even opening God's Word through a short devotion at water breaks.

Monday through Friday nights from 6:30 -8:30 our church had Vacation Bible School.  I honestly look forward to this week every year!  I have fond memories of my VBS days as a child.  I want other children to feel the same way.  I was given the privilege to teach a couple of the nights and I, of course, love that also!  This year was a little different for me.    The outreach focus this year for our VBS was bringing in canned food to help restock the Cabarrus County Food Pantry.  Our children's Pastor, Brett, created a "friendly" competition for our children.  If the girls brought in more canned food than the boys then Pastor Brett got a pie in the face.  If the boys brought in more canned food guess who got a pie in the face??...Me!  Then he added a twist.  Each child who brought in 20 cans was able to throw a pie at either one of us.  Well, the boys won, but both of us got many pies in the face!  I'm still trying to get the cool whip smell out of my clothes!!  It was a messy night but well worth it since the children brought in a total of 595 cans!  Praise God!

Avery is the third from the left.  She did a wonderful job helping the children worship.
We were proud of her because this was not in her "comfort zone".

             As the kids say, "Mom, getting into her teaching."  I can't help but talk with my hands.  :)

Friday morning the kids and I were able to help with an outreach that my friend, Carolyn, heads up.  I call it the Harvest ministry.  While her Pastor's wife teaches English to a group of Hispanic ladies we are allowed the honor of teaching their children.  I wish you all could see their beautiful smiling faces!  There were 14 children there ready to learn God's Word and participate in some fun.  Carolyn had some creative craft projects and snack.  I was able to teach God's Word about the creation of Adam and Eve.  Greyson, Avery, Addyson, and Bryson were wonderful helpers, along with Carolyn's children.  I'm always proud of them.  They jump right in and do whatever we ask.  Greyson and Avery are great helpers with crafts, etc.  Addyson & Bryson are great at playing along with the kids.  :)  We look forward to being involved in this outreach the remaining of the summer.  I hope to have a picture of the group next time we meet.

On Sunday, we were able to visit two churches and share our Nicaragua Full Time Mission plans.  Each one of us spoke, since this is a family affair!  We were all very nervous, but God took over.  We are especially proud of Jeremy.  As he will state many times over, he is not called to be a preacher.  He feels his spiritual gift is service.  So stepping out of his comfort zone to speak to two congregations really "stretched" him.  He did a fabulous job and we know God was in it all!  The churches were very friendly.  They will always hold a special place in our hearts for being the first churches that welcomed us so warmly.

To end this update we would like to post some prayer requests:

*Harvest ministry - On the 12th I will be teaching the children about the "the Fall".  Please pray that the children's eyes will be open to seeing their sin and need of Jesus, our Savior.

*For more churches to allow us to present our Nicaragua plans and financially support us.  :)

*Upcoming Youth Camps.  In a couple of weeks Greyson, Avery, and I will be going
to an AWANA camp in the area of Polkville, NC.  Greyson and Avery have gone to the camp for many years, but this will be the first time for me.  I have the privilege to be a camp counselor.
Also, the following week our church will have a camp for our teens called "I Love Cabarrus".  Again, Greyson and Avery have been involved with this camp in the past years.  This year I hope to help with some of their outreaches.  More experiences and training ahead!!

*Jeremy, my hard working husband and terrific father, as he leads his crazy wife and energetic kids!  As most of you know, he works two jobs.  He has done this our entire married life - without complaint.  Please pray for him as he strives to be a Godly example in his work place and as he tries to juggle the
new responsibilities pertaining to our full time mission goals.

*For God to help us learn the Spanish language.

Thank you in advance for you prayers!!!