Camp 2013
We were
God-led to change our campsite to Epworth By the Sea in St. Simons this year. It was
our first time there, so we were unfamiliar with the layout and the scheduled
events prior to arriving. We were also forewarned that the weather was expected
to be scattered thunderstorms throughout our stay there, so I took extra Bible
lessons and activities in the event we ended up stuck inside the whole time. We
started praying at least two weeks out, each morning, that God would give us
beautiful weather and also protect us from accidents, sickness, and anything
else that might hinder camp. We did get some attacks in the weeks prior to
camp, but they were really mild in comparison to last year. I found it easier
to rest in His assurance, a lesson I hadn’t quite realized I had learned yet. I
did not get stressed or worried at any point prior to camp. I just trusted that
everything was going to work out. And it did!
We
arrived at camp with six girls and six boys in tow to dark, cloudy skies, but
no rain. The campsite was right on the water and there were several small
chapels sprinkled on the grounds. The well-maintained landscape there was
beautiful. We immediately sensed that the atmosphere there was peaceful. There
was a prevailing sense of calm that just couldn’t be shaken. It must have had
an impact because there were no arguments or near fights like we had last year.
Everyone was calm and our time there was remarkably uneventful. Several of the
kids remarked on this, also, and said for the first time that they just felt at
peace. Stress-free. One young man said, “I
don’t want to go home. Here, I don’t have to look over my shoulder constantly.
I have no worries right now.”
We
enjoyed the fact that all food was provided by the site Dining Room. It was
buffet style, and all we had to do was show up. The Dining Room was surrounded
by windows, so as we ate we could see the beautiful scenery. The kids enjoyed
the food very much. Friday night, they provided the wood and lit a bonfire for
us, and the kids enjoyed roasting marshmallows and eating s’mores. It was so
much easier for us to chaperone and keep an eye on all the kids when we didn’t
have to worry about preparing each meal or cleaning up afterward. All of that
was done for us this year.
My
approach to camp was much more laid-back than usual and we just enjoyed it. I
did not feel the inward pressure to accomplish certain tasks but instead just
felt led to enjoy the time with them. Things just seemed to naturally unfold. When
exploring the grounds we came across a tiny wooden chapel, complete with
stained glass and pews inside. We crowded inside and before long had our own little
service going on (completely unplanned). The girls went inside ahead of me and before
I got there had held their own private prayer vigil—lifting each other in
prayer. What a proud Mama I was in that moment!
Late at night we had rich conversations about
God, relationships with others, how to present ourselves in a manner according
to God’s standards, and what God wants from us in this life. We talked about
the importance and power of forgiveness and also praying for God to purify our
minds, submitting every thought to Him. The boys had conversations about their
God-given gifts and purposes in life. Each camper received a beach ball-shaped
bag containing various beach-themed items, a Bible, and two journals. One
journal was “It’s not about Me,” by Max Lucado. Each night the campers
completed a journaling exercise about getting off of self-centeredness and becoming
God-centered. On Saturday, each group (the girls separately from the boys)
completed a three hour challenge course on site. This course demanded team
work, did away with our self-focus (because that resulted in failure very
quickly), and built trust and confidence. Through this the kids learned communication, how to encourage one another, how to look out for each other, and how to deal with frustration. When confronted with multiple,
seemingly impossible tasks, we worked together to complete them and walked away
with a sense of accomplishment. As we persevered time and again, our confidence
increased. We completed all tasks set before us! It was a very motivating and
symbolic activity.
The kids also enjoyed playing basketball, swimming in the
pool, and just watching the boats and even dolphins in the water. They got to
see the sunset over the water. They developed a new appreciation for God’s
creation and the beauty around us. Saturday evening we had our usual music
activity, requiring the campers to develop Christian lyrics to secular music,
which they accomplished with amazing skill. Our kids are so talented! I also
gave each camper a real starfish and sand-dollar to have as souvenirs of their
time at the beach. I explained to them the Legend of the Sand-dollar and asked
them to let it be a reminder always of God’s love for them. Each camper also
received a certificate for participation. On Sunday we attended the church
service on site, enjoying a sermon about the meaningfulness of our life on
Earth and the importance of accepting and following Christ. We picked up sack
lunches (courtesy of Epworth) and loaded up for the beach. There the kids ran
and swam in the waves, looked for seashells, and saw a few crabs and a
jellyfish. David even saw a live stingray near the shore. It was the experience
of a lifetime for them, and, as one camper stated, “a vacation to remember!” As
we loaded up in the vans to head home, the skies opened up on us. We drove
through the storm, praising God that He held it back for us to enjoy camp until
just the right moment. He amazes me year after year with His goodness and
mercy!
Thank you
to everyone who helped make Epworth by the Sea possible and for praying for our
safe travel and protection. A special thank you to Sherry Brown, Hoyt Hurt,
Corlisha Castle, and Chris Howard, for sacrificing their time, traveling with
us, and staying for the entire duration of camp to help us chaperone and keep
our campers safe. It was the most peaceful and relaxing camp of our five-year
history!
