Our Defender

How in the world is tomorrow the last day of camp already?! We told the team on the first day of camp that this week would fly by, and it really has. It feels faster than ever before! This week has been absolutely amazing from start to finish, and we’re just so in awe of how God has already moved. 

We started our day with breakfast on the rooftop, and the air was still. We were hoping the clouds rolling in might bring a breeze. Spoiler alert: they didn’t. With no air flow in the valley, the heat was intense and the humidity was heavy. But nothing could stop the joy and momentum of another amazing day. For breakfast, we had tortillas, beans, eggs, bananas, starfruit, Canadian bacon, cheese, and pineapple juice. A lot of our team members got creative and made their own breakfast tacos with everything. We loved getting to spend another morning on the rooftop together. This team has been so unified — an answered prayer.

After breakfast, we spent time in individual quiet time. Today’s devotional focused on team unity, and the reflection prompted us to pray for each team member by name. At this point in the Mission Experience, that invitation felt especially meaningful. We’re deep into the week, and this act of intentionally lifting one another up is exactly what fuels us to finish strong together. After quiet time, we gathered in the lobby as a team, prayed for the day ahead, and loaded the bus with our supplies and ourselves, ready for another day of serving shoulder to shoulder.

When we arrived at the school, the clouds were rolling in, but the sun still peeked through the trees in the most beautiful way. There’s something about St. Matthew’s that feels sacred, like it’s holy ground set apart for moments just like this. As we began unlocking classroom doors, opening every window, and getting our tech set up for the day, kids started arriving. Camp felt especially full and fun today with the arrival of several new kids. One little girl, attending for the first time, jumped right into the opening session. She was doing all the dance moves to the worship songs like she’d been there all week. These kids truly love dance time, and it shows—they don’t miss a beat.

Today’s Bible point was “God is my defender. He fights my battles.” Defender can be a big word for little ones to grasp, so during the opening session, we asked what they thought it meant. One little girl confidently raised her hand and said, “A defender is someone who fights for you.” It was the perfect answer. Throughout the morning, the kids rotated through stations that reinforced this truth in meaningful ways. At Creation Station, they made shields to remind them that God protects and defends them. Each kid was so excited to show off their work.

We also added more onto our theme verse, Psalm 145:13: “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all He promises.” The kids are not just repeating this verse, they’re memorizing it, storing it deep in their hearts. What a powerful foundation to build on at such a young age. At Exploration Station, the children played a matching game that helped them learn the pieces of the Armor of God. They were fully engaged and so eager to put it all together. The relay races at Fun and Games were a great way to get the kids working as a team. The sack races were a huge hit, and the kids were actually so skilled at it. Laughter and joy echoed across the school grounds as they raced and cheered each other on.

After camp, our team hopped on the bus alongside all of the kids and rode through the valley as we dropped each of them off at home. It’s always such a sweet part of the day—seeing where the kids live, waving to neighbors, and taking in the stunning views of the countryside. Since we stay in the same village where we serve, this ride gives our team members a chance to see other parts of the valley. It also gave us an opportunity to see just how far our reach is as a ministry. 

Today, we were joined by Kim and Izzy Lord. Kim’s husband, Fredrico, is the Pastor of The Gathering, the church 28:19 Ministries planted in Pomona. Their daughter, Izzy, was able to join us for camp today, and we’re so excited to have them here with us. 

For lunch, we had chicken tenders with sweet and sour sauce, mashed potatoes, salad, garlic bread, and a mystery green juice that everyone loved. It was so so yummy! After lunch, we hurried downstairs to gather supplies for our afternoon programs and head to our individual places. 

The women’s conference was back in the Community Center today, and the women on our team did an incredible job making it feel so beautiful and special. The tables were set with table numbers, mints, golden table runners, and vases filled with pampas grass. There was a line of women wrapped around the building waiting to get in! Today’s theme was “I can be set free”, and it was so powerful. From the worship to the testimonies shared — God is at work in this space, and these women are being set free. You could feel the momentum, the shift, the freedom rising. Chains are being broken, and women are walking in truth and healing. I believe God is starting something new in Pomona, and He’s starting it with the women. It’s only just the beginning.

At Sister Squad, today’s Bible point was “I am worthy.” The girls began their time together with an icebreaker that was such a hit, they ended up playing it for an entire hour. This space is such a gift. It’s a place where the girls can simply be girls. No pressure, no responsibilities — just joy, laughter, and sisterhood. For their craft, they painted picture frames as a reminder of the truth they’re learning. As they left, several of them proudly showed off their finished frames and already had a photo in mind that would fill their frame.

Warriors Camp was absolutely bursting with energy today, more than any other day so far. These boys have not only embraced their tribes, they’ve embraced the heart of what it means to be a man of God. Today’s focus was “Stand Together,” and the unity, teamwork, and encouragement on display were nothing short of powerful.

They haven’t just been playing games. They’ve been cheering each other on, lifting one another up, and learning to stand shoulder to shoulder in both fun and faith. Much of this growth is thanks to the incredible men on our team who are leading by example. Their words and actions are planting seeds that will grow long after this week ends. The boys made paracord carabiners today and showed them off with pride. One of them excitedly told me all about his, and when I asked to see it, he smiled and said he had already run it over to his sister at Sister Squad to keep it safe. That moment said it all. These boys are learning to value, protect, and honor those around them. They also had a blast playing Tug of War and creating dog tags to remember everything they’ve learned this week. The joy is real. The growth is undeniable. And the impact is eternal.

Once our afternoon programs wrapped up, we headed back to the hotel to drop off supplies and freshen up before dinner. When we walked into the lobby, we were greeted by an unexpected surprise—several massive jackfruits sitting on the counter. Naturally, some of our team members were eager to give it a try! The verdict? Weirdly delicious. The texture definitely took some getting used to, with one team member describing it as, “like eating pumpkin guts.” The flavor was a wild ride—starting like banana, then turning into mango, and finishing with a hint of pineapple. 

For dinner we had stew chicken, white rice, black beans, macaroni salad, lime juice, and carrot cake for dessert. The carrot cake was next level since it had just come out of the over. Dessert lovers across the team squealed with excitement! 

After dinner, we walked down to the church in front of the hotel for team worship. In addition to our amazing team, we were joined by some very special guests—Kim, Izzy, Diana, Lucent, Raymond, Hez, Marvin, and Zenda. Lucent and Raymond are both members and leaders at The Gathering. Hez and Marvin are dear friends we’ve come to know through our time at the hotel, and Zenda is a new friend who works there as well. It was such a joy to have them worship with us. Their presence made the evening feel even more special. 

During our team worship, Amy read from Galatians 5 and invited us into a time of reflection and response. We were encouraged to boldly take a step of faith in light of what we read. As we closed out the night, we gathered to pray over specific requests we’ve received throughout the week, as well as situations back home that are heavy on our hearts. It was a powerful reminder that this team is not only united in mission but also in prayer, support, and love for one another and for those we care about.

After team worship, we had a few projects to get done before our last day of camp tomorrow. Now, it’s time to get some rest before our last day of programs tomorrow! Goodnight, friends!