The following report was written by my wife Kathryn on our recent trip to Christian Camp Gideon in Estonia.
If you would like to see and feel God at work in the lives of His people you need to come to Christian Camp Gideon in Estonia. From sunup to sundown children and youth are hearing about the joy and promise of the Christian faith and experiencing God’s grace, God’s love, and God’s power. The volunteers (who this year included six Americans) offer opportunities to learn the basics of Christianity, as well as how to live as a Christian disciple in today’s world.
The theme of the two weeks of camp was sports, and the campers were able to play soccer, volleyball, floorball, dodgeball, kickball and baseball. Mixed into their day of sports were sessions in identifying and using their gifts to the glory of God, Bible study, learning about the ministry of Jesus, our Savior, and evening praise and worship.
A couple from Iowa and Russ and I donated a total of $4,000 to Camp Gideon which was sent over prior to our arrival. It is being put toward a heating system which will make Camp Gideon usable year-round. An additional $5,000 was raised, of which you were a part. $4000 paid for a security fence which we saw built, and $1000 was given to the orphanage we support who were very thankful.
For the first time we visited a very moving memorial to the citizens – a total of 39,000 – who were murdered or died because of relocation efforts of Estonians to Siberia during Stalin’s reign of terror after he seized the Baltic states prior to World War II. 250,000 people were displaced during the crisis. Pastor Artur’s parents were a part of that relocation and survived. The memorial highlighted a very dark chapter in Estonian history.
Helping at camp were 40 Ukrainians who fled their country as a result of the war. Some have started a new life in Estonia, some hope to return to Ukraine when the war is over.
The Apostle Paul writes in Galatians 6:9: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” One significant thing, among many others, that we do at Camp Gideon is plant seeds. They are seeds of faith. With every prayer uttered, every Bible verse read and discussed, every lesson about who God is, every skit created and performed, a seed is planted. That seed will be watered and fed by others who influence these children and teens in the Christian life along the way. Who knows what the result will be – we cannot be sure of anything, except the promise that God will claim them as His own and use them in bringing about His kingdom.
Thank you for believing in this ministry and for financially supporting it. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for not becoming weary in doing good.
Russ Adams 