A Summer Camp Update

New friends were made, the gospel was preached, and the fun, games, and activity kept children going all day. The COTN summer camp in Sierra Leone had all the elements of an unforgettable two weeks.

Nearly 500 children gathered at the COTN site in Banta Mokelleh, Sierra Leone between July 27 and August 9 for an evangelistic summer camp.

The chiefdom of Banta Mokelleh is a severely undeveloped and predominantly Muslim area in Sierra Leone. When God provided land and the opportunity to move our children’s homes and ministry site to Banta, COTN leadership began believing God for a transformation in this area of Sierra Leone.

Reaching out to the children of Banta with the gospel of Jesus Christ is an important part of COTN’s vision. For several years now, Children of the Nations has organized a summer camp for our children in full-time care, and this year the summer camp ministry was extended to the children in neighboring villages. For most of these children, this was their first opportunity to hear about Jesus.

Children from the villages of Ngolala, Mosekie, Wonde, and Mokpanguba, some walking great distances, were excited to get to camp. “Interns had to walk over five miles each way and make several trips across a big river in a dugout canoe to collect 20 campers from Mosekie, the most outlying village,” reported Dave Spoon, Summer Program Coordinator. “We collected 20 more campers in Wonde and 40–50 children walking down the road. It was quite a sight—each of these little ones carrying their week’s worth of stuff on their heads! When we turned the last corner to COTN’s ministry site all the rest of the kids were there singing and clapping and our excited camp travelers hurried the last 100 yards to join them—very emotional,” said Dave.

During the week-long camp, our COTN children in full-time care joined the village children each week—both sets were happy to make new friends. “I liked the preaching and the activities, especially football [soccer]. I made new friends from Ngolala,” said Kebbie, a ten-year-old camper.

Each morning, children started the day with Bible study, breakfast, arts and crafts, and bathing. The afternoons were full of games and physical activity. Each day concluded with supper and a social time. The children slept in the COTN school, which was temporarily converted to dormitories for the duration of the camp.

“Watching the children socialize and play together from all the surrounding villages was a delight,” said Dave Spoon. “They ran to line up for their three meals a day. There was a strong evangelical approach that brought many to Christ. The word is out and many more children will want to come next year.”

A highlight for many of the village children was three daily nutritious meals. Most of these children receive only one meal per day. Fifteen women cooked around the clock to provide food for the nearly 500 children and staff.

The first week of camp hosted children age six to twelve, and the second week ministered to children thirteen and older. As the two weeks came to an end, staff and interns were physically exhausted, but overjoyed to see how God had been at work in the children’s lives.

“Most of the kids raised their hands to accept Christ,” said Dave Spoon. “It is hard to know the number, but many came on their own for discipling, prayer, and many more questions. The seed is planted deep in the children’s hearts here in Banta. The Holy Spirit is alive and working here.”

by Aimee Henderson, COTN–USA Communications Assistant