*a small glimpse of summer camp*
**WARNING: Long post, but filled with "God-moments"!**
Where do I begin? Let’s start at last year’s camp…..the kids
had so much fun they begged to stay another night, but we didn’t have money to
rent the cabins any longer. I promised that I would try to extend the camp for
the following year. After much prayer, I felt led to reserve the cabins for an
extra day in January, and trusted God for provision (since this would cost
substantially more than any other camp). God did provide throughout the year
for our every need, as He always does. He revealed things to me about the camp
in the months prior, such as a DVD Bible study for teens (on learning to know
and be the “ME” that God wants us to be) to be used. He also showed me how He
wanted me to incorporate some experiential traditional Biblical things, such as
the taking of communion at the beginning of Sabbath. God poured in the
blessings in the weeks prior to camp, introducing me to three wonderful
Christian volunteers and having a local church donate a good bit of supplies
for the camp. However, as camp approached, we were still $1000 short just for
the rental fee alone, plus we would need additional funds for the supplies,
gas, and food. I kept praying. Money did trickle in, but we were about $500
short the day before camp was to begin. In addition to that, two days before
camp I became sick with what I thought was a stomach virus. However, by the
second day of being sick I realized I had the symptoms of appendicitis. I just
kept praying. I wouldn’t go to the doctor for fear it might be appendicitis and
they would hospitalize me. I just couldn’t imagine having to cancel camp. I
prayed to God, “Okay, God, I am doing your work, which you called me to do. I
know you have plans for this weekend and I trust that you will not let anything
happen to me that will interfere.” I plodded on, though I was in so much pain I
was unable to completely prepare for camp. My cousins came over and helped me
finish the supplies and did all my packing for me—I couldn’t have done it all
alone, there is no doubt. During this time Kristann was also sick with a fever.
I felt very torn about camp, but I believed strongly that this was an enemy
attack to prevent camp so I refused to give up. We made it to camp with all 36
kids, finally (a few hours late), and on the ride there (literally) I received
a phone call that we had the remaining money we needed. Whew!!
So, we are finally at camp and we have the provisions we
need to make it possible. However, I am in tremendous pain and Kristann is very
ill, making it all more difficult than usual. We settled everyone in and I
tried to sleep, but by morning I knew that Kristann’s fever needed treatment
and I myself needed to know if the pains were something life-threatening or
not. So, I left early, just after day break, long before the kids were to wake
up, to go to the doctor with Kristann. I left the kids with my husband (and
ministry partner) and the five adult volunteers God blessed us with this year.
Kristann was diagnosed with strep and given antibiotics and I was taken back
for an emergency CT scan, being told it was one of three things. The doctor’s
assumption was that it was a kidney stone blockage and that I would need
immediate surgery—but either of the other two options could also require
surgery. I was told the stat results would be ready in about an hour for me to
stay close by in case they needed me to be admitted. Instead, I prayed for good
results and headed back to camp. Almost four hours later they called to tell me
that the CT scan did not show anything that needed immediate attention, but I
was referred to two different specialists for the following week. Praise God—camp
could continue!
There was also a boy
who had an injury prior to coming to camp that I didn’t know about when I
picked him up. While at camp I tried to tend to the wound, a deep cut on his
finger, and try to help him keep it germ free. At one point during the day he
asked for me to change his bandage, but because I was in the middle of
mediating an argument I asked him to wait until I was finished. By the time I
had a chance to do it it was late and everyone was in bed. I was completely and
totally exhausted (it was around midnight on the second night there) and I also
laid down to rest. Immediately, I began to speak to God and ask His forgiveness
for not having my usual worship time that morning (because of the trip to the
doctor) but instead of rebuking me or even responding to this, I heard Him
remind me to re-bandage the forgotten wound. So, in obedience, even though it
was after midnight and everyone was in bed, I got up, got the first aid kit,
and headed to the guys’ cabin. In re-dressing the wound I was able to have an
intimate conversation with three boys who had never opened up to me before. One
of them shared the story of how his mother died, and what it has been like
living without a mother since. This is just one example of the many “God-moments”
we had at camp this year.
There was strife breaking out all around and I was
constantly mediating between kids to resolve various issues. The level of
intensity of issues as well as the number of issues that arose at camp this
year were exponentially greater than I have ever experienced before. It was so
intense that it, combined with my sickness, had me in tears at one point. I
broke away from the group (leaving the kids with the volunteers briefly) to go
to God in prayer. In prayer, I asked Him to please show me His hand in what was
happening so that I could know that all that I was doing was not in vain. It
felt like a real spiritual and physical battle and it was exhausting.
Immediately, kids started coming up to me and thanking me for giving them the camp
experience. So I thought, “Okay, God, I see that You are still in this and it is
making a difference for some.” But the strife continued and the next morning I
was seeking Him again, kind of from the mindset that just being appreciated was
not enough to make it worthwhile. I wanted to see hearts being turned and souls
being won. I prayed the same prayer again, that God would allow me to see His
hand in this, that all of the money, time, energy, and stress on my body and my
family was not in vain. I also asked for Him to reveal Himself in a REAL way to
the kids, that they would have a supernatural encounter with Him and be able to
feel His love and His presence like never before. During this prayer God showed
me the reason behind the strong attack. Every camp has been under attack, but
none before like this one. I was confused and lost as to why this camp was
under so much more attack than before. This year there were several “new” kids
who I had only previously met once or twice, who had not been an active part of
AWO in the last year at all. Initially I was not planning to let them come,
even though they asked to come several times. My reasoning behind that was
twofold: one, camp has limited capacity each year and priority goes to kids who
have been actively involved, and two, I did not have a real relationship with
these kids and one or two of them were known to be “troublemakers,” so to
speak. It occurred to me that they would initiate division and strife among the
group if they were allowed to come. I encouraged them to get more involved in
the coming year and that if they did I would make room for them next year.
However, two days before camp one of the kids called me to ask again if there
was any way he could come. I immediately told him that the boy cabin was full
and there was no room for him, but that he could come next year if he would get
involved. No sooner had I hung up than God convicted me and impressed upon me
that this boy needed to be there. He prompted me to check the cabin lists
again. I did, and found to my surprise, that the list that I could have sworn
was completely full just an hour early suddenly had an extra bed. I could hear
Him in my spirit say, “I want him there.” Who am I to argue? So, I immediately
called the boy back and told him that he could, as a matter of fact, come to
camp this year. Somehow, in the last day before camp a couple of kids canceled
and beds opened up, and I also added in a few other “new kids.” These new kids
were the source of a large portion of the strife that occurred at camp,
seriously making me question my decision to allow them in. Yet, when I
questioned God on why there was so much attack against the camp what does He
show me? Why, the very same “new kid” who He originally told me to let in.
Because of some of the new kids, and primarily this particular kid, the enemy
was bound and determined to do anything he could to prevent me from speaking
Biblical truth. I don’t know what that means about his Divine Purpose, but I do
believe that it is a fair indicator that he is a person of importance for the
Kingdom. So, I started the morning with a new understanding of what was going
on, though that didn’t really make it any easier. In all honestly, I was
exhausted and pushed to the limit. I still wanted to see “proof” of God’s work.
So, in this way I began leading the kids in a worship
service. Now, on Sunday mornings at camp we always have what I call an “informal
church service.” Because so many of these kids are completely unchurched, God
impressed upon me the importance of demonstrating to them, and aiding them in, worship.
He wanted me to give them a message in a place they were comfortable in where
they would more readily accept it. In previous years, though, I have always
asked someone else to come give that message, usually a local pastor. This
year, though, each time I would seek God as to show me who to ask, He was
silent. A few days prior to camp I was still stumped as to what to do but I
felt that I was the one who was supposed to talk to the kids this year. I
really didn’t like that idea (I am not a pastor!) but I just didn’t have a
direction from Him about anyone else to ask, so I essentially ended up with no
other choice than to do it myself. That morning in prayer I asked Him to show
me what He wanted conveyed (as I had been praying previously). I didn’t receive
anything in particular, so I asked Him to just move and speak through me when
the time came. He did!! I remember standing in front of the kids and saying “um”
a few times, wondering what to say, and then suddenly it just started pouring
out of me. I have never gone before a group without forming at least an idea of
what I would say beforehand until today, so I was amazed. I utilized two of the
kids in an illustration about faith using only two scriptures: John 3:16 and
Jeremiah 29:11. It wasn’t a short message, but when I was done I asked them if we were to have a car accident on the way home from camp and they never made it
home, did they know where they might spend eternity. Leading from there, I
asked for a show of hands as to who wanted to accept Jesus, and be sure of
Salvation. At least ten kids raised their hands, and then I led all of them (giving
the option even to kids who did not raise their hand) in the prayer of
salvation. And, by the way, the one boy that God specifically instructed me to
bring in (against my own plan) and the very same one who was one of the main
reasons for the attacks, was one of the kids who raised his hand and prayed the
prayer with me. Talk about an appointed time!
On the way home, I had a chance to talk to some of the kids
about their experiences. One girl said that during worship she started shaking
and her knees got so weak she had to sit down. She felt convicted for her
behavior over the last year and recommitted to change her life. In fact, as
soon as camp was over I gave her cell phone back and she immediately texted
some of her friends to let them know that they would no longer be able to hang
out. Another girl said she felt like He was hugging her, that His presence was
THERE in a way she had never felt and never imagined she could feel. Several
kids said that they felt His love for them in a way they have never felt
before. Hearing that, and seeing those hands raised to accept Christ, made
EVERYTHING that I and my family went through over the last week completely and
totally worth it!
For everyone who helped make this camp happen, I cannot
thank you enough. The Anderson family’s annual fundraiser for us, the Sawyer’s
faithful and consistent donations toward camp, the Giles’ family and their Church
family for donations of funds, goods, and supplies, New Covenant Church for the
frequent use of their vans and their unending encouragement and support,
donations of goods/funds from so many others (you know who you are), donations
of food from Flowers Bakery, Fresh Beginnings, Daylight Donuts, and Chik fil a,
the delicious home-made breakfast prepared and delivered by Sherry Brown, and the
prayers and support of more people than I can count, ALL played a HUGE role in
making this happen and allowing these souls to be saved for the Kingdom. You
will meet these kids in Heaven someday and they will know that you had a part
in their salvation! How does that feel? It feels pretty good to me! J
For the volunteers sent by Him, no less, to help me, carry
me, replace me at times, and minister with me to these kids for the last four
days without a break: Thank you is just not enough but it is all I can say.
More than ever before, this year I NEEDED help, and you were there for me and
for the kids. I never expected you to all do what you did, but you did so much
and never complained. You were more than a blessing to us, you were a NECESSITY
and I will forever be grateful that you each responded in obedience to His
calling to be there and do His work. You were strategically instrumental in the
salvations and the heart changes that took place at camp, and I firmly believe
it would not have worked out the way it did in the end without you. In fact,
without you all, camp may have been canceled. My deepest gratitude and
appreciation to you, Hoyt Hurt, Corlisha and Coreena Castle, Chris Howard, and
Chris Gavelek—you are amazing people of God and I am blessed to know you! J
