I’m writing this on Saturday night, our time, after a long day of adjustments — the kind of day where the schedule bends, the plans stretch, and the team has to stay nimble. Most of the changes were driven by the weather. That meant juggling English students, adjusting lesson plans, rethinking outdoor sports, and organizing “Water Day” for tomorrow morning — something that normally happens much later in the week.

Our goal in all of this: make camp appear seamless and organized to the campers. So far, so good.

Campers began arriving today — slowly at first around 3:00, then in a steady stream as the hour went on. Jamie, Andrew, and I helped assess English levels for the students, while the rest of the team greeted campers and parents. During check‑in, we witnessed one of those dramatic rain displays we’ve come to expect here: the sky darkened over our little valley, visibility dropped, and then the heavens opened. Not a gentle sprinkle, but bucketloads of water — the kind that even a duck might find excessive. And this is the rain forecasted for most of the week.

Tonight, Emma — whom many of you may remember from her visit to Arizona with her father and brother — gave the opening evening talk on “thinking outside the box.” She did an amazing job. Her leadership is a powerful testimony to what God is doing here. Five years ago, she attended her first English camp. Tonight, she boldly delivered the inaugural message. Wow.

Tomorrow will begin early with setup for Water Day. Please pray that it’s a success. Later in the morning, Jacob will share a devotion — personal reflections on Scripture and how God has used those passages in his life.

Despite the schedule changes and the weather’s unpredictability, camp is off to a good start. Thank you for your prayers and for following along with us.

Ciao,

Pastor Doug