This past week was the annual IBFT Teen Camp held about 4 hours from Surin in the mountains of Korat, Thailand. Last year because of scheduling problems and bad weather, we didn’t have any teens attend from our church. This year we had 7 teens and 3 adults there for the week. It was a great week with 3 of the 7 teens that went with us not being saved. Once we got to camp we found out there were about 20 of the roughly 80 campers who weren’t saved. During the week the preaching was great, the weather was PERFECT and everyone had a great time. When Thai teens come together like this, they are just one big “happy” group. It’s amazing because there are no clicks, no groups of people who are ‘too cool’ to play games, and everyone really loves being there. At the end of the week, I think there were about 8 or so salvation decisions and many other good decisions. One of our teen girls sang a beautiful solo and played guitar solo as well that won her a second place medal for both specials. One of the salvation decisions was from one of our teen boys whom we have been trying to reach for several months now. His younger brother might possibly have also been saved this week as well. We will officially begin having “youth group” meetings on Saturdays starting November 1.
BUT, in spite of all the good news, there is inevitably some “bad” news to share too. Last Tuesday while walking through our neighborhood with Lindsey, a dog came running out of a house and bit Erica’s leg pretty good. She was really scared and upset especially since she was about a 5 minute walk from home. Courtney went over to talk with the owner ( I was already at camp) and found out it was the same dog that often chased her while she exercised. The owner apologized and said that the dog has had all of its shots so Erica won’t have to get treated for rabies. If it happens again, I’ll be going over there to have a ‘personal talk’ with the dog myself. AND, as if getting bit wasn’t enough, while Erica was away at camp two days after getting bit, one of the neighborhood dogs came and killed her pet rabbit. The neighbors found its body out in the street. Erica got the rabbit for her birthday back in June and has been really attached to it. So, as I said, it was a good week for some and a not so good week for others. Erica is doing well and is asking for a new rabbit. We’re thinking we’ll hold out and save up some money for a Jack Russell Terrier instead.
