On Monday morning our group went to Haven Summer Camp to start our week out as camp counselor for any youth from pre-school through middle school.  Haven Summer camp is located north of Charlotte at Lakehaven Community Church in a predominantly low-income Hispanic neighborhood.  The camp average between thirty to forty kids each week for the four week cycle they have camps during June and July.  The camp was based on a rotation-model of camp in which the children had Arts and Crafts, Bible Study, Worship, and Recreation each day from about 9:30am until 12 Noon when lunch was served.  The theme of the week was sports so our activities each day were based on different sports.  Monday’s sport was basketball and the children practiced dribbling, passing, and shooting the basketball.

Monday afternoon we went to EPIC International church and helped set up a pizza lunch and lead the activities for the children attending this camp.  EPIC International church reaches out to the community around the church and the camp averages between fifty to sixty elementary school aged-children.  Many of the children who attend the camp do not regularly have meals to eat and many of the kids at the camp saved food for when they went home. 

Monday evening went to Osce and Lou Self’s home for dinner.  The Self’s graciously opened their home up to us with pulled-pork, coleslaw, chips, and ice cream for dessert.  We enjoyed our time with the Self’s, especially when our group sang some of the songs we sing at the Passion Praise and Worship Services and Ms. Lou Self Carolina Clogged for us as a reward for our singing.  Fun was had by all at the Self’s and we are grateful for their hospitality.

On Tuesday morning we attended the second day of Haven Summer Camp where the theme this day was football.  We practiced passing and catching the football before we played a game against each other.  We again had the regular crew of children and the morning went very well. 

On Tuesday afternoon we went to downtown Charlotte with our ten pound backpacks that we had to carry with us during our time downtown.  We had five dollars to spend on a healthy lunch and we were able to get a tour of the Charlotte Bobcats NBA team arena in downtown. 

Tuesday evening our group went to Urban Restoration and helped in handing out food to those in need.  There was a service prior to handing out food in which we had a guest preacher from South Africa deliver the message.  After the service the Guest Preacher, Pastor Mark, prayed over our group in a very moving time of healing and wholeness.  Our group was moved by our time of prayer we had after the service with Pastor Mark.

On Wednesday we went back to Haven Summer Camp where the theme this day was soccer.  The children participated in soccer drills before playing a soccer game against each other.  

After Haven Summer camp we left to go to Loaves and Fishes Food bank where sorted food into different categories so they could be delivered to families in need.  We worked at Loaves and Fishes for a couple of hours but many of our youth enjoyed our brief, yet very cold visits to the Freezer to cool down after sorting foods.

Wednesday evening David Roe and Rhonda Fishburn took the youth to go see a movie and enjoy our one free night during the week.

Thursday was our last day at Haven Summer Camp and we all wore our new green Haven Summer Camp shirts for our group pictures with the children.  The theme this day was water sports and we had fun staying cool in the hot summer sun. 

After leaving the camp and saying our good-byes to the kids we went to Double Oaks Nursery where we played with the children and babies ranching from age from six months to twelve years old.
Thursday evening we had closing worship in which we were able to see a slide show of our week of mission and to reflect on our time together.  It was a great time to really worship God and to thank God for such a wonderful week together.

Friday was our free day and we went to the Concord Mills Mall to experience the NASCAR Speedway store and go-carts.  We had fun racing cars although we did more bumping and getting in wrecks than racing cars.  Our trip to the NASCAR Speedway and dinner on Friday was a great ending to a wonderful week.