S.M.I.T.E.

SMITE stands for  Summer Missionary Institute of Training and Evangelism. It is a one week camp where you are taught how to effectively run a 5 day club. You go to a community and knock on doors inviting kids to come to club. Then, Monday through Friday, you hold an 1 hour club somewhere in the community. Whether its on the playground or under a big shaded tree. Everyday we tell them a Bible story and a missionary story (this year the missionary story was Mary Slessor). The kids that come sing songs, learn a bible verse, and win prizes for  bringing friends or being still during the Bible and missionary stories.We did bible clubs every day from 2pm till 3pm. We had about 4-9 children come every day. About 4 or 5 said they trusted Christ as their Savior. For us teens that went to camp our mornings started at 6am and ended at 11:30pm or midnight. We had to be up by 6am do our personal devotions, get dressed for the day, and clean our dorm by 7:00. Breakfast started at 6:45am we had till 7:45am to meet at the church. So, during that hour for breakfast we normally studied for our tests  while we ate. Then from 7:45am till 8:00am we had preaching. Then it was off to class. We had 3 classes with a few minutes break between each class to run to the concession stand which was 2 building away. So from 8:00am-12:45 we had 3 classes and a one hour demo of what we would be doing at our bible club that afternoon. Then we had lunch from 12:45 till 1:15pm. At 1:15pm all girl meet in the church and the boys meet in the lunch room. We were on a team which consisted of 2 or 3 girls and then a leader and a counselor. All boys and girls are separate except for meals and church and your so busy there is no time to get into trouble. So from 1:15pm - 2:00pm you study the bible story, missionary story and verse you will be teaching the children in your club that day. Then from 2 pm till 3pm you have time to drive to the location of your bible club get set up. Then at 3pm the children show up and you hold a club from 3pm till 4pm. Then we have till 5:30pm to get back to the camp, get a shower if needed, and get ready for church. At 5:30pm dinner is served till 6:30pm. At 6:30 groups start singing which means find a seat church is fixing to start. Then from 6:30pm till about 8:30 we sing, have preaching, and then have a 5 minute break at 8:35 we meet back in the church to sing and have another preacher. Church normally gets done at 10:30pm or 11:00pm. Then we have 30 minutes to an hour depending on how much time Uncle Jerry thinks we need to get ready for bed and study or if we want to visit with the preachers. We are back up at 6am bright and early the next morning. Below are some picture of the week I really enjoyed my week at smite. I went with my oldest brother and some other teens from my church. Hope you enjoy the pictures as much as I enjoyed the week

 Becky, my pastors oldest daughter telling the missionary story to the club in the afternoon.

 Abby and her cousin telling stories to entertain the other little children so their parents could teach, cook, clean, and deal with us teens.

 Singing in church on Tuesday night.

 This is Uncle Jerry he runs the whole camp (with the help of others).And makes sure everybody is doing what they are suppose to be doing, and anything else there is to do.

  Snapshots of us in our classes in the mornings.

 Becky, our pastors oldest daughter, and a little Decker child.

 3 girls at camp. The one in the middle is Ashlen, we were on the same team.

 More pictures of us campers listening to the morning charge.

 Jesse from our church first boy on the end of the pew. And other boys at camp listening to our morning charge.

 Bro. Carr he preached are morning charge 2 days.

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 Bro.Bartlet he leads the singing and organizes all the specials people
want to sing and he does an outstanding job with it.

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 Adrian (with the dark hair) from our church in class.

 The little children again (their all cousins).

 Willy, in the orange belt, is from our church and some other boys during demo.

 Seth is leading a song for demo (looks like he is having fun).
Jesse from our church is in the background. Seth was also my brothers leader.

 50th Anniversary wedding cake.

 Uncle Jerry and Aunt Vickie renewed their vows because it was their 50th anniversary.

 Girls in class.

 Ben IS from our church, his brother is Jesse (pictured previously).
Ben graduated from smite this year and was also a leader. 

 Some boys singing in church one night.

 Mrs.Ross she is our girl teen leader.

 This is Hannah she taught 1 of my classes early in the week and did an outstanding job.

 All the S.M.I.T.E. graduates for 2011.

 One of the cooks and Bro. Decker in the back.

 Bro. Artist he did a lot of little things at camp that make things a lot easier.

The main cook.

Are you a friend?

Friend- a person you know well and regard with affection and trust.                                                                    I am so tired of people who say I'm your friend and you have no clue how there doing you cant get ahold of them.And I'm not talking about the fact that they missed 2 of your text and didn't see them till hours later and you haven't talked to them in a few days.Friend these days means were cool right this second, but when you don't do something they like, they run around taking about you. I don't like her or him there my enemy. Now you may not say it but you sure do act it. When you say I will be your friend it should be that you will always be there for them. It doesn't matter if they do something you don't like or agree with. When you said, "we're friends" you took the oath of I will always be there for you no matter what.You would give them the clothes off your back,or your last dollar. You said I'll be there as soon as possible if you need me. Nothing should come between that friendship that you have not a relationship,or another friend. The Bible says there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. A friend  is somebody who rebukes you when you have done wrong, someone you can share your deepest dreams and wishes with. When I tell somebody we're friends, nothing can come between us, not if I move 800 miles away or to a different continent. If you need me, I will be the best help I can. I will be there for you. Even if you do things that I don't like or disagree with or the way your living your life. Even if I disagree with the people you hang around, no matter what I will be there for you. So if I say I'm your friend you can expect all of the above from me.                                                                                                            
I am very sorry I haven't been faithful to update my blog, or if I haven't returned your emails or letters right away. I promise it is going to stop.And always count your blessing and be thankful for what you have. So before I go make sure if you say, "I'll be your friend" you live up to it.