Little BlueSky

last week we had a "break" from camp. but, don't you worry, we weren't resting too much. we spent monday and tuesday with Made in the Streets in Eastleigh and at their farm in Kamulu. what an encouraging organization. they are storming into hell and bringing bits of heaven to some "hopeless" children. we walked around the streets of the Eastleigh slum visiting the "bases" where the street children live. these aren't houses or shacks like you might think, but they are homes. most of them are just spots on the street. some of them have a tarp or plastic piece covering a spot where a young person might sleep. we walked around visiting these homes with some of the staff at Eastleigh (many of whom are former street children). we talked and prayed with people learning about their life and struggles. poverty and homelessness are complex social problems. it was good for our camp staff to learn more about all this. it's also very encouraging to know and be a part of an organization doing something about it and doing it well. MITS provides services to help young people break their addiction to drugs, provides education, a safe place to stay, food to eat, and job training. there is a system and a process and it seems to be successful. find out more about MITS here.

after our two days there, the rest of the week was spent doing a day camp for younger campers aged 4-7. we also had a "high functioning 3 year old." maybe not so high functioning. but oh so cute. :)
we did almost the same activities as big BlueSky, but catered to younger children. we only had a few melt downs each day. i'd say that was pretty good. the campers LOVED it and asked us to do it again and again. we also had several thank you phone calls from parents. we're excited and hopeful to do it again!

half of our staff did a Little BlueSky program at a nearby school called Uzimatele in a local slum area. it was also VERY well received by the children, staff, and community. and greatly enjoyed by our staff.

now we are in session 2 of camp. I LOVE CAMP. i was drinking my ethiopian coffee this cool morning while walking through camp and could hear "the duck song" echoing from a distance. couldn't help but think, 'how can i live without this?' i sure will miss days of weird lukenya breakfast foods (spicy meat pies today), delicious coffee brewed in my room, cool mornings and blazing hot days and nights, and sweet children singing about Jesus. but i know there's a bigger plan in play here and my next move is to go away from here for a while. i trust and believe it will be good. even sweeter than it is right now.

and now for some big news... BACK TO SCHOOL! (also some old pictures)

here are some recent pictures! enjoy!

I have an awesome job that let's me wake up to a houseful of sweet middle school girls on Saturday mornings. :)

I made this yummy chocolate pie on Easter. It was Nana's recipe. Everyone loved it!

we made these confetti eggs for youth group. they're filled with rice and we smashed them on each other's heads. 

for Rosslyn's prom we had about 12 girls come over to get ready at our house. we served them water and made it like a little spa. SO FUN to be a part of their special day!

and then the boys came over to pic up the girls. then an hour long photo shoot ensued in our backyard. there were probably 60 people at our house!

 graduation day for some sweet sweet (now young adults) kids that i've known since 7th grade. LOVE these guys and girls. what an encouragement they've been to me!

and this is camp staff week. oh camp! so weird/awesome/crazy/fun/indescribable. 

and on with the exciting news...

FINALLY, after talking about it for years, praying over it, being afraid, being excited, studying a lot for the GRE, reading online about teachers, programs, and college towns, i have finally been accepted and have committed to graduate school. finally! i made a decision and i'm going with it. in August i'll be beginning a masters program in Intercultural Youth and Family Development at the University of Montana. it's one year on campus in Missoula and two years in a cross cultural internship with the Peace Corps. 

i'm pretty scared, don't know how i'll pay for it, and don't know where i'll live or who i'll hang out with.... but i know it's the right thing. i never expected to get accepted. i am heart broken over the idea of leaving Kenya and Camp BlueSky. but, again, i know it's the right thing. all along i prayed and said to friends that i'll just keep going until the door closes. and the doors have yet to close. :) ha! Montana (and then Peace Corps) here i come! 

camp is here!

from a recent email to my supporters...


Camp has begun! Things are going really well in Nairobi right now.  We have an outstanding group of counselors this year! I was amazed at how well they all did with first session of camp: so much energy and love for the campers! First session went VERY well! We ended up having nearly 60 campers which is almost double last years enrollment! Praise be to God!

RESCUE.
Our theme for this summer of camp is Rescue, Colossians 1:13-14 “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness into the Kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” It’s been a joy and blessing to share this message with staff and campers. We’ve talked about creation, Adam and Eve, and the fall of mankind; Moses and God rescuing His people from slavery; Jonah who was rescued and pursued by God even when he tried to flee God; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were rescued in the fire when they refused to worship another god; Jesus and His ultimate rescue of mankind; and finally Paul and how God rescued him and rescued so many through Paul’s radical faith in Jesus. We’ve shared out own stories of being rescued and have loved on and encouraged each other and our campers.

Right now we are having a short break from camp and serving alongside a Andrew’s (Conway’s. Andrew joined our full time team in January, but he grew up in Nairobi and has been a part of camp and student ministry since he was in middle school) parents in an urban slum in Nairobi. Our counselors are learning about poverty firsthand by spending time with street children in the streets and at a wonderful centre where the children safely go to school, learn a trade, and live in peace.  This weekend (Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) we will for the very first time have a day camp for younger children. Little BlueSky will be held at Rosslyn Academy from 9-1 each day and will introduce 4-7 year old children to some of the rich traditions and crazy fun of Camp BlueSky. Pray with us that this week would go well. Please pray for our safety traveling in the city and our wisdom and love as we care for small children.

After this week it’s back to camp for us as session II begins on Sunday 12 June. We are already around 80 campers and are hoping for more! This session is going to be awesome I just know it! This is the session where most of the children are from the international school. Many of them haven’t been exposed to authentic Christianity. Pray for our hearts and the hearts of our campers second session. Pray that we’ll all be open to hearing from God. Also pray that we will experience and share the love, hope, and peace of Jesus.



I also have some very BIG NEWS that i'll post about hopefully later today. :) But if you're reading this, then you probably already received the email. 


love, Amanda