Days 5 and 6
Ohhhh, Saturday. Where has the week gone? We had an awesome day yesterday. I got the opportunity to visit a number of the specialty classes after lunch yesterday. The football specialty class played soccer against the soccer specialty class. The soccer boys won but the football boys soon beat the soccer boys in a game of 2 hand touch football. It was fun to watch two groups from this week combine for games. The photography campers made their way around campus during specialties to capture the perfect shot for their photo showcase. The campers and staff engaged in an intense basketball game. The music specialty group worked on perfecting their performances. The art specialty campers worked to finish up some pretty incredible masterpieces. From the looks of things, campers were having a blast during their specialties– and so were the counselors.
We had an ice cream Sunday party with the girls and guys teams who won our Iron Man competition and wrapped up our evening worship time with Pastor Danny who has continued to remind these campers how special they are, how unique they are, and how much they are loved by an awesome God. The campers are really getting the message… they understand that they are unique and important pieces of God’s puzzle. Our prayer is that they will find other pieces to connect with once they get home.
As we wrap up this week two of BRC the campers are cleaning cabins and preparing for their youth productions program to showcase the projects they’ve been working on all week. We can’t wait to see the masterpieces they’ve created.
I just heard one of the campers say, “I’m excited to go home but I’m sad to leave Barefoot.” It seems to be a shared feeling among many of the campers. Families, thank you for sharing your awesome middle schoolers with us this week. We hope to see them again very soon.
~Camper/Staff Interviews~
Wyatt– Age 11, Joy Boys Republic
What were your first thoughts when you arrived at Barefoot?
I wanted to go home. But I’m glad I stayed. The activities and Jared all made me feel better. I like Jared– he’s nice.
Tell me about something you have done this week that you have never done before.
I went canoeing!!
What is one thing you’ve learned so far this week?
That we are all a piece of God’s puzzle.
Rosa– Age 12, Jigsaws Republic, from Sudan
What are some fun and awesome things you have done so far this week?
The slip-n-slide! I was terrified at first. But then once I went down it the first time, I went down it over and over!!
What is so great about Barefoot?
Barefoot is not like any other camp I’ve been to. It is so fun. Everything is clean (not mean) and Christian-like.
What is one thing you’ve learned so far this week?
That everybody’s different but it doesn’t matter where you’re from. God loves you.
Kal– Age 11, Jigsaws Republic, from Ethiopia
What were your first thoughts when you arrived at Barefoot?
I thought I would only hang out with Rosa because she is the only one I knew but that’s not how it is. We have both been hanging out with lots of other people.
Tell me about something you have done this week that you have never done before.
Fishing– I caught an orange one! I was scared to bait it so Rosa did it for me.
Tell me about a counselor you really like.
Roxanne– She is so nice and she makes stuff simple when it’s hard. Like big words in the Bible and during our family devo stuff she makes stuff simple.
Day 4
Yesterday evening we played a game BRC likes to call “Survivor.” It involves an array of food items found here in the camp’s stash. Each of the republics send one camper at a time to “enjoy” a dixie cup of goodness– we’re talking mustard, Worcestershire sauce, Cool Whip, chocolate syrup, etc etc. The quickest team to finish wins. 
And then the kids spend the rest of the night bragging about the delicacies they each devoured. We beat the rain and headed inside for another great night of worship with Pastor Danny. Afterward, we finished the night with a movie, popcorn, and sno-cones, followed by a really great night of rest.
Today has been jam-packed with activities. Each year campers look forward to “Iron Man,” a camp-wide relay that each republic participates in. There are 18 legs of the relay ranging from solving a mind puzzle to kicking a soccer ball in a goal to building a three-layer pyramid of republic members. The relay is an intense competition and there is only one “fastest to finish.” But early in the race, I noticed campers cheering for each other– from different republics. One boy ran by a girl struggling to shoot a soccer ball into the goal and shouted, “Good job! You got it!” And that was a theme throughout the relay, the campers pulling for each other. My favorite part of the relay was watching The Jigsaws (the last group to finish the relay) run through the finish line made up of ALL of the other campers and staff who finished before they did. On their own the other campers decided to line the sides of the finish and cheer them to the end. Once the Jigsaws passed the finish line, the entire camp started shouting “JIGSAWS! JIGSAWS! JIGSAWS!” God is present in a mighty way in these campers’ lives this week. These campers are amazing, the counselors and staff are inspiring, and it has been incredible to watch community and trust grow. In two days we will all go home… but until then, we are living in a little piece of the reality God believes in. We are Barefoot. And we are family.
~Camper/Staff Interviews~
Esteban– Age 14, TP (Transforming Peace) Republic
What do you like about Barefoot?
I like how everybody comes together. We just play games, it’s like we’re brothers, we’re all like family.
What is one thing you’ve learned so far this week?
Well, I’ve played paintball before and always thought I was pretty good… but this week I’ve gotten pretty shot up.
Do you feel like your relationship with God has been strengthened?
Yeah, through praise and worship, dancing, singing, and praying.
Rosy– Age 12, Puzzled Up Republic
What are some fun and awesome things you have done so far this week?
Fishing, canoeing (I jumped out and went swimming), paintball, games in our cabin, and our Family Devo bible study in our cabin.
Have you made any new friends here?
Yes– Zakerria, Nicole, Mariana. We go to free time together and our bunks are across from each other in our cabin.
What is something you’ve learned so far this week?
Different ways to worship, how to build a community, God’s plan to make us all one big puzzle.
Do you feel as though your relationship with God has been strengthened?
Yes– I feel like I’ve gotten a good reminder to be more intentional in loving others. If I am intentional at BRC to be a good example for the kids, then I need to be intentional away from here to love others, too.
What’s one thing you’ve learned so far this week?
How to better facilitate making connections between the girls.
Where do you see God at BRC?
I see it in the camp mission– helping kids see everybody as a child of God, that everybody is worth being loved and respected. These kids, they really embody what camping is about.
Day 3
Last night we had a camp-wide game of Capture-the-Flag. According to Camp Director Adam, it was “the most epic game of Capture-the-Flag in BRC history.” One of the coolest moments of the night was being a part of an outer circle of “green team” campers trying to prevent an inner group of “grey team” campers from breaking through with their flag, running, and scoring for their team. Both groups were so serious. The grey team huddled together talking strategy, the green team circled around the boundary holding hands, preparing for the rush of inner campers. In that moment, it didn’t matter who you were, where you came from, or what your life looked like. Either you held hands on the outer circle with new friends, or you huddled in the middle shoulder to shoulder preparing for a breakthrough. A little piece of heaven broke through at BRC last night. God revealed Himself in, of all places, an “epic” game of Capture-the-flag… the most epic BRC has ever witnessed.
Camp started off rainy this morning. Funny thing is, the campers don’t really seem to mind! It sure makes the day a little cooler, which we are all thankful for. Family devotions were held after breakfast followed by specialties and low-ropes team building, cut short by the weather. Lunch has just finished, the campers are in “down time,” and will soon rev up for a full afternoon of activities (paintball, slip-n-slide, photography, etc). Tonight’s group competition is called “Survivor” and involves exciting and, mmm, interesting food choices. Look for pictures on tomorrow’s blog. And as always, don’t forget to check out our newest camper/staff interviews below!
~Camper/Staff Interviews~
Krista– Age 13, 6 Piece Puzzle Republic
What’s one thing you’ve learned so far this week?
In Family Devo time I learned that we all came from Adam and Eve, and that since we came from Adam and Eve we are all related to each other.
Tell us about a counselor you really like.
I really like Lindsay. She doesn’t get mad, she knows the answers to all my questions right away, and she’s really fun.
Do you feel like your relationship with God has been strengthened?
Yes– Since I’ve been coming to Barefoot I understand more about God and why He came. I am not worried about dying.
Taran (a.k.a. Tarzan)– Age 12, Joy Boys Republic
What are some awesome things you have done so far this week?
Paintball, working on our film in the film specialty (it’s a mix between Indiana Jones and Lord of theRings). Actually, everything is so fun.
What is one thing you’ve learned so far this week?
That we are all pieces of one giant puzzle.
Do you feel as though your relationship with God has been strengthened this week?
Yes because I have been praying and talking to Him a lot and reading my Bible a lot.
Luigi– Age 23, YP’s Republic (Young Peezies) Counselor, from Nigeria
Why did you want to come to BRC this summer?
Well, I wanted a change of pace. Tennessee is one of the places I wanted to see before I die and I’ve done that now. I really appreciate the Christ-centeredness aspect of BRC. And it is intentional– it isn’t corny. It is an authentic Christ-centeredness, it is fun, and you can see Christ in the kids.
What is the best part of camp so far?
Capture the flag. It was a whole campus effort, the kids were working out strategies, took them very seriously. It is like controlled chaos here all the time. It’s good.
What is the best part about the kids at BRC?
They take strategy and ideas seriously. They are good kids. And they are good listeners.
Day 2
Barefoot Republic Week Two is underway!! All of the kids are here, settled, and having a great time!! We are so excited to spend a week with these middle schoolers– and they sure seem excited, too! Camp started off in the kids’ cabins (called “republics”) where they came up with republic names, chants and flag designs, all relating to this Summer’s Theme, “Pieces.” Ladies and gentlemen, BRC’s Week Two Republics: The Jigsaws, The JOY Boys (Jigsaws of Youth), YP’s (Young Peezies), 6 Piece Puzzle, The TP’s (Transforming Piece), and Puzzled Up.
Pastor Danny, our evening speaker for the week kicked us off last night with a message about each of us being a piece of a puzzle God is putting back together in this world. He made the point that we see God better when we let him piece us together in community. It is very apparent that Pastor Danny “gets” this summer’s theme, and we are looking forward to hearing from Pastor Danny each night.
Here at Barefoot we believe strongly in participating in events that some may call, how do you say…. messy? So naturally, our first night ended with Messy Games. Stay tuned for photos later this week from some our more extreme messy adventures.
~Camper/Staff Interviews~
Ana — Age 11, Jigsaws Republic
What do you love the most about Barefoot?
It’s fun, we get to play, I get to take pictures (in photography), and I like to canoe and swim during electives.
What made you want to come back to Barefoot this Summer?
Because last year we learned about Jesus and it went through my heart. I wanted to come back because I learned so much of God last year.
What’s one thing you have learned so far?
Pastor Danny taught us last night about how we are pieces that God wants to put together.
Tyler — Age 12 1/2, TP Republic
What were your first thoughts when you arrived at Barefoot?
Oh! That it’s going to be totally amazing because of the videos I saw at my church about Barefoot.
What is something fun and awesome that you’ve already done so far?
I like family devotion because we talk about no matter what race or culture you are, everyone is still a person. And I like my two specialties, football and outdoor adventures.
What is one thing you’ve learned so far this week?
Definitely working as a team.
Rob — Age 21, Week Two’s Audio/Video Master (from Chicago)
Why did you decide to be a counselor at Barefoot rather than another camp this summer?
I feel like the ratio of staff to kids helps the campers feel like they are in more of a community. I like that Barefoot is smaller– we get to know each other better, the campers and staff.
What is the most fun thing you’ve done so far?
Teaching the Extreme Sports specialty is so fun because it’s so cool to teach kids how to skateboard. You’re helping them fight their fears, especially because some of them have never done it before.
Where do you see God here at Barefoot?
All over. Especially at the evening service you see God in the kids when they worship.
Day Two is in full swing. The campers are in their second specialty of the day, headed to dinner soon. Don’t forget to email your camper at campermail@barefootrepublic.org– we’ll print and pass out these emails each day at lunch! Also, check us out on facebook for pictures each day. And be sure to check back in with the blog around lunch time each day for more interviews and updates about the week! See you then!
