First Day In Prison Camp Friday, August 13, 2010

Unlike any normal prison camp, the young prisoners started arriving to this camp hours in advance, and by their own free will. They didn't carry steel chains or wear striped uniforms. They weren't covered in tattoos or weathered signs of the world. But they certainly had their own identification. They were a portion of the young Bride of Jesus Christ, and it showed.

Busload after busload, the young believers of Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia piled onto the campgrounds. They were wearing looks of cheerful excitement, rather than the dreadful excitement that most prisoners experience. They started straight through the registration line, where they received their designated room keys, itinerary, and prison-camp uniforms.

Within a few hours, the grounds were scattered with grey prisoner shirts. By 5:00 in the afternoon, they were filling up a large tent on the shore of the Dnieper River Reservoir. This first gathering provided a warm welcome, far different from the cold, harsh realities of a natural prison. However, the youth did learn how to fight on this occasion. Brother John Katyale (the Tapeboy mentioned in the fall issue of CTV), instituted our theme song, teaching everyone how to fight the devil. After a few hits to the face, a knee to the stomach, and a head-butt to the face, the devil was feeling defeated and everyone was feeling good and relaxed. Brother Paul Derksen of Canada then spoke to the young prisoners about the many types and realities of becoming a prisoner. It boiled down to two; you’re either a prisoner for Christ, or a prisoner of the Devil. We were so thankful to see how many, who like our special speakers, were prisoners of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This short, informal service was a great start to the theme of our YF Ukrainian Camp this year: Prisoner For Christ. With these thoughts already stirring in our minds and hearts, we moved down to the mess hall. Except here, the food was far better than anything you would ever taste in a prison cell.

To top off the great start of the camp, we gathered after dinner around a huge bonfire on the shores of the water. It was peaceful, and the sky was clear and full of countless stars as the young believers began playing their instruments and singing. For the rest of the evening, they sang love songs to the One who bought their freedom and made them blessed prisoners of Christ.