Ruined for the Ordinary

REVOLUTIONARY CAMP MODEL
This year, we decided to have all five camps in one week. Each camp had a separate sight for day activities, but all camps came together each evening to meet under a huge tent for a joint evening program. We had English classes, Bible discussions, Team-building initiatives, American and Slovak sports, rock-the-tent evening programs, night activities, and an all-day game/hike into the beautiful surrounding mountains which were still capped in snow! Over 60 Americans came to help teach English and to join 81 Slovak youth leaders in an effort to revolutionize the lives of high school students who traveled from five different cities representing the east, west, north, and south of Slovakia.

REVOLUTIONARY LOVE
The theme of our camp this year was Revolutionary Love, based on the song by David Crowder. Starting with the first day of camp, we challenged the students to become revolutionaries; to be the kind of people who not only long for something better but who are willing to sacrifice whatever it takes to find that better life. We talked about the kind of revolutionary love that God has for each of us and how that love is the kind of love that changes EVERYTHING from the inside out - if one dares to accept it!
In September, I was officially given the position of Josiah Venture camp coordinator for Slovakia, and the planning for KECY 2005 began. I immediately realized that it was a job that forced me into areas outside of my personal comfort zone because I am NOT a project manager by nature…and KECY is a HUGE project!
I sat with my coworker, Tomas, the other day and figured out the money and time that was invested into this project, and the numbers were truly astounding. 64 Americans each invested 200 hours and $1100 dollars (and I don’t know how many people supported each American with that much money). 81 Slovak leaders each invested 200 hours and $33 dollars. American summer interns each invested 424 hours and $3,387 dollars (and again, many people supported each intern). The 2 of us who made up the executive planning team each invested more than 760 hours and more than 400 dollars of our personal money (and again, you know that our personal money comes from supporters like YOU). 350 Slovak teenagers each invested one week and $66 dollars.
ALL TOGETHER, THERE WAS AN INVESTMENT OF 37,228 HOURS OF TIME AND MORE THAN $130,000 DOLLARS.
WOW! That is a serious commitment to the goal of presenting the gospel to Slovak teenagers in a relevant way! On the first night of camp, when the band was rocking and the tent was pulsating with the energy of more than 400 people jumping to the beat, I almost cried! I felt like I had just given birth after carrying the vision of that night within me for more than 9 months!