Jerusalem Ministry Soccer Camp 2014

Another powerful camp! We had 54 boys from 9 different children homes across Seoul attend along with 48 committed volunteers. For three days we met on the nice fields of Yongsan Army Base. The boys were split into four teams and went through practice/teamwork drills in the morning and then had scrimmages in the afternoon. More than soccer (which was fun!), what the boys really received during the three days was strong love, encouragement, and healthy attention from all the adult volunteers. The volunteers made the atmosphere safe so that the boys, despite being from so many different homes and having such difficult pasts, were able to connect well with each other and have fun. By the end of the camp some of the boys were fighting tears because it was over. Others were holding tightly to their team pictures, which each boy received to help them remember the camp. Most of the 6th graders were telling us that they want to fail in school this year so that they can take 6th grade over and return again next year (the camp is only for 3rd – 6th graders). =) This camp is truly special for them!

Here is our video of the camp. Many thanks to Jisu Choi who filmed it and put it together! I recommend watching it in HD quality, not in 360p (click the settings icon on the bottom bar to the left of “youtube” to choose the quality).

And here are some pictures from the camp. Many thanks to Janis Pok and my wonderful wife Sky for taking pictures!

On the first day the boys received full uniforms and Nike soccer shoes. These boys treasure the shoes and the uniforms also become their favorite article of clothing. Whenever I visit my children’s home the boys are always wearing their jerseys from past camps.

I was blessed by what a great job our volunteers did taking care of each boy and making sure all the shoes fit well.

Team Germany. What a great picture!

Team Argentina

Team Brazil huddled up

Team Netherlands playing a fun icebreaker game in the morning

Team Argentina getting coached up by Coach Roy

Team Germany’s captain, happy to be there

A little dodgeball in the afternoon before the scrimmages

Team Netherlands celebrating after a great goal

Team Brazil huddling up. This was a powerful moment because these boys come from so many different homes and have so many different types of insecurities, yet they bonded quickly and learned well from the example of their coach and volunteers.

Post game handshakes between the boys.

Did I mention how blessed I was by Team Brazil’s unity? So good!

GOAL!!!

Min Ho has grown up in my home and has looked forward to the soccer camp for many years. He finally entered 3rd grade this year and got to join us for the first time. He did a great job and scored a key goal for his team during the semi-final. His team would end up winning the championship.

We made sure to celebrate birthdays during the camp. This boy (Min Jae) was brand new to the soccer camp and responded really well. It meant a lot to him that we remembered his birthday and celebrated it.

At the end of Day 1 this boy was making sure his shoes were put away well.

On the last day we take the boys swimming. In this picture Coach Sang Jin is having fun bonding with the boys. This was Sang Jin’s second camp coaching and he did a marvelous job!

Volunteer Ken also having a great time with the boys in the pool

Team Netherlands, the champions, were treated to a special meal by Vatos Urban Tacos. They loved it!

Here is one of the boys responding to receiving his framed team picture

The weather for this camp (our 7th, with our first being in 2008) was fantastic. It was the best weather we have had of any of the camps. We had prayed for good cloud cover and some light rain here and there to cool us off, and that was what we got. Praise the Lord!

Our next camp will be our Arts and Crafts Camp for 3rd – 6th grade girls. That will likely be held January 20-22 next year.