Mission among the children

Grain of Wheat Foundation was established to organise camps for children from any families, who are allowed to spend time with Christian leaders, and study the Bible through their summer holidays. We had got a report about their work.

"I can do everything through Him who gives me strength"
(Phil. 4:13)

I discovered the reality of this biblical truth throughout the summer and even before, as I was preparing the camps. When all the summer was full with camps, not a week was left free, we were given two more invitations to England. First, I was delighted about them, then I started to think, whether we were capable of organising these extra camps or should we just say thank you for the possibilities and leave them unused, when the Spirit reminded me: "You can do everything through Him who gives you strength". Then we started to pray for the details: for a good team, for a school who accepts the invitation, and sends the children, for a good bus to travel with and for the finances too. This is how we ended up organising six camps in England, two of them in collaboration with churches, and two with schools.

We had 198 children in England, many of them had a life-changing experience with the Lord and returned home as different persons, having Jesus Christ as a personal Saviour.
The Lord provided everything, children, parents who collaborated with us, camp-leaders, committed Christians to help in the camps, local people in England to help the groups, vehicles, finances, food etc... Each group had the possibility of enjoying the hospitality of English churches when having barbecues together, common programs with local young people. It would be rather difficult to give account about the "Thanks" we got from the parents after the camps... May the Lord make it possible to all of them who tasted the goodness of the Lord and how nice it is to study His Word and commit their lives to the Living God.

Some details from the few of the children:

• In Dover in Kent the Mayor welcomed the group in the town hall. One 12 years old boy who speaks very good English approached the mayor and asked him: "Sir, have you ever accepted Jesus in your heart?"
• From the second camp the camp leader wrote me a text message saying: "On the last evening we worshipped and then we invited the kids to come to the Lord. 70% of them prayed the salvation prayer with their counsellors." Than he added: "I'd be happy to have another camp with the same children."
  
• Gary Barrow, the camp leader wrote: "God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us" (Eph. 3:20)
  He wrote about David, a 14 years old boy: "He was one of the first ones who raised his hand to receive Jesus as his Lord and Saviour. After that I saw a complete transformation in him. He was full of questions about Jesus and the Bible. He wasn't satisfied: he had a hunger and just wanted to know more."
• Margit, a sweet girl told me: "I can't say how wonderful to have Jesus in my heart"
• Alexandra, a 14 years old girl arrived to the camp with a broken heart. Her only brother is in prison in South America for drug dealing. She was among the first ones who invited Jesus into her life.

Our camps in Switzerland and Germany were also very successful. The Lord opens doors and through these doors many children enter His Kingdom. Praise His name! The camps in Hungary were filled with children from Serbia. We had two groups at Lake Balaton, which is a popular tourist place. These children came from a poor country, where they live as a minority under pressure, without feeling secure and confident in their homeland. Rising racism makes their lives fearful and tense. All the families were happy to have the possibility to send their children to Hungary for a holiday. In our camps they studied the Bible, they had got good, nourishing food, exciting programs and an English language course, too. The majority of them called Jesus Christ into their lives and would like to return next year. These two camps were sponsored by a Swiss donor, may the Lord honour him according to the measure of the Bible. Our camps abroad were self-financed.

The work in the orphanage is going on; once or twice a month we visit a home where hundreds of children live without being loved by parents. For those, who stay there even at the weekends we organise programs: games, competitions, Bible teaching, singing, puppet-shows etc... We invite some of them to our home for the school holidays.

Several times a year we travel to Serbia to visit the children. Our collaborators there are very diligent in continuing the work we started, they do a brilliant follow-up work.

They borrow the theatre to invite 300-350 children for Saturdays, and they visit them in their homes, too. The churched children are like missionaries in their villages inviting their friends to the events we organise there.

As the work keeps growing we realise the importance of training the camp leaders and helpers. If the Lord helps us, we will hold a training seminar for a weekend in the spring. Please, pray for us to accomplish what the Lord expects us to do in His field. "From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." (Eph. 4:16).

Eva Szilagyi
Grain of Wheat Foundation, Hungary

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