English camp in Radashkovichy, Minsk region:
Summer project report of Osipenko Alexey
My project began with arriving of American Christians at English camp.
We met on the first day of their arrival in Minsk and went shopping.
One interesting story happened to us when we visited a bookstore. A man came to us while we were looking through the books and offered to look at his photographs reflecting the ancient knight battle in the time of the Great Lithuanian State. He gave Americans several photos and they exchanged addresses. He was about to say goodbye to us but my friend Cody who came from Kansas and I didn't want to leave him without sharing Christ with him. We offered him to continue our conversation outside. We sat on a bench and explained to him who Jesus Christ was. In our conversation we used a booklet of four spiritual laws. I also shared my testimony. After hearing the Gospel the man repented and accepted Christ as his personal Savior. We exchanged our addresses. He introduced himself. His name was Peter. Three of us joyfully hugged each other. We wished Peter to grow spiritually and invited him to Good News church. After that we joined the rest of the group. The news that Peter had accepted Jesus Christ brought great joy to our friends and they shouted Halleluiah just in the street.
By the end of that day I felt tired but happy. My body needed rest but my spirit rejoiced.
Thursday, June 12
On that day our team was to go to the camp. We met at 10 near the hotel. The team consisted of American Christians and high school students that knew English very well and could interpret.
The camp was situated in the sanatorium in Radashkovichy. There was a forest, river, boats and catamarans there. That day we unpacked, settled and got acquainted.
In the evening we went to the river. After dinner we had a team fellowship.
June 13- 15
These days were much alike. We prepared the camp program, practiced sketches, and distributed responsibilities.
At the end of the 4th day we had a bonfire, played different games, sang.
On the 5th day and it was Sunday we all went to the Good News church. At 3 p.m. were back to the camp.
Monday, June 16
Early in the morning at 7.30 we had a common prayer.
From 8 to 8.45 was quiet time. Then we had breakfast. After breakfast we had free time.
Children came at noon.
Till 2 o'clock we had registration and resettlement. About 90 teenagers in the age of 13-15 came.
In the evening we had a celebration rally. There were different songs, contests, games and songs in it.
At 10 p.m. everybody went to bed.
June 17, Tuesday
The program that day was intense. Right after breakfast we had morning rally. I took part in a sketch. Then there were English classes for teenagers. After classes there was a sport contest between teams. Kids enjoyed it very much. After lunch we had free time. Teenagers could play different games, attend interesting seminars, sing, and go to the river or just talk to each other.
The task of a team was to get acquainted with teenagers and prepare them for listening to the Gospel. According to the rule of the camp we could tell them about Christ only since Wednesday in order not to attract the attention of the administration.
In the evening we had a disco with Christian music.
Then we went to bed.
June 18, Wednesday
Before lunch the program was the same as yesterday. The evening rally was a little different. All sketches had Christian content.
After evening rally there was a bonfire. People could have fellowship and marsh-mellows. For the team it was a special day since we could share Jesus with teenagers. We divided into small groups and told kids about Christ using four spiritual laws.
I talked to three different groups of teenagers and three people accepted Jesus - two girls and one boy. It was helpful that I knew four spiritual laws by heart. One more girl wished to change her life but could not decide. She said she would think about it. Her name was Masha.
At the bonfire kids heard Christian songs for and testimonies of Christian teenagers for the first time.
After that one interesting occasion happened. The girl Masha I had talked to earlier lost the key to her room and got very upset about it. I tried to comfort her. I said that that loss was not the most desperate thing in life and it was more serious not to have keys from heavenly home. It got her interested and she asked me questions about Christ. Then she promised to think about it again. I promised I would pray for her.
After the fire we had a team meeting. We thanked God for His work, discussed our plans and then went to bed.
June 19, Thursday
That day I felt tired. I prayed to God asking Him to give me strength to do the work for the day. It was a lot of things to do - talk to kids, take the main events on video, and participate in the evening rally.
In the evening we made a talent show for teenagers. Kids took it very seriously preparing for it for the whole day. The concert turned to be great. Winners got gifts and rewards.
Thursday was a last full day in the camp. On Friday kids went home and because of that they didn't sleep the last night. I decided to use those hours talking with teenagers about Jesus Christ.
The conversations were long but had good results. The whole team was working hard and many teenagers said prayers and found their Savior. The fruit of my conversations today was that two girls accepted Jesus.
June 20, Friday
It was a day of departure.
In the morning we had breakfast, farewell rally and slideshow.
At 1 o'clock we had lunch and then kids were leaving. They didn't want to go since they made good friends in the camp. I felt sad myself but I also hoped that I would see those kids in fall in English club "Generation".
June 21, Saturday
At 7.30 is a team meeting. We sing, pray and share stories.
After breakfast we have free time. Saturday is a day of rest for the team. We can go to the river, play volleyball, have fellowship with one another.
After lunch we start preparation for next shift. We practice songs and sketches.
After we discuss future plans in a team.
June 22, Sunday
At 7 is a team meeting.
At 10 we go to the Good News church in Minsk.
In the evening we had team meetings.
June 23, Monday
At 12.30 we met teenagers, registered and settled them.
Lunch was at 1.15 p.m.
English lesson was after lunch. After classes we had team sport games.
After dinner there was an evening rally. I participated in a sketch.
In general the schedule and programs were the same.
June 24, Tuesday
In the morning we had a rally. There were seminars at 5 p.m. A Christian disco was in the evening.
June 25, Wednesday
Wednesday is a special day for a team, since each of us has a responsibility to tell teenagers about Jesus Christ.
At the fire I came to three teenagers. They were playing the guitar and singing. I joined them. I played several songs and they liked it. They didn't mind listen to me.
I shared my testimony with them. They got interested and asked me a lot of questions. I offered them to listen to 4 spiritual laws. They agreed. In the end I offered them to pray and accept Jesus as their personal Savior. They agreed. I pronounced the prayer and they repeated it after me.
Then we had long conversation at the fire, asking and answering each other's questions.
I would like to share some more stories from my project.
It was usually quite noisy in a camp. One day I felt tired and wanted to have some rest. Loud music from the next room annoyed me. I got up to ask teenagers to make it quieter.
There were two girls and several boys in a room. They invited me to stay.
I asked them what they did, how they spent their free time. They said that they often felt bored and didn't know what to do. Then they asked me to tell about myself.
I said that I was a Christian and shared my testimony. They became interested. I offered them to listen to 4 spiritual laws. The boys didn't like it and left the room, but the girls listened to me with great interest. Then one of them, Dasha, said: " I used to believe in God. I still believe that He exists but I am attracted more by another side. I like everything mysterious and magic. I like the power that Satan possessed."
Then I began to tell her who Satan was, that he was a liar and deceiver and used everything to attract people. I said to Dasha: " Even if you like to serve Satan, he doesn't care. He hates you and laughs at you since you rejected the love of God for the sake of going to hell".
I think my words influenced her, since I saw fear in her eyes.
In a while I introduced those girls to my wife. They became friends. We met with them after the camp. They came to English club. Dasha visited us and we talked with her about God. She is almost ready to return to Jesus Christ. She is still thinking. We are prying for her and her friends.
There was another interesting case. After lunch I sat on a bench and rested. A guy came to me and started talking to me. He said: " I heard there are all Christians in your team. Can you tell me about it?"
I began to tell him about Jesus Christ. Then I retold him 4 spiritual laws and asked him if he wanted to accept Jesus in his heart. He asked me how he could do it. I said he could pray with me. He did. He prayed and asked Jesus to forgive him all his sins. Then I gave him the Bible since he didn't have one.
Next day all of his friends knew that he was a Baptist and he felt a little bit awkward. My friends and I supported him. In the evening we invited him to our service, he liked it. He became to come every day. Before leaving the camp I gave him my phone so he could find me.
My project was over on July 16. I am very glad that I came to that camp. I received a lot of new friends with whom I can meet and tell them about Jesus Christ.
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