October 3, 2008

We returned on September 1 from attending the East Central Africa Camporee in Mwanza, Tanzania.  First, I want to thank the 15 awesome pathfinder leaders who accompanied us.  Their impact via the honor classes they taught and training they provided is unmatched.  Over 7000 pathfinders attended the 10 day camporee.
Here is most powerful moment for me:  During the camporee several of the clubs went into town to do street witnessing.  They befriended dozens of street/homeless children.  They took them to a street vendor to feed them, prayed with them, and invited them to the camporee for the next day.  I did not know about this until some asked me if I had spoken to the homeless children behind the stage.  My heart was moved as I was introduced to these 40-50 children.  They were introduced to the audience and given the t-shirts we shipped from a donor in the US.

I could not help but notice the poor condition of these children.
Sores, scars from parental abuse, hunger, barefoot, and half clothed.  I was introduced to one little boy about 11 years old.  I was told he was the leader.  I thanked him for coming to the camporee and then asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up.  He said he wanted to be a pastor.
 I prayed that God would help him to be a powerful preacher and he smiled.  I also noticed he was holding an old dirty torn shoe box.  I asked what was in it.  He responded, *A gift for the leader*.  I asked if I could see the gift.  I was amazed to see a live pigeon-like bird.  What was amazing is that the bird was sickly, had few feathers and could not fly.  Nonetheless, this was their gift.  To me this was the greatest of gifts.  This bird represented their lives and their cry for help.

I want to thank all of you who responded to the call for supplies that were donated and shipped to the Camporee.  The quality of the supplies did not go unnoticed.  No matter what the gift, give something to someone today.  Jesus did!!!