Don't even try guessing where this picture was taken on the way to our Praise Time Summer Camp for 2010. We took the Tokyo Aqualine, which is a tunnel for half of the distance across Tokyo Bay, and then becomes a bridge spanning the other half. At the point the tunnel reaches the surface of the water, there's a rest stop, and that's where we took this picture. In the middle of Tokyo Bay.
You could say there were two themes to the camp. One was a DIY approach to meals. An entire dinner wrapped in foil and cooked in the campfire coals, an omelette in a bag in boiling water, hot dogs and s'mores, and as you see pictured here, bannock on a stick for breakfast. pull it off the stick and put ham and cheese or jam in the hole.
The other theme was the parables of Jesus. We looked at selected parables in smaller groups. It was of course the first time these young people had heard these stories and thought through the meaning.
Of course we had the usual camp activities like swimming and hiking and games. It's amazing we didn't get lost on this hike with so many guides showing us the way!
Like just about everywhere in Japan outside of the cities, it was mountainous terrain, and we enjoyed the waterfall and pool after a hot hike.
We sang some praise songs related to the parables and did some skits on the themes of the parables at the times we gathered together for a campfire. Here we are reenacting one of the skits.
No, the signs the girls are holding do not say "Receding Hairline" and "Male Pattern Baldness" The girls symbolized suffering and worry, and I was weighed down by them. Laura didn't add much credibility to her part by smiling so sweetly while holding up a sign saying "suffering" but remember, this is a reenactment after the fact.
