Summer Bible Camp

Last weekend, I had the pleasure to go to Summer Bible Camp. This is a gathering of members and their families from all the churches in Japan, as well as most of the pastors and missionaries. The camp lasted three days, starting Friday afternoon and ending Sunday afternoon. This year the camp was held at a hotel, which with so many people coming, pretty much filled up the whole thing. There was about 80 total people in attendance.

On Friday, I arrived with the Stahmanns at about 12:30pm so Pastor Stahmann could set up. Everyone else would be arriving throughout the afternoon. Since we had time, Lynnette, the girls, and I explored the hotel and found our rooms. Rachel Foelske arrived around 3pm (she shared the hotel room with me) and I showed her around and then we had tea in our room. Next there was a brief opening for the camp and then dinner. For dinner, everyone went to the hotel restaurant and we had traditional Japanese food as our buffet. I loved that it was a buffet because I could have a bite of everything. It was all delicious!

After dinner we had bible study. At the camp the was a variety of bible classes one could attend each day. The main focus this year was evangelism. I went to the English study which had about 6-7 people in it. There was also a Japanese study, a basic bible study, a kid's class, and a young adult class. After bible study, everyone was pretty tired fro traveling and such. So Rachel and I both went to the Japanese baths and then to bed. We had fun talking though until late in the night.

Saturday started with a quick trip to the baths, and then breakfast. Breakfast was served at the table in traditional Japanese style. We had rice, with some stuff to put on the rice, salmon, strawberry yogurt (not as sweet as in America), Miso Soup, bread rolls, pickled radish, and a sweet egg dish. I tried everything and liked most everything.

After Breakfast, there was another bible study, a snack break, and then another bible study. After that was lunch. Lunch was made up of rice, a soup, a meat, a salad and noodles. All very good. After lunch there was free time. I had met some new friends and we went to play volleyball with Pastor Haga and some other people. I was lots of fun, but very hot! We all went to the baths after that. Both Rachel and I went to the choir practice in which we learned to sing in Japanese. We sang the song in three parts. Then there was dinner (a buffet) and another bible study. After bible study, all the Stahmann girls were dressed in their kimonos. They were so cute, especially Naomi. Then everyone went outside to play with fire works and sit around the bonfire. After singing some hymns and shooting off some fireworks, all the children got to wave around sparklers. Then Rachel and I went to bed.

The next morning, we woke up and showered before breakfast. Breakfast was similar to the day before. After breakfast we had our last bible study and then a quick choir practice. After the choir practice, we all gathered for the ending service. The choir sang first and then the service commenced. It was difficult for me because the whole service was in Japanese, but Pastor Stahmann gave me a sermon to read while he was preaching, which helped. After the service everyone packed up and had a quick lunch. I said goodbye to all my friends as they left and then went back to Tsuchiura with the Stahmanns.

If you want to look at pictures from the Bible camp, here's the link: http://ghdunn.smugmug.com/gallery/3228853#178385055.