Capernaum Peru goes to Young Life's camp for the day!

As we pulled away in the big INABIF bus, even before that, something was holy in the air. A team from Westgate church came last year to help with Capernaum at camp, but swine flu caused camp to be cancelled. Instead we spent some disciplined time in prayer walking around the vicinity of the 2 homes that share INABIF's property. I think it was somewhat of a Jericho march. 2 weeks after the team left, a new director came and things began to change. Walls came down, and have continued to come down. We've been given great favor in the eyes of the INABIF headquarters that have over 60 homes and yet know us.  The director has such confidence and trust in us, that though they never have sent INABIF kids with an outside organization. 2 caregivers and a nurse who've seen the work of Capernaum and were won over during the summer team volunteered to come on their day off, without pay!  Daniel, the sports/therapy guy came too and was what convinced Ida to let us go... he and I were pushing for the whole week but we're convinced next year!

We've been talking to Leonardo about camp for almost 2 years, and he could not have been more proud to walk out to the bus... without even a walker. His dreams when we met him were to walk and to come to a camp. He did both today! He also is understanding more and more what it is to belong to Jesus since he now longer belongs to the family he once worked to help support. 

Zully plays a hot/cold, love you hate you game with us.  I think she is protecting her heart because she's been hurt.  Today was pure joy for her. Watching her run on a huge open green field and throw herself down laughing, catch the football with her good arm and shove into her crippled arm, pump and swing high in the air, grab a SUPER water gun and SOAK 5 people at once then fall down laughing again.

Maria just staued with Rocio her leader, laughing and hugging her all day... and falling in love with every guy who pushed her chair of course!  

Jean Pierre.... oh, man. He hammed it up all over camp, when the campers came back to the camp he welcomed them all with high 5s and hugs, was at the center of the water war, ate for 5 people, and sat on my lap all the way there.  Somehow Jean Pierre also got at least 4 bottles of soda from campers by charming them.... 

Romaín is becoming one of my favorites... his sweet disposition and willingness to cooperate, his awkaward movements when he dances, his tenderness with his peers, I simply love him. I teared up saying goodnight to him, wishing I could take him home as mine!  

Joel, infamous for his "SHHIIIIIIII" was obsessed with the sound system.  We coated him with sunscreen at least 3 times at kept bringing him liquids because he wanted to watch, feel, listen to, and touch the big speakers. Finally, he was near fainting and I coaxed him away with my ipod touch, he promptly fell asleep next to me and I followed.  "Musica, musica, me gusta esto" were the clearest words I heard from him today!  

Raul came, with his MP3 player and as usual, withdrawn and cool... But, today he got to be like anyone else today, no pushing carts or working hard.... and he played!  

Carlos had a blast, blowing bubbles, playing uno, playdoh, guitar, water games, meeting people, getting all kinds of attention, watching the skit practice... But when we got him back to his room, he threw himself face down on the hard floor and cried.... and Janet and I did too.  

Its so hard to see them come to life and for them to come back to the reality that nothing has changed, they still call an orphanage home.  Life at INABIF, as you know, is not easy. But it gets better every day. They're taking kids in small groups- 2/week to the beach, parks, malls, just to get out!  Last summer they just had them all stuffed into rooms with no AC or fans.... there is life. I walked past the therapy gym and saw that one of the therapists was taping up verses from Psalms. She said she needed God's word in her heart as she worked.  There us now a "caregiver of the month" for each building and its motivating people. Changes are coming.  Walls have been falling!  Thank you all for being a part of it; some by coming, many by praying or sending people!

We sat with each kid on the bus ride back (we had 2 hours) to share a little more personally the gospel with each one.  For Leo, it was about belonging and family. For Zully; about having a Daddy and being someone's beloved. For Carlos it was about control, he loves to turn the wheels of wheelchairs when they're laid down and pretend he is driving, so Janet used that! Each one has a different wound and need and all of those are healed and made complete in the person of Jesus.  As I showered I was asking the Lord, "NOW WHAT?"  They come to Capernaum, do camp, go to club, hear a little here and there... but could be moved to another orphanage, the doors could close for us... they won't go to church, how are we to make disciples of these kids? What is our follow through long-term, its not guaranteed!"  The Lord seemed to respond to me, "I am their shepherd, I am their pastor, I am the one who seeks them out, I just happened to let you in on it.  Just do what I tell you."

Janet and Samuel are my heroes.  I watch them together and they BLOW MY MIND. They have totally fallen in love with the kids and would lay down their lives, in fact, there is one little girl that Samuel tells Janet he wants to adopt!  While I was gone, Janet organized, called, prepared letters to present to the court for the permission, coordinated with Alberto and Ida... amazing.  Carlos, Rocio, Walter and another Rocio came also. Walter said he decided to commit to Capernaum another year and had a blast today. My heart is exploding with gratitude as I consider all who have been a part of making this happen.... the Westgate team last year, Jericho-like prayer walking.  The summer teams from Pacifica and the Capernaum month long team actually entering into the daily life of INABIF to break the walls, and the Peruvian Capernaum team that has continued, especially under Janet's leadership. God has been more than faithful. 6 hours at camp was like a year's worth of joy for these kids!  I keep thinking of the song "Grandes cosas ha hecho el Señor, Grandes cosas ha hecho el Señor, celebraremos en el!  Great things the Lord has done, we will celebrate in Him!

Celebrating..... 

Christen