VBK, sport and youth activities

This past week I was down at our Bible camp for VBK (Vacation Bible Kamp - we spell camp with a “k”). I was asked to teach the teen kids while my colleague, Karla Verheijen, taught the young kids. We both focused on teaching them some of the truths we find in Paul’s first letter to Timothy. 

This is the first time that this camp has been organized in the Spring. It has been organized twice already in the Fall during the Fall school break. That went well, so Shareya (Karla’s daughter) and Sue Foster, both from the church in Ghent, wanted to try it for the Spring break. These school breaks are only for the kids going to school in Belgium. The Netherlands has different holidays. 

Despite this being only for Belgian kids, we had 22 campers come down to camp. I had 9 teens (11-14 years old). The rest were all with Karla. Each day we focused on a different chapter of the letter and tried to help the young people see the beautiful truths Paul shared with this young man, Timothy, his son in the faith. 

I was once again impressed with how well young people can understand what is being presented, and how well they can remember and apply what they are learning. As is usual in Belgium, we put up with some grey weather, but it was mostly dry. I was able to teach a new song to the group, using one of the memory verses. Everyone learned it quite well. Hopefully it will show up on the YouTube channel soon. (There are already quite a few other songs there if you are interested in hearing them.)

The day after getting home from camp there was a sport day planned in the middle of Belgium. This came from a 9 year-old who thought it would be a good idea to invite his friends and others to come sport together. He said it, the adults made it happen and we all had a great day together (although my body is definitely telling me I did plenty this past week). 

It was fun to see how a neighbor of the 9 year-old’s sister wanted to visit for a play day. The mom mentioned that we were at a sport hall, but that they were welcome to come. So mother, daughter and father all came to sport with us all. And when we stopped to sing praises to God, they took part as well. Sharing how to have fun as Christians is a wonderful opportunity. 

In just 2 weeks the members of the church in Maastricht will also hold our Youth Day - about 10 minutes away from where we played sports this past Saturday. Some of the same kids will be there. We are looking forward to sharing some thoughts about our mighty God as well as give them time to have fun together. I will be able to teach yet another new song. 

This coming Thursday and Friday I will also spend time with some Catholic kids as they think about their choices in life. I am thankful that I have the opportunity to teach them how to read the Bible. The last 40 days a group of them have been meeting every Monday online to read through a bit of the gospels, getting to know who Jesus is. 

We are so thankful for these opportunities that God gives us to share how wonderful He is, the wonderful love and life that He offers to all who want to accept it. I am reminded of one of the memory verses fro VBK: 

This is a trustworthy saying and worth acceptance, that Jesus Christ is come into the world to save sinners of which I am the first. (1 Tim. 1:15)