Thai Space Cat: Chaing Mai English Camp 2009

I didn't know what was going on the first day of camp. I didn't know if I would have a class of kids, how long I would have them for, what I was supposed to do with them, if any materials would be provided for activities, if I would be sleeping with the kids, or if I would have anytime to myself. Oh, did I mention that we couldn't even really talk to these kids because of a slight language barrier? This was the epitome of not being in control of one's environment.
We started with morning worship and song service, and that was ok. And then the main camp dude, Ajun Saipin spoke for a while, and then we split into classes. Suddenly I was responsible for a dozen kids. I still didn't know what was going on. Luckily there were two teachers for each class, and my partner had a few ideas. We played some random games and taught them a song or two, and somehow an hour passed by. The kids went to lunch and I wondered what just happened.
Over the next three days most everything was done spur of the moment. If you got 5 minutes of cramming time before hand you were lucky. I ended up telling the story of David and Goliath one night--I'm ashamed to say that the story I told more closely resembled the Veggie Tales version than the Bible. By the last day (maybe even from the first day) everyone was pretty ready for the camp to end. We were having fun, but exhaustion was setting in. We were just sitting around chilling after our last official "class time" (or activity time, or whatever it was) when Cory mentioned that it just didn't feel like camp if we didn't have a camp fire at least once. This was our last chance. We ran over to the nearest 7 Eleven, bought a lighter, cleared a spot in the sand, grabbed some dried out Banana leaves, collected some old bamboo and kindled a small fire.
The kids gathered round and we tried to sing some good ol' American camp songs. They didn't know what was going on, they only knew a few songs in English. We decided we would tell another story and act it out, that had been a favorite with the kids the night before. We ended up telling three. Cory told the story of Shadrack, Michack, and Abendego, (spelling?) Jorge told a story of Daniel and Prayer, and I told the story of Daniel and the Lion's Den. Anyone who wasn't talking acted it out, and Supap translated. Afterwards, Brandon, Cory, Jorge and I stayed by the fire and prayed.
I felt that that night, as we kindled the fire, the Holy Spirit was kindled in each of us as well. I felt the difference in myself. I started the week out pretty pissed off, but here we were volunteering to spend extra time telling stories to the kids and praying with them.
I find I have a negative attitude when things are thrust upon me or I don't know what's going on. I threw up quick prayers throughout the week that God would help me have a better attitude. But I don't think God asks us to have the a good attitude. Just be willing, and don't worry about your attitude, because it will come with time. Its not our job to have everything figured out and be the perfect. I still don't know what's going on. I guess I'm ok with that.

The team.

The Hokey Pokey is not what its all about in Thailand.

Its me preaching!

Just kidding, I could never preach. I'm just telling the story of the Good Samaritan. Cory is the Samaritan, Supap is the victim, and Brandon is the donkey.

And the full cast! They were all remarkably silent... leaving me to try to sum up the moral of the story. Hopefully most of my bad sum upage was lost in translation.