5 Ways to Spend Free Time: West Coast Honor Camp Thursday through Friday

West Coast Honor Camp offers a variety of activities for the three hours campers have after Cabin Rest. There's stuff for the beach-goers, the swimmers, the wildlife hunters, the speedsters, the crafters, and even the wanderers and sleepers. Here are a few old-time favorites and at least one brand new to this 2012 camp year.

Campers race around the Lassen Pines Speedway at Free Time
Photo provided by Laura Carpenter

Lassen Pines Speedway

At the Lassen Pines Speedway, you can race against four other campers or staff members in one of the all-new go karts (much faster than the old ones). Steer your way around the winding track, dodge the side barriers, squeal tires on curves, and collide with the other races other as you battle for first. Tickets can be purchased at the Snack Shack on the beach.

Gutterball

Opposite the speedway, on the other side of camp, is the most popular hangout during the Free Time hours — the beach. Here, you'll find campers spending their entire Free Time competing at one of the four Gutterball tables. The tables are long, narrow alleys with a "gutter," or deep square pocket, at each end. In front of each pocket are seven circular indents, arranged in a 2-3-2 pattern. Seven pool balls are placed in these indents, resulting in 14 balls on the table. You bowl a 15th ball down the length of the table in an attempt to knock your opponent's balls into the gutter. Then they bowl down the table to hit yours. The winner is the first to clear all seven of his opponent's balls. This game has multiple optional special rules, which are determined each game by the table's current champion.

Fishing

Maybe you like water, but not the noise, crowds, or flying sand associated with the beach. Then you may be interested in checking out a fishing pole, bucket, and bait from Philip Bairrington  at the Nature Center. You can choose from a wide selection of bait, including salmon eggs, Power Bait, and plastic eggs in a variety of colors — all at no cost to the you. Once equipped, you could catch bluegill, green sunfish, golden shiner, mosquito fish, or trout (planted right before camp from Darrah Springs Hatchery). If you have a successful day, then perhaps you can enter into one of Bairrington's contests — daily contests for the number of fish caught or the size of the fish (longest or shortest).

Campers create duct tape flowers. There are also patterns for
wallets, handbags,and notebook covers.
Photo provided by Laura Carpenter

Duct Tape

But maybe you're the more artistic type. In which case, you may make your Free Time home at the Rec. Hall among others working on crafts. This year, you could try a new craft was added to the repertoire: duct tape art. You have the option to craft flowers, notebook covers, handbags and wallets from a rainbow of colored and patterned duct tape.

Blob

The floating red-and-blue striped pillow only made a guest appearance this year, but this camp classic expected to return to West Coast Honor Camp 2013. Just off the beach, you slowly climb the ladder to the top platform as your neon orange life jacket brushes against the wood. When you reach the edge of the platform, you look down at the floating pillow that appears to be nearly two stories below. You brace yourself by placing your hands on the side rails, and then you silently count to three before thrusting yourself forward into the air. In seconds, you feel the pillow give way under you. When the bouncing stops, you crawl your way to the other end, then sit with your knees bent and arms braced at your side. Your heart and mind race as you wait for the next person to jump. In moments, as the person behind you makes contact with the pillow, you find yourself several feet in the air, hands and legs flailing as you plunge into the water.

These are just a small selection of the Free Time options at Camp. There is something for everyone, whatever your interests are.

Thursday Night's Chapel Lesson: Standing Up When You Feel Down
WCHC 2012 Final Verse Card Count: 174
Junior High Armor: Sword of the Spirit
Special night of reflection tonight, then preparing for home. Prayers for safe travels.

For more information about Awana Clubs International, visit the Awana Homepage
To find a club in your area visit the Club Locator.

Living the Lessons: West Coast Honor Camp Wednesday through Thursday

At West Coast Honor Camp, Pastor Shawn's theme of "Think Right, Do Right, Feel Right" continued last night with "Taking a Running Stand for the Living God" using David as an example.

The story, taken from 1 Samuel 17:8-54, shows three key points of how David took a running stand against Goliath:

The high school campers shared the Gospel Glove at
Grace Baptist Church, Enterprise Park, and
Sierra Oaks Living Care Center.

1) God gives GIANT JOBS in the middle of tiny tasks. David was not a warrior, he was just a cheese delivery boy. But when he saw the problem, he seized it.

2) God gives an ENORMOUS EDUCATION in the middle of everyday life. David had killed a lion and a bear in order to protect the sheep in his charge. Because of fulfilling the jobs of his daily life, he was prepared to face Goliath.

3) You need TREMENDOUS TRUST in spite of the overwhelming odds. David approached Goliath with nothing but a stick, some rope and a few pebbles, but had the faith to tell Goliath "This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel" (1 Sam. 17:46).

Earlier yesterday, the high school experienced the points first hand, serving in the five different ministries and facing challenges in Redding, Calif. The challenges began when one of the buses broke down. For Johnathan Inscho, the camp worship leader, the necessity of a working bus making two trips became a blessing, providing a "big job in a tiny task".

"The bus driver was asking questions down and back," he said. "I asked Mr. Trautwein for a Bible so I could write down verses for him to read. If the first bus hadn't broken down, I wouldn't have had that witnessing opportunity."

When the campers and staff returned, many had stories on ways they helped others, ways they made others smile, and ways that God challenged them. Below are a few of those stories. Enjoy.

Several of the high school campers did maintenance at
Mountain Meadows Bible Camp.

Mountain Meadows Bible Camp

The high school campers worked at this Bible camp to clean brush, haul and strip logs, and complete other maintenance. According to the Mountain Meadows staff, "It would have taken six weeks to do what you have done."

Emily, Junior
"I was carrying a huge log by myself with no one around. On the end of the log were spikes, and I didn't have my gloves on. I tried lifting it on my shoulder, but it was very painful. So I knelt and prayed, 'God give me strength to do what needs done.' I put my gloves back on and got a bruised shoulder, but I got it done...It was really inspiring that we could all come together as the body of Christ, as a team to accomplish what we needed to do — move brush, etc."

Ellen, Senior
"God showed me how easy it is to clean my room compared to cleaning His forest."

Grace Baptist Church

Here, the campers canvased the area for children to attend a brief Awana-style program. The high school kids ran water games, sang songs, presented a Bible lesson, performed either puppets or a skit, and broke into small groups to present the Gospel Glove to the children.

Rory, in his Chapel testimony
"We weren't just reaching the kids and the parents, but we also reached those whose apartments were knocked on who didn't have any kids."

Colin, Junior
"We went out to canvas, but didn't find any kids, so we weren't sure how many would actually show up. When we finished canvasing and returned, there were 30 kids waiting for us. One child came to Christ, which was cool because we weren't sure we were getting through."

Laura, Junior
"One of the families there whose door we went to came to our presentation. They had five kids, and the parents stayed, listening more than the kids were. Apparently, they used to attend Sunday School, and were considering attending again. It's really cool that we brought the parents back."

Campers served food and took time to listen to the stories of
the homeless at the Gospel Rescue Mission.

Gospel Rescue Mission

 Here the high schoolers filled and carried food trays to homeless people at tables. The campers also did general cleaning, such as washing cars and mattresses, and sorting clothes.

Bill Harben, Staff
"The high school kids sat down with the homeless and did some talking, but they mostly listened as the homeless shared trials, hardships, and persecutions. I overheard one man as he thanked a high school camper for listening. It had been two years since someone sat down and listened to him."

Cooper, Junior
"I talked to a couple of older guys who were having a hard time. One of the gentlemen got excited about kids serving. He was encouraged about people out ministering at such a young age.

Enterprise Park

Here the campers ran programs just like at Grace Baptist Church. They ran through the program twice, and about 13 children trusted Christ as Savior.

Jim Schleusner, Graduate
"The greatest challenge we faced was we came expecting a hose, and there wasn't one, so we had to use the sinks in the bathroom. However, the volcano wasn't working, so the kids weren't distracted."

Chloe, Senior
"There was a traveling preacher at the park, and he prayed for us. We always pray for our ministries, but to have someone from outside pray was encouraging."

At the Sierra Oaks Living Care Center, the high school
campers and the senior citizens sing hymns together.

Sierra Oaks Living Care Center

The high school campers sang hymns, gave a Bible lesson, performed a puppet show, met with the seniors and shared the Gospel Gloves. They presented the program twice in two different areas. Two 100-year-old ladies trusted Christ.

Maggie, Sophomore
"My most memorable moment was one old lady with a batman shirt and dog. She put makeup on just for us, and she enjoyed the songs."

Silas, Junior
"I was talking with a lady there, and she asked if I enlisted in World War II to fight. She also thought I was married and had kids. But even though she had off moments, she was already a Christian, and she challenged me to be a better brother to my siblings. I was able to learn from her rather than... her learn from me.

Tana Richards, Staff
"Many of our kids were nervous, not sure what to do. Some were bold and went up and talked to the residents. It was neat to see them step outside their comfort zones, and the residents loved it. You could see their faces light up."

Wednesday Night's Chapel Message: Taking a Running Stand for the Living God
Total Verse Card Count: 120
Junior High Armor: Helmet of Salvation
All photos were provided by the high school ministry groups. As for us, one more full day left! Prayers we finish strong!

For more information about Awana Clubs International, visit the Awana Homepage.
To find a club in your area visit the Club Locator.

TDF Right: West Coast Honor Camp Tuesday through Wednesday

The West Coast Honor Camp's speaker for this year is Pastor Shawn Thornton. Pastor Shawn, as he is affectionately known, has a 20-year history as a pastor, and he, his wife of 21 years and his three children currently hail from Westlake Village, Calif, where he serves as the Senior Pastor at Calvary Community Church. His history with Awana Clubs International spans even longer, as he started with the program before the creation of Sparks or Cubbies, and he currently serves on the Awana Clubs International board of directors and the Awana International board.

Pastor Shawn waits to teach "The
Three Things about Standing Out."
Photo provided by Laura Carpenter.

On Monday, Pastor Shawn began his theme for the week,"Think Right, Do Right, Feel Right," began with  Philippians 4:8-9 and a life-experience-turned-allegory story of a cat, a dog, and Gary the Goldfish. Every day, the cat and dog would chase each other around the house at breakneck speeds, frequently passing by Gary's bowl. Only at night did the chasing stop, because the pair was confined to the bedroom. But one day, Pastor Shawn came out after a night's rest to discover that even though the cat and dog were away from the fish bowl, Gary was on the floor, dead.

"I got to thinking," said Pastor Shawn, "that maybe, possibly, what could of potentially happened, was this..."

Gary saw what fun the cat and dog were having, chasing each other around the house day after day, and he decided he really wanted to join in. So, he started practicing every day, swimming as fast as he could around the bowl, trying a few jumps, getting better and faster, preparing to run with the cat and dog. Finally, one night, Gary was ready. He leaped out of the bowl and hit the floor — where he was found that tragic morning.

"God did not design Gary to run with the cat and dog," Pastor Shawn said. "Unfortunately, the sad truth is many people think like Gary. So this week, we're looking at living the way God designed you to live."

Gary's tragedy began when he started thinking about things outside of God's design. He wanted to be something other than what God had planned — he thought wrong. Those thoughts lead him to practice for the role God did not design him to fill — he did wrong. Ultimately, his wrong actions lead him from the safety and joy found in the place God designed him for, and it didn't feel too good.

In Philippians 4:8, God provides us with the blueprint for thinking right:

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things" (NKJV).

The first half of verse 9 shows how to do right, and the second half explains how they feel right:

"The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you." More rewards for thinking and doing right can be found in Romans 5:1

The theme of "Think Right, Do Right, Feel Right" continued into Tuesday with three things about standing out — because when you think, do and feel right, you will feel like you're not part of a group. We considered Elijah and the sacrifice on Mount Carmel, as written in 1 Kings 18:18-39.

1) It's not how many you follow, but it''s WHO you follow that matters. Nearly 450 prophets followed Baal, yet only Elijah, as far as he knew, followed the LORD.

2) It's not how much you trust, but WHO you trust that matters. The prophets of Baal screamed, hollered, sacrificed a bull and cut themselves to show their devotion, Elijah only prayed a single statement.

3) It's not what you have to offer, but TO WHOM you offer it that matters. The prophets of Baal sacrificed the better bull on the solidly established alter. Elijah build an alter of wood and some rocks and water, upon which he sacrificed the poorer offering.

Baal remained silent. God consumed the wood, the rock, the water, and the sand in fire, leaving nothing but a cater of scorched earth.

Today, the 114 high school campers put the process of "Think, Do, Feel Right" into action as they served the Redding, Calif. area in five different ministries. Stay tuned tomorrow for some of their stories.

Tuesday's Chapel Lesson: Three Things about Standing Out
Tonight's Verse Card Count: TBA
Junior High Armor: Shield of Faith
Halfway mark! Please keep praying as we continue to "train them to serve Him."

For more information about Awana Clubs International, visit the Awana Homepage.
To find a club in your area visit the Club Locator.

Confessions of a Cabin Inspector: West Coast Honor Camp Monday through Tuesday

Each year of West Coast Honor Camp, I'm faced with a variety of new experiences. This year, for example, I am learning the duties of general staff: specifically, I'm learning the role of a cabin inspector. I am inspecting the rawhides (where the junior high girls sleep) while they are away at their Bible lessons. I have only been inspecting for two days with my partner, Liz Benesch, but I have already made some observations based on what I've heard from other inspectors and what I've seen myself.

Inspections are much harder than one would think. We're given a sheet with eight categories — grounds, floors, beds, clothes, shoes, suitcases, bathrooms, and bonus — and each category has a potential of five points. The inspection process itself begins at the communal bathrooms. We have to check both sets of shower stalls for any sand or mud or hair around the drains, any curtains pulled to different sides, any undumped trashcans and any unlabeled left-behind bottles or towels or clothes.

Then it's on to the two sets of toilet stalls. As with the showers, we look for lost items, curtain conformity, clean floors and empty cans. But then we have to check for any unflushed bowls — and sometimes, we find them. (Yuck!)

After grading the bathrooms, the real challenge begins: we have to walk through eight rawhides and one tent, judging each of the criterion — all in less than an hour (hardly enough time).

We start outside with the grounds: Is there trash around the rawhide? Are the porches swept? Any wayward shoes or clothes below the clothesline? Is the clothesline labeled?

Once we grant points for the outside, we slowly open the door to the sleeping area, never knowing what to expect. Today we were showered with patriotic confetti; greeted by a giant teddy bear holding a fish, a bouquet and a bunch of taffy for us; directed along a trail of sparkling stars and shoes to a trophy; given a story about a picnic in celebration of soldiers and pie accompanied by the picnic scene (the people and animals celebrating, but no pie); and provided with a poem about a bunk that collapsed yesterday. Others left us necklaces, notes and various candies. Such creativity, along with the use of patriotic decorations and sticks and rocks and pine cones all go into the bonus category, often making or breaking a winning score.

From there, we begin down the list. Floors: Did they sweep? Is there any clothing under the bunks?

Beds: Are sleeping bags zipped? If not, is there a note explaining a broken zipper? Are there any lumps?

Clothes: Any to be seen? On the line outside, are they neat? Undergarments should never be found, ever!

Shoes: Do they make a distinguishable pattern? Are they uniform in presentation?

Suitcases: Are they zipped closed or is there an explanation for why they're not? Any Bibles or lesson books to be seen (They should be with the kids at the lesson, NOT in the rawhide)?

More often than not, rawhides, along with the tepees (junior high boys) and cabins (high school), do well with some scores and not with others. Unfortunately, this can lead to problems. Camilla Taetzsch, one of the cabin inspectors, explains. "How do you choose between a cabin that's hyper clean but has no decorations and a cabin that's moderately clean but has lots of decorations?"

Other times, the ultra-clean cabins give the inspectors grief. "What I hate most is when everything is fine except for one thing," Taetzsch said. "Like when the grounds are perfect except for one pair of shoes, or all beds are perfect except for one person's. I think 'What happened?' and feel bad for not being able to give a perfect score."

The best parts of inspections are leaving the kids candy and watching how the rawhides improve throughout the week, and like all the other staff, we inspectors hope and pray the children are improving and growing as well.

Monday's Evening Lesson: Think Right, Do Right, Feel Right: Introduction (more information to come)
Tonight's Verse Card Count: At least 85.
Junior High Armor: Shoes of Peace and Breastplate of Righteousness
High School head to their ministries tomorrow. Please keep them in your prayers.

For more information about Awana Clubs International, visit the Awana Homepage.
To find a club in your area visit the Club Locator.

Guns and Gloves: West Coast Honor Camp Sunday to Monday

Hey all, this week I'm writing to you from West Coast Honor Camp -- the camp for all clubbers in the region sixth grade and up who earned their Excellence award and completed this year's requirements.

Throughout the week, I'll *attempt* to provide updates and insights on what the kids are learning. This year's theme is Patriotic, and Eddie Hester, regional ministry director for Central and Western Europe at Awana International, kicked off the week appropriately last night with a definition of a patriot: someone who loves, supports and protects their country and its interests with devotion." He then embodied the definition with a war story from his time in Vietnam — one mission with two miracles: two deadly bullets that didn't kill.

Hester served in the armed forces as pilot. Part of his responsibility included flying a helicopter into enemy fire to rescue his fellow soldiers. On this particular mission, one bullet hit his "chicken vest" (had it hit his copilot in the same spot, his copilot would have died). Another bullet hit his copilot in a new ballistic helmet (had it hit Hester in the same spot, he would have died). Both bullets hit the right places on the right people -- to Hester, the two saved lives are both signs of God's love for His people.

The story also serves as an allegory for the Greatest Patriot: Jesus Christ. Christ loves, supports and protects the citizens of Heaven, even to the point of entering into enemy fire and dying to rescue those He loves.

The high school campers practice the Gospel Glove
to present to kids on Wednesday's ministry trips.

This morning, other patriots of Heaven began training for missions. On Wednesday, groups of high school campers will depart in various directions — some will work sorting stuff at a mission or cleaning and performing maintenance around other campgrounds. Other groups will go to different locations to host a one-day Awana. These kids will lead water games and songs, perform a puppet show or skit, present a lesson and a testimony, and, most importantly, share the Gospel with the attending children and parents.

Each year, the high-schoolers are taught a new Gospel tool, which they present to children on the Wednesday of the WCHC week. Today, they received this year's tool: the Gospel Glove. One side presents the Gospel message with verses, images and symbolic colors; the other presents a message about obedience and growth for those already saved.

Between now and the trip, the high school campers are encouraged to practice by presenting to their fellow junior-high campers.

In the meantime, the junior high will be completing training of their own: training on how to use the Armor of God. Today's piece: the Belt of Truth.

One final key trait of WCHC is the completion of verse cards: a card split into six days, each day having one or two verses. To complete a card, a camper has to recite all six days' worth in a single sitting with only two helps. As of this evening, the verse card count stands at at least 50.

So here we stand, one day completed, and one more opportunity to teach children to know, love and serve the Lord.

For more information about Awana Clubs International, visit the Awana Homepage.
To find a club in your area visit the Club Locator.

New Missionary Brings New Dynamic to Northern California, Northern Nevada Missionary Team

“One of the first things I like to do when I visit a club is to get a group photo of the kids and the leaders.” Jeff Gilpin pulls out his smartphone as the leaders direct the kindergarten - sixth graders into a photo-fitting group. “I’ll keep their picture on my phone, to remind me of the people, of the kids.”

Awana Missionary Jeff Gilpin gets the children at
Good Shepherd Wesleyan Church Awana to
wave their hands in the air.

He takes the two default photos — one serious and one goofy. But then he requests one more, evoking ripples of laughter: “I want a photo I can share with other people, but I’m not allowed to show faces for child safety reasons. So, I want everyone to turn around and wave their hands in the air!”

The photo appears within hours on Facebook, immediately receiving three likes.

Even with the Awana Clubs International mark of silliness, Gilpin sees children’s ministry as paramount: In April, he and his wife, Judy, became the newest Awana Missionary couple on the Northern California, Northern Nevada Team, joining the Sextons and Cooks. “Children’s ministry is important because children are at the prime age to receive the gospel. I read in ‘Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions’ that children need to be reached at a younger age, because statistics show that if students are not reached by the age of fourteen, they may never receive it.”

Gilpin became involved in Awana in 2003 when he followed his 3-year-old son Ryan into Cubbies at Sierra Bible Church in Truckee, Calif.

The new missionary never sought involvement. His mind changed when he discovered helping was more practical than dropping Ryan off, driving twenty minutes back to the house, waiting thirty minutes, and driving twenty minutes back to pick Ryan up. “Next thing you know, I’m walking out with a Cubbie leader role book and DVD, and that was that.”

Today, Gilpin takes another photo to remind him of these children at another Awana club in the region he serves. He tells the kids that they can face him again, and as they turn, he pulls out a small, white and orange paperback with thin black and white letters across the cover: “My Prayer Accountability Book.” “I also like to write the names of the churches I visit into my prayer book,” he tells the kids. “There are little boxes for checkmarks next to each name, and every time I pray for the club here, I will put a check next to the name.”

Gilpin received the book from Awana’s co-founder Art Rorheim, 94, at missionary candidate school. Preprinted inside are names of the members of the Awana board of directors, the Awana missionaries in the United States, the international Awana missionaries and several blank lines with boxes for personal entries. “After Art gave me the book, he showed me his and asked, ‘If a year from now you show this to somebody you had ministry with, would you be proud of it?’ I don’t want to be the person that says ‘I’ll pray for you’ then forget about it. Now I can tell them, ‘I put you down in my prayer book, now I’m going to pray for you.” — a promise he keeps every day after his devotion.

He writes “Good Shepherd Wesleyan” on one of the lines, then sets the book and pen aside while picking up a stack of missionary photos. “Can anyone tell me what a missionary does?”

Gilpin’s role as a missionary includes visiting clubs and providing training and motivation for effectiveness and efficiency. He also helps with planning, coordinating and running regional events including Bible quizzing and games competitions. “One of my favorite things to do in Awana is to help the T&Ters study for Bible quizzing. It’s wonderful watching kids put the scripture deep into their brain and their hearts.”

Gilpin, as he continues to raise support toward full-time status, will attend missionary graduate school in October.

“The whole reason for support raising is for you to have greater faith in the Lord, because you need to rely on God for your finances. It’s more of a faith-growing exercise than a money-raising exercise. Missionary graduate school will teach us how to do the job, how to work with the missionary team, how to lay a game circle, that kind of stuff.”

But more than anything, Gilpin is establishing relationships with the churches he will be serving in Northern California and Northern Nevada. “I’m very much of a people person, and I’m a church-care missionary, so I want to be involved in the lives of the people, not just in a surfacy [sic] way, but in a deeper way. I want to be involved with the people I serve, it’s important for me to connect with them.”

For more information about Awana Clubs International, visit the Awana Homepage.
To find a club in your area visit the Club Locator.