Day 6
This morning we had our specialty showcase in the D.C. Many parents and friends of campers came to watch the performances. We started off the presentation with some weekly awards for our outstanding campers and some returning camper/staff awards for the people that have been coming to Barefoot for at least three years. 
We listened to music performance perform two songs, dance show off their choreography, drama perform their skits, and much more! It was a great showcase and everyone enjoyed seeing the diverse talents of all the campers. Although it is sad to see the campers pack up and go home, it has been a great week of new friendships, fun, talent, and worship. We hope to see many familiar faces next year!
Day 5
Everyone got their “cheese” on today for some group and individual photos in the 2011 “Pieces” t-shirts. Campers enjoyed their last day of specialty classes, preparing for the big specialty showcase tomorrow morning. After specialty II, everyone prepared for Barefoot’s most highly anticipated event: BRAVEHEART. Braveheart is an epic food fight designed to see which republics care enough about their counselors to keep them super clean. After flour had settled and the sponges had ceased flying through the air, two groups of counselors were crowned the cleanest and everyone headed up to get hosed off. Evening program was very special tonight as each camper was given the opportunity to take a stand for Christ and discuss their “battle plan” with their counselors.
Later we began an exercise inspired by the movie “Tangled.” Each camper wrote down prayers to God or things that they wanted to give up to God on a big paper lantern. We then gathered in an open field to light the lanterns and send them upwards together as a symbol of prayer. While everyone was gathered in a big circle, campers were given the opportunity to share their testimony with the rest of the campers and staff. It was touching to hear how God has been working in the lives of our campers this year. Our crew leader Matt Black fired up a bonfire and we all enjoyed s’mores before bed. Today has been a great day and we are all excited to see what the specialty classes have in store for us tomorrow at the showcase!
~Camper/Staff Interviews~
Le’Jzae | Nashville, TN | Age 13
Why did you come back to Barefoot?
“I enjoy having fun and learning about Jesus.”
How do you feel like you grow closer to God at Barefoot?
“When we sing songs, read Bible verses, and when we have evening program and family devos- I feel like I get closer to Him at those times.”
What do you think bout the diversity here at Barefoot?
“I like when different skin colors or different races come together- because we’re all part of God’s puzzle.”
Marty | Nashville, TN | Age 14
What do you think about Barefoot so far?
”Barefoot helps you get closer to God and other people.”
What has been your favorite thing so far this week?
“Team building has been pretty fun because it brings us together.”
Why is the diversity here so important?
”Because that way, you know that Christianity runs through all walks of life and you know that you’re not alone no matter where you are.”
How do you feel like your relationship with God is stronger because of Barefoot?
“Some of the sermons that the pastor taught helped me look at things from a different angle than what I’m used to.”
Montarius | Nashville, TN | Age 14
What has been you favorite memory so far this week?
“The night when we all got together and prayed with our counselors.”
How do you feel like your relationship with God is stronger?
“This is a place where they help you connect with Him more and you get to know Him more, read scriptures out of the Bible and it can help you out in life.”
Do you feel like you’ve bonded with the guys in your cabin?
“I think I’ve made some new friends because we all have a great connection.”
Jon | Nashville, TN | Crew
What do you think about it so far?
“Barefoot is awesome. I love the sense of community that’s built here among the staff and even among the campers. I love how, coming in, you’re immediately welcomed – no matter what- by the staff and the students.”
What is God showing you this week?
”God is really just showing me that I can’t do this in my own strength- I have to rely on Him. It’s through His strength that I’m able to do all it is that He’s called me to do here at Barefoot this summer. Without Him I don’t have the strength or endurance – even what’s close to what’s needed to work here.”
Vanessa | Brentwood, TN | Counselor
What do you think about your experiences at Barefoot so far?
”I love it. I already told Tommy that I want to come back next year. It’s so much fun and these kids are really cute and funny. The activities are fun, even Braveheart. You can just feel God in this place; I’m pretty sure every time we get together in prayer I feel the breeze pick up and I know that’s God with us.”
What do you think about the diversity here?
“There’s so many different kids from all over the place. Especially in grade school people tell you that you have to be friends with people that are like you. At Barefoot, the point is to be friends with people that aren’t like you. It’s cool to see the rich kid and the poor kid get together and know that they have common ground. Whites and blacks and Hispanics all come together for one purpose – and that’s to serve God.”
Day 4
Today our campers experienced a really cool team building exercise called the “right foot, left foot line.” This illustration was to point out the diversity among the students using questions based on childhood memories, experiences, or ancestry and heritage; only to show that with all of these differences, were all unified by one common thing: our love for Christ, and his love for us.
One of our most highly anticipated events also happened this afternoon: Iron Man. This is the race that separates the boys from the men, and the girls from the women.A race of epic proportions with 17 legs to it, each republic puts its individual members to the ultimate test of strength, courage, and will power as the students race across the campus shooting paintball targets, eating gross food, and building three-level pyramids, all for the highly sought after prize of plastic gold medals.
One girls republic and one boy’s republic were crowned the winners of Iron Man as the national anthem was sung. Right now we are gathered in the D.C. for the republic showcase. So far we have seen 3 republics do their thing. Our campers have put together some very creative acts and we are looking forward to seeing the rest! It has been a super fun day and everyone is looking forward to another one of the week’s most exciting events tomorrow afternoon!
~Camper/Staff Interviews~
Rose | California | Age 13
Nesha | Mississippi | Age 12
(Nesha) “Rose is very sweet… she’s beautiful and I really love her.”
(Rose) Nesha’s outgoing and always fun to be around. She’s the life of the party and she’s really pretty.”
How do you feel like your relationship with God is strengthened through Barefoot?
(Rose) “Because we get to be around other people…”
(Nesha) “…that we really don’t know…”
(Rose) “...and we get to meet them, pray with them, and have family devos.”
Chase | Nashville, TN | Age 11
Houston | Nashville, TN | Age 11
How has your relationship with God been strengthened through Barefoot?
(Houston) “Classes and worship services have really gotten us connected to Him- singing and everything really helped.”
(Chase) “It was so deep, I started crying. The reason it got me closer to god is because Pastor DeWayne is such a good youth pastor.”
(Houston) “Here we’ve come really together and we’re like brothers. It’s been really fun.”
(Chase) “I’m glad that I came to Barefoot. I’ve met new people and new friends.”
Meagan | Spring Hill, TN | Counselor in Training
What do you think about Barefoot so far?
“I love it. It’s been such a cool experience with all different kinds of cultures coming together and through working with the kids. I love how the camp’s goal is to celebrate diversity. I think that’s something that a lot of people try to go away from or avoid – but here it’s celebrated. Barefoot has really worked hard to point out the differences but to accept everyone. I love being with the kids- it’s my first time to kind of be a counselor at a camp and I honestly love it. It’s really fun to take care of them and just love on them. I love the opportunity that we get to serve here.”
How do you feel like God is growing you as a person through Barefoot?
”I’m definitely realizing how much I have and am walking in a greater spirit of gratitude. He’s definitely given me a greater love for kids, serving, and ministry. Going into it knowing that you are totally surrendering your time- being in servanthood mode- not just for a short time but for the whole week… even the smallest thing like sweeping the floor is worship unto the Lord. He’s been growing in me a greater love for people… not being taken back or put off if they don’t give back the same love and respect that you give them- but unconditional love – is something that we’re really learning this week.”
Jared | Nashville, TN | Counselor
What is one of your favorite memories from this week?
“Probably watching all my guys encourage the other groups after they dominate in the competitions.”
How do you feel like God is growing you as a person?
”I feel like I’m being stretched past the point that I thought I could be stretched and it’s forcing me to lean more on God instead of leaning more on my own strength.”
Why is diversity important here at Barefoot?
“There’s so many people that live inside of their bubble and never really get a chance to expand outside of that. So I feel like Barefoot Is the perfect environment to start being around people that you’re not used to being around. People from the other side of the track.”
Day 3
Today, campers continued their two specialty classes and had family devotional times. They also had another chance to complete a few low ropes course challenges as a republic. Each republic spent time in their cabins afterwards to work on their republic showcase, which they will present tomorrow evening. Campers were able to pick from several different free time activities including canoeing, paintball, fishing, whiffle ball, slip-n-slide, basketball, and more. 
Before dinner we had our weekly “Survivor” competition; various foods, both delicious and nasty, were placed in Dixie cups for campers to consume in a relay.
After dinner, everyone met at Sparrow Amphitheatre to play a quick republic competition, do praise and worship, and hear pastor DeWayne speak on forgiveness. Trail mix was waiting in the D.C. for campers to eat before their big game of capture the flag. We divided the campers by “left foot” or “right foot” groups. It was a good game and a great way to end an awesome day!
~Camper/Staff Interviews~
Liam | Clarksville, TN | Age 13
Why did you come back to Barefoot this year?
“Because I love this place. It’s the closest thing to Heaven.”
What’s your favorite thing from this week?
“Being able to hang out with my new friends and being able to sit inside the cabin today while it was raining and just have fun with them.”
How do you feel like you grow in your faith at Barefoot?
“I don’t have many friends who are Christians back at home and being around people who believe as much as I do makes me feel closer to God.”
Treasure | Nashville, TN | Age 14
Why did you come back to Barefoot this summer?
“Because I had fun the past years I’ve come and it just gets me closer to God.”
Do you feel like you’ve bonded with the girls in your cabin?
“I feel like we’ve got a good connection- I know everybody now.”
Why is diversity important?
“Because everybody should learn about God – no matter how you are or what you look like.”
Jon | Nashville, TN | Counselor-in-Training
What’s one of your favorite memories from this week?
“Today during our first specialty we were working on a remix of a song by Usher. The three kids in my specialty were really getting in to it. It was just a great atmosphere.”
Why do you think diversity is so important at Barefoot?
“I think that exposure to different cultures and people who have other values than you do (especially at their age) is really important as they grow up into adults because once they go from here they will know how to deal with people who may think differently than they do; they won’t freeze up and become single-minded.”
How do you feel like you are growing as a person here at Barefoot?
“I think God is really showing me (especially as a CIT member), what it means to have a servant’s heart. As we’re setting up for all the meals here in the cafeteria, I have to keep in mind who I’m doing this for. I always have to go back to “do everything as if you’re doing it for the Lord.” He just keeps on reminding me of that daily.”
Kim | Nashville, TN | Crew
Do you have any favorite memories from the week so far?
“During the worship services and evening program- with the kids and how they’re engaging in worship. As staff we’re also worshipping so we’re leading by example for them. By far that’s been one of the best memories this week.”
What are you most looking forward to this week?
“Just to be able to make a change in somebody else’s life… to put others before myself. It’s just a major blessing to be able to bless someone else. Barefoot’s done a lot for me. I know if I’m able to do things for God in the little things then He will help me with the big things in life.”
Why is the diversity at Barefoot important?
“When you get kids from all different racial, social, and economic backgrounds together it really shows a glimpse of what heaven will look like. When we build relationships with other kids of other races I just see God looking down and being so happy with His children- because we are all children of God no matter where we come from or what we look like.”
Day 2
We began the day with some awesome praise and worship led by Thomas Rose, followed by “family devos” in the cabins for each republic. Today campers were able to spend one hour and 45 minutes in each republic class instead of the short sample time yesterday. Everyone headed down to the low ropes course for some team building exercises including “the wall,” “trust fall,” and “spider web.” Campers had to learn to trust each other for support in order to complete the challenges.
A huge rainstorm hit Barefoot Republic today, soaking the campus and causing us to have a change of schedule for afternoon portion of the day. Instead of having free time activities outside, we had fun playing some group games inside of the cafeteria. After dinner and evening program, everyone geared up for the drive-in-movie. With pajamas on and popcorn in hand, campers are enjoying the movie “Tangled” right now. We are looking forward to even more fun activities tomorrow!
~Camper/Staff Interviews~
Chris | Atlanta, Georgia | Age 14
What has been your favorite thing to do so far this week?
“Making new friends, becoming closer to Jesus, having fun, and learning new things.”
What are you looking forward to this week?
“I have new cabin mates, so I wanted to make new friends, go to worship service, and have fun.”
How do you feel like your relationship with God is stronger because of Barefoot?
“The preacher doesn’t yell at you. They have ways that you can praise the Lord and have fun at the same time by singing songs and dancing.”
Tate | Nashville, TN | Age 14
Why did you come back to Barefoot?
“It’s just really fun, you get to meet a whole bunch of new people and there are so many fun things to do.”
What do you think about the diversity here at Barefoot?
“There’s a whole bunch of different kinds of people here. There are people that come from so many different backgrounds. I think it’s a good thing because you can meet new different people.”
Do you feel like you learn more about God at Barefoot?
“It’s more like a kids experience; when you go to church it’s more built for adults. I understand it better here. The one thing I heard last night was that God didn’t have to die for us. He wanted to die for us. That really struck something inside of me. It made me understand his love even more.”
Laura | Franklin, TN | Age 13
What has been your favorite thing so far this week?
“The food.”
Do you feel like your relationship with God gets stronger at Barefoot?
“Yeah, during the worship and devos. You get closer to God because you’re with all your friends and you just have a group time to focus on God the whole time.”
What do you think about the diversity here?
“I think it’s really diverse- but that makes it more fun for you to meet new people.”
Nailah | Nashville, TN | Age 13
Why did you come back this year?
“Because I had a blast last year and I’ve met tons of new people. It’s really fun. It’s what I look forward to every summer.”
Do you feel like your relationship with God gets stronger at Barefoot?
“Yes, especially when you look around and you see all different types of people- it’s not everybody that is the same as you. It’s all different types of people worshipping God the same way, or in different ways. But we all love one thing and that’s what brings us together. I enjoy that.”
How would you describe Barefoot to someone who’s never experienced it before?
“Loud. It’s very loud, very fun, and very energetic- but it’s also a place where everyone you meet will be loving no matter how their personality is- they could be shy, loud, or crazy, but everyone is loving and they take care of you.”
Tony | Nashville, TN | Counselor
What do you think about Barefoot so far?
“I love it. I can really say it’s been one of the greatest experiences of my life. Since I’ve been here I’ve experienced the Lord in a different way. I’ve never learned about Him in such an intimate and expressive way- they go into detail about it. And you have fun while you’re doing it.”
Why is the diversity here important?
”It’s very important. The theme for this year is “pieces” and with the diversity God created everyone individually. You want unity but you still want originality. We can all be uniform in attitude but you want to be very diverse in appearances to show the many colorful sides of the Lord.”
What would you tell prospective volunteers?
“Do it. It’s an experience you don’t want to miss out on, even if you only do it for one week. When Jasmine (Rutledge) told me to come to Barefoot, spending summer camp with kids wasn’t high on my priority list. Since I have been here, though, I can honestly say I have changed and I intend to come back for future years- I plan on becoming a veteran at Barefoot.”
Tressa | California | Counselor
What do you think about Barefoot so far?
“I love it. It’s full of diversity. It’s really neat to see different denominations coming together and just being one. I’ve never really seen that played out before and it’s really cool to see a community of Christ played out in that way.”
Do you have any favorite memories from camp?
”My favorite memories have just been worshipping with the kids and dancing around. I just love the warm community that I’ve been involved with, with all the staff and kids.”
How do you feel like God is growing you personally through being on staff at Barefoot?
”It’s been an exhausting journey. It’s been a real challenge and a struggle in a lot of ways but I have seen God be so faithful through it all- and just finding small things to be appreciative of, like small little naps to keep me up- God’s strength is just keeping me going every day. The joy of the Lord has really been there.”
Day 1
As soon as the campers arrived today, the fun began here at Barefoot Republic Camp! Campers jumped right into their republics, coming up with a name and a cheer to represent themselves by. We had an all-camp meeting to introduce campers to the staff and go over camp rules and cheers. Afterwards, campers got a chance to sample their two specialty classes for 30 minutes each. Everyone met down at Sparrow Amphitheatre to play a republic competition game, sing some praise and worship songs, and hear pastor DeWayne Gibbs speak. 
Everyone just got finished playing some awesome messy games on the athletic field. Kids had to make backwards lemonade, find a piece of bubblegum in a pan of flour without using their hands, and spin around a bat with soaking wet clothes on. It has been a busy first day of camp and I’m sure the campers are going to sleep well tonight!
