Pauingassi 2012

July 9 – 15, 2012

What began as straight forward Athletes in Action Baseball Camp nine years ago has developed into a program that includes the whole community. While baseball is still an integral part of the program, the staff also teaches Bible classes, crafts and swimming for the kids.  The men of the community are invited to a men’s breakfast, the ladies to their own breakfast and the whole community is invited to a wiener roast. Forty-five men came for the breakfast (pancakes with bacon, & each man received a fish hook as a gift) and forty-one ladies came for their breakfast.  Each lady received a gift bag of goodies.  Fifteen minutes past 10.00 am, we were “worried” only 5 ladies would show up, but then shortly after that a bus load of 36 women showed up.   At the wiener roast we ended up serving 300 hotdogs!

Over the years we have learned to know these people and really appreciate them. This year I was privileged to help the local pastor as he baptized one of the ladies. She shared her testimony with the ladies at the breakfast.

Our group also attends the local church service and each one is expected to contribute.  The service may very well carry on for 3 – 4 hours before everyone has shared a song, a story or some scripture.

About 30 children turned up for our first ‘Sunday School’ class.   They kept coming back each day for the lessons and the crafts.   

One evening I wandered into the gym and the older teens were getting themselves organized to do a floor hockey tournament, so I was immediately roped in to be the referee.  I spent the better part of the night in the gym with these young guys.  Personal friendships have developed between our AIA team and some of the local people and this is a joy to see.

It was a really great camp/community experience with some challenges though.  It is always a challenge to see how we can best pack and transport the supplies due to the high costs.   This year another challenge was the 35° heat and high humidity made baseball almost impossible, so we spent time with the kids swimming in the lake. Two of our workers actually cooled off a bit in a deep freeze. The seaplane flight, take-off and landing on water can also be a bit of an adrenaline experience. Sometimes it is quite bumpy and rough, so some Gravol may be needed.    It is quite much a faith adventure serving our wonderful First Nation with love and care.

We look forward to going back next year, already having new ideas formed in our minds.

As a full-time Athlete in Action staff, I am organizing three baseball camps this summer in remote First Nations communities, with about 6-8 volunteer staff working in each camp.

Albert Martens

Athletes in Action

First Nations Baseball

July, 2012