Boys shoes in front of the chimney

April is always the time when the boys 10-14 from Templo Bethania in Tijuana go for a weekend camping trip. Tender Loving Care Children Ministries helps to sponsor this activity. It is an awesome opportunity for some of these boys to go somewhere, be safe, have fun and learn about the Word of God. They also learn discipline and how to help one another. We have an amazing team of leaders that give up their weekend to make this event possible.

The kids left at 1:30 p.m. from the church. In the morning, it had rained in Tecate. When the boys got there the grass was wet and there were puddles of water in many areas. Boys are boys! After putting down their pack-sack they headed outside to play. Wet grass and puddles of water were not going to dampen their fun time.

When they went back inside the cabin for supper, their shoes and some of their clothes were soaking wet. One leader made a fire in the huge fireplace. The kids then put their shoes in front of the fire, so they would dry overnight.

Later that evening the pastors went to the camping ground to check up on everyone. They sent me some pictures of the kids in their sleeping bags or bundled up in their blankets enjoying watching a video.

Among the pictures I received was the picture of the fireplace and the shoes. As I looked at the picture, I did not yet know about the rain, the boys playing outside and the wet shoes.

But immediately, in my spirit, this is what I saw: The beautiful fire in the natural, was not a just beautiful in the natural, but a beautiful fire on the spiritual level. It was the presence of the Holy Spirit coming down as a fire of love and compassion falling on the lives the boys whose shoes were on the fireplace.

Each pair of shoes represented one of these young boys. In the spirit I saw that the Holy Spirit was going to guide, protect, teach and anoint each one of these boys. The fire of the Holy Spirit is going to be their strength and power, so they that each one will be able to complete the race the Lord has for him.

After this camping weekend, these boys will never be the same.

At times we look at a picture and it is a beautiful picture, but other times, it is far more than just a beautiful picture. It is a word from the Holy Spirit to bring encouragement about something very precious to a precious person or in this situation to a group of precious boys such as this group during their annual camping trip.

“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:15 NIV

Denise