Recently I received a call from my friend, James Were. For those of you who do not know James, he is a soft spoken, eloquent gentleman (except when he is talking about football). James is the Development Coordinator at Kenya Connection. He organized the camp I will be telling you about shortly.
So… soft spoken James calls me. I was taking my afternoon nap (he doesn’t know that, so don’t tell him). When I heard the phone ringing, I cleared my voice so that I might sound awake. I’m not sure if it worked, but James is a gentleman. He asked me if I would be available to speak to students at a high school camp. I told him I’d check my schedule. I am kidding – I told him I was willing to forgo my afternoon naps for a week!
First Camp for Scholarship Students
The camp began on the 17th of April 2022 at One Life Africa Youth Campus located in Kabarak, Nakuru County. The theme was “God Loves You” a simple yet powerful theme from John 3:16. In as much as we know the verse word for word, this was a welcome reminder that God’s love is real and relevant to each of us.
I left Nairobi on a cold drizzly morning. I really enjoyed the three-hour bus trip, more so because I got to nap! When I arrived, James welcomed me and showed me where I would be staying. He then briefed me on the camp and offered me a cup of porridge and biscuits – which I thoroughly enjoyed.
The camp hosted 60 high school students on scholarship through Kenya Connection. Many of the students are graduates of Akiba School and have been attending boarding schools in various parts of Kenya. This was a chance for them to “break away” from their normal challenges and routines, to have healthy fun and go deeper in their faith.
The Father’s Love
For many of the students this was the first camp that they had ever attended and they loved the experience. I spoke on two topics: A father’s Love & The call of the Father. My underlying message was that there is nothing that can separate you from the love of God and that once you accept that God loves you regardless of your circumstance, you then find your identity in the Father. Once you know who you are in God then the calling of the Father will consequently be identified. Since many of the students have been raised by single moms or have never known their fathers, this was a very meaningful topic.
The camp provided a safe atmosphere, a comfortable place to sleep, regular meals, people to talk to, and space to be creative. The wonderful team at One Life shared counselors who led sessions with the students where they would be free to talk without prejudice. I saw how creative these students were as they sang, danced, recited poetry and did skits. They were so confident in their abilities, in big part due to the supportive atmosphere at the camp. They also played a lot of games during their time and bonded through laughter, food, and sharing.
The message of God’s love offered hope, and the students left encouraged and asking for more. During the camp two students gave their lives to Christ. Another boy who had just dropped out of school due to challenges at home, decided that God was calling him to go back. A girl who had previously been very shy and insecure came home dancing and praising God, causing her pastor to say: “These kids lives will never be the same again.” What struck me most is that the message the students took with them is that they are valued and loved by God no matter what.
-By Mwangi Kabeberi