by Chelsea Loomis
Last Sunday (31st July), a large number of youth  from NewSong Community Church got back from Oasis Camp, in West Runtin, Norfolk. A full week of running around with several other churches, throwing eggs at each other, relaxing in the games room, and learning new and intimate things about ourselves and God in the morning and evening meetings.
In all, there were about 80 kids at camp.
The whole camp was separated into two teams (each team made of a few churches put together), and this year the theme was space. The two different teams were the Jedi’s (NewSong and a few other churches!!) and the Martians. Throughout the week we had very competitive games, trying to earn points for our team. Every dorm room (we were in Beeston Hall boarding school) had a room inspection every morning which was rated from 1-10, and we would also put those points towards the final score. At the end of the week, we found out the Martians had won, so overall we lost, but we gave a good team effort and had loads of fun-that’s what matters after all!!
At the end of each day, one of the leaders would decide which camper had done a brave thing, the right thing, or something like that, and they would be awarded the ‘Star of the Day’! This year, only one of our NewSongers won it: Femi Oluwole! He was the star because he got ‘beaned in the back end’ by a water balloon!
Every night we had worship which was very well organized, and several NewSongers (one of which visited from America) took part in it all on different nights. Justin Loomis played drums, Laura Stone sang, and Chelsea Loomis played guitar and sang. Chris Barrowman also had a go at the bongo drums during a couple of sessions.
  
Luckily, we got to go on TWO outings this year! Great Yarmouth, which included the Pleasure Beach, which was sort of like Drayton Manor but smaller. It had a roller coaster, a water ride, some fun and fast rides, bumper cars, a haunted house, and of course, a fun house!! We all separated into groups of 3 or more and went around-we all had a brill time there because there was something for everybody!
The second outing we went to the local leisure centre which had a pool and a fun water slide! On Friday night we had the whole pool to ourselves!
As I mentioned earlier, we had very fierce competitions! Some of them which are: The Wide Game, Space Cargo, Space Crystals, Space Gladiators, and The Final Space Battle!
In the Wide Game we would go out to our neighbouring woods and a leader would mark out a huge ‘safe’ spot. Everyone would get yarn around there arms, and one team would go out and hide in the woods, then try to get into the ‘safe’ spot, and the other team would try to defend the ‘safe’ spot, taking off (ok, actually ripping, and boy does that hurt!) the opposing team’s yarn. That sounds nice, simple, and painless, but really, an easy way to put it, don’t expect to come out of the woods unscathed!!
 Space Cargo is where chosen members of each team would play water games against each other; that’s where Femi got ‘beaned’!
Space Crystals is based on the Crystal Maze, where you have to use your head. Some of them you have to be clever, others you have to have a good aim/eye, etc.! There were 10 different stations, and you would rotate around each one, trying to win each game. If you succeeded you would get a Space Crystal.
Space Gladiators was a few games put together (sprinting, Physio Ball, Tug of War, Moon rock throwing, etc!) Again certain members of each team were chosen to do different activities.
 The Final Space Battle didn’t count for any points, it was just for fun! It was the last game (take notice of the word ‘final’) and it was basically a big water fight. We threw eggs; water bombs, ketchup and flour at each other, and had buckets of water that went over each other, too!
 We had a morning meeting and an evening meeting. In the mornings someone would give their testimony, and in the evening Shaun Foulds spoke.
Before breakfast in the mornings we had a quiet time with our small group leader. We were given these little workbooks which had a topic and questions for each day!
 Of course, we can't forget the black hole. Each year three campers get voted by their mates to be tortured. This year Linzi took the top prize. Be sure to ask her about egg & flour shampoo.
Overall we all had a brilliant time at camp-and everyone did something! At church on Sunday, stop one of the 17 kids who went and ask them about it.
Thank you everyone for your letters! We enjoyed them thoroughly!
Some opinions on camp this year:
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Ji Hodson: Oasis was great! I met amazing new people who are hilarious. I got a break from every day life and the sermons were great!you must come next year or your missing out!!
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Sophy Walford: amp was soooo gud this year! made loadsa nu mates and just had a really gud time- everyone HAS to go bak next year!!
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Joel Davidge: ‘Well it was my first time but everyone was very friendly and it was a lot of fun!’
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Maria Bishton: ‘I thought the services were powerful and the games were fun and it was great 2 meet new Christian people and learn more about God’.
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PJ Axelson: ‘Cool, fun,made new friends, and changed my life!The sermon that Shaun read to us at one of our evening meetings was about how Jesus had died for us on the cross [in graphic detail]. That was the night I gave myself to Jesus, and my life was changed.’
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Chelsea Loomis: ‘It was my third year, so it must’ve been good for me to come again! It was so nice to get away from everyone and see friends I hadn’t seen for a year!’
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Justin Loomis: ‘it was awesome I’m definitely coming back next year!’
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Sam Loomis: ‘It was awesome-I have no complaints!’
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Annabelle Wright (Hollywood): i thought camp was gr8, there were loads of new people to meet and i made so really good friends. i reccomend that anyone should come, it helps you come closer to God and you have loads of fun!
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Sarah Bennett: Great! Made new friends. Great sermons Life changing experiences. Everyone MUST come!
Give your input.
What did you think of camp?
How did it help you continue your journey with Jesus?
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