Bellevue's CampOutrageous raises $7,975 for playground

Orphaned kids halfway around the world have the kids in Memphis to thank for a new playground.

Orphans in Poipet, Cambodia, are enjoying a new playground paid for by children at Bellevue's CampOutrageous.

December 24, 2010
By Jim Barnwell
Special to Faith & Values
The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tennessee)

Orphans in Poipet, Cambodia, enjoy a new playground paid for by children at Bellevue's CampOutrageous.

It all started in June with thousands of kids who attended CampOutrageous -- similar to vacation Bible school but a whole lot more -- at Bellevue Baptist Church. It was there they learned about the plight of a group of orphans in Poipet. The children raised a total of $7,975.38 for the construction of a playground for the Cambodian orphans. But it didn't end there.

A team of men from Bellevue used the money the children collected to buy the materials for the playground. Then the men made the 9,000 mile trek to Poipet to build the playground Nov. 15-19.

The Bellevue team worked with missionary Steve Hyde in Cambodia. "Building a playground in Cambodia is not like building in the USA because we don't have Home Depot or Wal-Mart," Steve said. "Much of the tools they had to bring with them, including chains, rust-proof screws, and bolts. We had to pre-order the timber to build the playground which entailed having a wood-cutter go into the jungle and find the trees we requested. Then we had to hire a table plainer to plain all the wood down so it was not so rough. It took months of preparation just to get the wood ready."

Despite the sweltering Cambodian temperatures, the Bellevue team worked five days outdoors alongside Steve's team of missionaries. The end result was a completed playground and lots of smiling children.

"Steve Hyde's love of the Cambodian people is especially inspiring to me. I believe God led us to these orphans and I would love to go back," said Bellevue team member Spence Ray. "The children are thrilled about the playground. I think it will be a continuing outreach and ministry tool to all children in the area."

Bellevue Baptist Church is located on Appling Road at I-40 in Cordova. For more information about the church or any of its ministries, call 347-2000 or visit bellevue.

Jim Barnwell is communications director for Bellevue Baptist Church.