During the last week of July, ten middle school and high school students went on Tierra Firme's First Annual Summer Youth Camp. The week was called "Mi Experiencia con Dios" (My Experience with God).

 

Each day began with a session called "Buenos Dias, Dios!" in which a short devotional was lead my one of the students, and then each student spent quiet time with God before breakfast. Each morning after breakfast we had a session called "Encuentro Bíblico" (Bible Encounter) where we studied and talked about the idea of knowing and doing the will of God in our lives. The youth were introduced to the concepts of God's active presence, God's invitation to join him in his work, the adjustments we need to make in our lives and what it means to really know God and walk in his purposes. During the days we had a variety of community building activities and ended each day with a session we called "Derribando Murallas" (Tearing Down Walls) in which we helped the youth to process each day's activities.

 

Throughout the week, the students prepared a 10 minute sketch that they will be presenting to the whole church. We will be videoing their presentation of the sketch and hope to put it on YouTube en espanol soon. The students have also come up with a name for their group and have begun meeting as a cell group. Their name, "G3 Misión JC", means... The Generation of the Third Millennium on Mission with Jesus Christ.

  

 

Oscar Hernandez served as Tierra Firme's youth intern during the months of April and May. Oscar shadowed me on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and helped me with several evangelistic projects. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, he worked with fellow Tierra Firme missionary, Israel Monlina. Oscar learned how to develop and lead small group meetings, prepare and deliver devotionals and short lessons, and got his feet wet in evangelism. The experience has helped Oscar grow tremendously over the past few months. He has become a great example to the other youth in the church and to many adults as he strives to be more like Christ.