Dear Azy, Rumi, and Ari,
It’s been a very productive week at camp so going to get right into it. At first, daddy got a job here, called an orderly, so he can do some work while he’s here and help others as well. The job he got was cleaning the showers. The showers are for everyone who lives on two sides of the camp so for about 70 people, and there are 6 shower stalls in one common area. In order to learn how to do it, the guy who had been cleaning showed daddy how he does it. Now he told daddy every body does it different but this is how he does it. He went and got a power washer and filled it with soap. Then he sprayed all the stalls with the soap. Then he took a brush with a canister full of soap and brushed all the walls including the ones between the stalls. Then he put the power washer on water setting and sprayed all the soap down. Then he hand cleaned all the metal parts with a bottle sprayer. He then told daddy a lot people only use the brush and not the power spray or just sweep the showers each day. What he does they might do once a month. He does it once a week and sometimes more. But because of the work he puts in, the showers are spotless and shining. And everyone appreciates him doing it this way.
So the first lesson is when you have to do something, always give people more than they expect. He doesn’t have to do it weekly and could do less work. But because he wants the place to be super clean, he does more than expected. Second lesson is , whatever work you do, take pride in it because this is how people are going to see you, and most importantly, how God sees you. Daddy decided to do it the same way the guys showed him because cleaning it to where it’s super clean people will know daddy values his work. Whatever work you do, think of it as putting it at the altar as an offering before God. Would God be pleased? If he sees you’re doing your best and doing what might be harder instead of easier because that’s going to provide something better for his people, he will be pleased. Third, it doesn’t matter what the job is. You can have chores from cleaning your room to having a business where you sell something to others that they would want. Make sure you do it the best you can and provide them value. Because Daddy cleans the showers so good for God and because he takes pride in anything he does, others now know daddy works hard and appreciate his hard work. Also, daddy knows the other campers are away from their families and miss them. So when they go take a shower and it’s super clean, it probably makes them feel like they’re back home. And some have to work early in the morning or come back at night and whenever they take a shower, they feel better when they step into it and see how clean it is. So whatever you do, do it better than expected and take pride in your work. Ask yourself, would God be pleased?
The second story I’m going to tell you about is about a desk light and not being selfish. You see, your daddy likes to study and read the bible after lights out at the camp from 9:30 pm to midnight each night when it’s quiet here. Unfortunately, while other rooms have a desk light, daddy doesn’t so he has to leave his room light on to be able to read. A few of the people in daddy’s hallway said the room light was bothering them and they weren’t able to sleep. The first person lives across on the other side of daddy’s room and came in mad and told daddy to turn if off. The second person lives down the hall and came and asked daddy nicely if he wouldn’t mind turning off the light because he works early in the morning and the light was bothering him. One thing is there are no rules on turning off the light so technically daddy could of kept on his light as long as he wanted. Also, when daddy looked at how much light was going into the two people’s rooms, it was very little. They could of easily blocked the light by putting something over their bed. But daddy started thinking more about them than himself because God tells us not to be selfish and try to put others needs in front of our own. So daddy decided to turn off the light at ten so they could sleep. The next day, daddy asked the main orderly at the camp if there’s anyway to get desk lights. Despite them not having it for weeks, daddy ended up talking to someone who didn’t use theirs and give it to daddy. Then someone else heard about what daddy did and give daddy a multiple setting desk light that the best desk light in the whole camp. In fact, people were walking by and saying that’s the best desk light they’ve ever seen.
So the lesson here is not to be selfish. If you can, put others needs before your own, so you can help others. This is what God wants from us. To have a sharing heart. And when he sees this, he will always provide you with what you need or give you more than what you need. In this case, daddy went from not having a desk light for three weeks to having two within 24 hours and one of them the best at the camp. God is that good!
Third lesson involves a tire. Here at camp, in the field there are these big tires. Daddy saw a guy named Mark who’s 62 years old and became friends with him. Mark is very strong and used to compete in body building competition. Daddy saw Mark flipping these huge tires and they looked very heavy. Mark told Daddy to try one of the medium tires to start. The thing is daddy has been working out a while, but those tires looked very heavy and daddy wasn’t sure if he could lift one. So daddy came one afternoon and put his hands below the tire to flip it and he did it. Then he realized it was easier to grip it half way down and flipped it again. Then he realized if he put one knee under it when he lifted it, he could hold it until he could be able to put his hands under the tire to push it up and make it even easier. So kept flipping the tire more and more. First 20, then 30, then 40, then 50 times in 20 minutes. Daddy was amazed. Then daddy said I’m tired but I have more in me. Why not go for 100? Then daddy did 60,70,80, then 90 times, and rested in between because daddy was getting tired. Then he did the last 10 to do 100 in 45 minutes. Daddy couldn’t believe it.
A few lessons here. Sometimes things that look hard or scary from the outside may not be as difficult as you think. The tire looked heavy and was heavy but daddy wasn’t going to know if he could do it until he tried. So always try, even if you don’t think you can do it. Two, daddy has been training and lifting weights to get strong for the last two years. So God was teaching Daddy you’re stronger than you think and are ready for this. Sometimes, the things you’re doing God is preparing you for something bigger without you even knowing it. So when you see that opportunity, God has you ready and realize you can do it, and in this case, you’re stronger than you think.
And now for a bible lesson. Got wanted to have friendships with others. So he created the world. He created the universe and the stars, then the moon and the earth, then the people, then all the animals and plants. And he did it all in 6 days and took the last day to rest. Not that he was tired but God was showing us how to live our lives. One was to create. He’s a creator and God made us in his own image so he wants us to create. And after working for 6 days, we need a day or rest to thank him and praise him for everything he’s provided us so we can enjoy this beautiful life. Then God created his first kids, Adam and Eve and they had kids and eventually one of their kids named Abraham loved God so much that God was very pleased with him. So he made a pact, or what we call a covenant, that Abraham would be blessed and have an many kids as there are stars. In fact, all the people in the world come from Abraham. Well, Abraham’s kids and future generations did something wrong. So God, being loving and orderly, gave them a set of rules called commandments to follow so they know how to have a relationship with him and other people. He did this with Moses, one of the descendants of Abraham.
So the first thing you want to know is God is amazing and created this whole world just for us. And the reason he did it was to have a relationship with you. God is pleased when you talk to him. Tell him about your problems, ask his advice, pray for his help. Like I said in the last lesson, he is your best friend. And last, God made us a promise through Abraham, that he’ll always be there for us. No matter what we do, he will forgive us as long as we turn to him and tell him about it. So I want you to remember God loves you that much. No matter what you do, he’ll be there for you. And in future lessons, I’m going to show you just how God did this over and over again since he created the world with people because of the promise he made to Abraham and because he loves us so much.
That’s it for today. Daddy and mommy love you so much. You’re both growing up and understanding things now. It’s just going to keep getting better and better. Daddy is very happy that you both like being outside as daddy loves the outdoors. Can’t wait to go hiking, biking, and swimming with you. Love you so much. And daddy especially loves mommy! 🙂
Love,
Daddy
3/1/25
