Kamp Tumaini: Joyful in Hope, Patient in Affliction, Faithful in Prayer

Kamp Tumaini 2016

This year's short term mission volunteers in Kenya

Yesterday afternoon, we said good-bye to the second team in this year's Kamp Tumaini program. Over the past three weeks, the two teams from Canada have run camps with over five hundred children and caregivers in six different locations throughout Kenya. Together with our partner churches, they have provided care and support to families and orphans that are overcoming the challenges of HIV and AIDS.

2016 Kamp Leaders

Peter, Aaron, Erica, Catherine, and Sarah

This was the first time that we have hosted two short term mission teams simultaneously. We could not have done this without the great team leaders that journeyed with each of the teams. Catherine, Peter, and Sarah have done a great job. Peter and Sarah's team came from Brunswick Street Baptist Church in Fredericton, New Brunswick, and Catherine's team was a multigenerational team from several different churches in Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. 

 Kathleen with one of the campers in Nakuru

Camping ministry is an effective way of building relationships of understanding and compassion. We are so thankful for the Canadian counsellors who poured their lives into the GOH kids throughout this year's camps. Encountering God's love in one another is what camp is all about!

Matt chilling out with one of his campers

Little Alfred sporting some shades!

Rebecca and one of her campers

Scotty having some fun with her campers

Rebecca, Cindy, Daniel and Scotty leading worship in Siaka

Camping ministry is also about creating a safe and fun environment for young people to encounter a transforming relationship with God. During each day of camp, the counsellors led times of worship and sharing times as they reflected on what it means to be "joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer" -- our theme verse for Kamp Tumaini.

Worship in Nukuru

James and Erica speaking to the youth in Siaka

Rebecca and Joanne playing with their small group in Siaka

Most of all, camp is fun. It is a time for children, youth and even the adults to play, to laugh and to celebrate the joy of life. No matter where we travelled this year, from crowded urban slums to dusty country roads, the camps adapted to their new surroundings. Everyone participated in great times of recreation and fun.

Dan leading a game of football

Matt and his team playing blanket volleyball

Catherine awarding "Canuck" to the winning team

The Simba group, Siaka

Cindy and Sandra with their small group in Siaka

Jennifer, Daniel, Scotty, and guest speaker Roseanne with their group in Siaka

Kathleen, Joel and Joanne with their small group in Nakuru

 Tristan, Emma and Ava with the team in Maai Mahiu

The Guardians of Hope is a church-based initiative to provide care and support to families and individuals infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. The local church is the backbone of this ministry.

As the second team primarily worked with the African Christian Church and Schools, on both of their Sundays they attended local churches in the communities where they were serving. Our family joined the group in Maai Mahiu this past Sunday where team member Alyssa preached. It was wonderful to experience worship where every single person participated as each group within the church took the platform as they lead worship in prayer, song and dance.

As the 2016 camps come to an end, we are thankful for this opportunity for the Canadian and Kenyan churches to demonstrate and share the love of God in such a meaningful way. We pray for the fruit of Kamp Tumaini to be born in the lives of each of the Guardians of Hope children as they grow up in loving homes and communities of faith. 

Thank you for your interest and support in Kamp Tumaini and the ministries of CBM in Africa. We are already preparing for Kamp Tumaini 2017 and 2018 as youth from Spring Forth in Eastern Canada and youth from Serve in Western Canada will come to lead the camps.

If you would like to learn more about how you or your church can be involved please visit the Canadian Baptist Ministries website or click Here