Thank you for praying for our week of Outdoor Education. There were some glitches but everything worked out well.
Walter left the Saturday before with all the site leaders and seniors to get set up before all the students arrived. It was a little tricky getting onto Corregidor Island due to changes in the weather, causing the water to be a little rougher for the small bancas (boat), but they were able to get the site leaders and equipment to the island on Sunday.
Monday, the students visited the memorials of the Bataan Death March and learned some facts regarding the harshness of the conditions and what the American and Filipino soldiers suffered for freedom. At the Main Camp that evening, they had some fun squad activities as well as being challenged by a chapel speaker.
Tuesday through Thursday, the students rotated between three different sites: the Cove, Beach, and Main Camp. (The Cove and Beach Camps were on Corregidor and the Main Camp was on Bataan.) Each night at the different camps, they had a speaker challenging them in the Word.
Tuesday, two groups went to the island of Corregidor by bancas. It was slower getting 140 people onto the island as they were only able to use one banca because of the high waves. They had to cut out some activities but all made it safely. At the Cove Camp, they took a tour of the island, seeing the different batteries (big guns) and buildings and the significance of each. In the afternoon, they did some “training” activities, like rappelling on a cliff, building a raft and some team activities. They also visited Malinta Tunnel, the headquarters on the island during the war.
At the Beach Camp on the island, the students chose between four different hikes led by our seniors and leaders. During their hikes, they went into caves and checked out places they didn’t see on the tour. I was at this site as the nurse. After their hikes and lunch, they rotated between three activities: signaling-using different codes, orienteering-using a compass to get to different spots, and trying to medivac their squad after treating “injuries” and trying to figure out how to transport them to another place. (That activity was quite entertaining to watch, and it reminded me that I do not want to be rescued by a middle schooler.)
At the Main Camp, the students went to a school for ministry. They sang some songs in Filipino and our secretary taught the Bible lesson in Filipino. Then the students shared a gospel bracelet and told the meaning of the colors on the bracelet. God blessed our time and, and 174 Filipino students prayed to receive Jesus as their Saviour. Lastly, our students did an activity that their squad prepared for their group of students. Back at Main Camp, they had a rotation of fun activities. Later, each squads prepared their own dinner, making individual foil dinners.
On Friday, we broke down the camps and packed up to return to school. We praise God for no mishaps on the way home. Walter was able to visit all the students at each site during the week by going in reverse order of the groups. It was exciting for him to see all our plans come together. Thank you for praying for us and especially Walter, as the coordinator. We made a great team; students were challenged and stretched while still having a blast; and most of all–God was glorified!
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