AWO Summer Camp 2011

I am still reeling from all that happened this weekend and I am sure my description will be inadequate. There is so much to tell! Before camp, I described some of what God has done just in the last weeks and mentioned that I wouldn't limit Him in what He might do by saying He was "done." I'm glad I didn't! An additional $200 came in between that blog post and the start of camp, as well as more donations of food for our campers. More obstacles appeared (two tires went out on one of the vans, it thunder-stormed and some of the roads started to flood as we were picking up kids, and the A/C was out on one of the cabins when we arrived, just to name a few) but God provided in every way and overcame them all! The more that happened on Friday the more convinced I became that God must have something truly awesome planned for this camp--and that was confirmed today!

The entire park was themed "Yogi goes Hawaiian," so we all wore leis to really get in the spirit. Throughout the day the kids enjoyed fun activities interspersed with important discussions. They got to play on the giant waterslide, swim in the lake and in the pool, sing karaoke, and play miniature golf. It did storm much of the time we were there, but we were blessed to be able to use a screened-in pavillion free of charge (thanks Jellystone!) during those times, so we just did crafts and other planned activities until the sun came out! We had two different luau experiences, after which we had our own version of a singing contest. The kids had to take the music to popular secular songs and rewrite the lyrics to make them Christian songs--then they had to perform them! They really did a wonderful job and the songs were fun and entertaining! They had so much fun doing this it went on for a couple of hours. Some of the kids performed a skit about choices in life and consequences of making the wrong choices. Then the sun came out and so did we--back to the water!

God pressed it on my heart to focus on the book of Jeremiah this weekend and to impress on the kids at camp that they were planned children of God before they were even formed in the womb, and that He has a purpose and plan for each of their lives. Each night we read out of the Bible and discussed specific verses. On Sunday (today) we had our own version of church. Pastor Zakk Cumbess came to speak to the kids. Some of our kids sang worship songs to open up, then Pastor Zakk gave a message which highlighted exactly what I had felt God speaking to me to convey to the kids. He used some of the same verses I had gone over with them the previous two days! He also gave a powerful testimony which really spoke to the hearts of our kids. In the end, four of our campers accepted Jesus Christ into their hearts--a blessing and an answered prayer!!

This weekend was powerful and full of God's presence--we are so grateful to have been a part of it and are so grateful to all of you who have helped make this possible. So many times during this weekend I looked around at all the smiling faces and felt the joy that surrounded me and felt so overwhelmed by the goodness of God. I was and am so blessed to be a part of this it is almost more than I can bear. I was created for this purpose and am being used as His vessel, and it is the most amazing experience on Earth!

We will continue to do outreach, monthly mentoring meetings, and our Bible study meetings, as well as whatever else God calls us to do. I am already ready for next year's camp! Thank you so much for your support, prayers, encouragement, and blessing!

A HUGE thank you to all of our supporters and contributors, including: New Covenant Church, Williams Investments, Fresh Beginnings, Merita Bread, Chick Fil a, Daylight Donuts, Atlanta Bread Co., Hampton Inn and Suites, Wingate by Wyndham, Sam Alzheimer, Teresa Giles, and Tracey Huyck. Thank you, also, to our dedicated volunteers who came and stayed the weekend (or at least part of it): Denise Flanders, Gary Johnson, and Hoyt Hurt. We wouldn't have been able to do this without you!!Thank you so much, Pastor Zakk, for making the drive out to share your story with us--you were ordained for that moment and lives were changed because of you!

God's Provision

Soon I will be posting about the adventures yet to come at our summer camp, but I could not wait that long to tell all of God's goodness! There is so much that goes into preparing for camp that I couldn't write it all or tell it all to anyone. Each year our camp gets a little bit bigger and a little bit better as God sends us new children to pour into, and as He teaches me a more excellent way of fulfilling His will. As I wrote previously, I have by now learned to rest in His assurance and not get so stressed out about every little detail (that's just my nature, guys, as those of you who know me well already can attest). I am learning to trust Him more every day, and it is an awesome feeling!

As I stated in my last blog, God was calling me to expand this year's camp, even at the last minute. In spite of knowing we only had enough money to pay for one cabin, I trusted His promise and reserved TWO. So much has happened since that leap of faith I had to fill you in.

Within five minutes of me asking for assistance I was promised a $300.00 check. Within a few days, I had another $50.00 check, and within a week I had an additional $200.00 check. Whew! I was so overwhelmed by each one that my body would literally shake each time. I cannot describe or explain to you how it feels to have God bless you in such a way, out of nowhere, unexpectedly, and to have it happen after He has quietly promised it to you directly. Well, after a week or so I was still heady with the blessings but thought God was done. I praised Him and thanked Him, because that was enough money to pay for the second cabin and also some to go toward food and other expenses. It was an abundance! And then, He surprised me again with yet another check, for $120.00. Now, I can't promise this is all and I won't try to limit Him and say that's it, but with only a couple of days left til camp I am not "expecting" any more. But I refuse to try to predict His movements or to limit Him any longer! Anything is truly possible, in Him!

There were a few last-minute glitches (there often are) in which Bibles and linens we thought were provided were not, but God had a back-up plan. Did you read that correctly? I said GOD had a back-up plan! He knew and had provided another way before I ever knew that our original promise had fallen through. Within 24 hours of finding out we were days out from camp with no Bibles for the kids, and no sheets for their bunks, I am saying PRAISE GOD, Jehovah Jireh, my provider! One phone call to Williams Investments provided us with enough sheets (plus some towels to boot) for our kids--thank you Mr. Paul McNeil for your prompt generosity to us!! One call to our children's Pastor, Chuck Sayers, and we had enough Bibles in hand for every child coming to camp. I thank God daily for my New Covenant family and all the support, love, and encouragement they give me and this ministry!

I am not perfect. I am only human. God does not perform these miracles in my every-day life or for every request I make. God DOES provide, without hesitation and without fail, when He has called me to a task and I obey. When He called me to this ministry I questioned the impossibility of it all, and asked how could I possibly do all that He was telling me to do. He instructed me to step out in faith and to TRUST HIM. That was not an easy thing for me to do, and I will say three years later I am just now really understanding what He meant. I am learning, God, please be patient with me! And for all of you, I would say, if God is calling you to a task, however impossible it may seem, TRUST HIM and obey. The blessings He will bring to your life, and the miracles He will perform in your wake are worth any sacrifice you might be called to make!

Stay tuned....camp news will be coming soon!!