Memories from Camp

Last night at midweek I was talking with a teen that was in my cabin last summer at camp. This got me thinking about writing about that week. It was such an amazing week! The week was entitled "Out of this World" and boy, it was! I've never spent a full week with Christians on a daily basis. This was so amazing that I'm not even sure I can put it into words.

Being that this was my first camp experience as a counselor OR a camper (which I've never had the opportunity to be)... I was unsure of what would become of the week. The unexpected became amazing!

Sunday I arrived and found which cabin I was in. After finding the cabin and getting my stuff situated, I was off to learn about the week ahead. We had a meeting with the rest of the counselors after they arrived. Of course when the campers arrived, everyone was excited! The first day was definately a challage to me. Getting me out of my shell. I knew that God wanted me to be out of my comfort zone here, so I just went with it. They wanted the counselors to dance down the isle! Me? Dance? That's such a joke, if there's anyone with two left feet, that's me! But I did it anyway. Sunday was all about getting to know each other. The rest of the week was so wonderful.

Monday through Friday we had a morning message and an afternoon message. Topics for the morning messages were; Heaven, Hell, God's Passionate Desire,The World, and In the World, but NOT of the world.... the afternoon messages; God's Design for Marriage, God's Design for Dating, God's Design: Attraction, and The Draw of the World. The teams got to put together a model tabernacle. Wow, now I really understand when the bible says ... the curtains were torn. I know the meaning behind it! Amazing... The curtains in the tabernacle were designed to seperate God and people... When Jesus died, these curtains were torn, so now there was no seperation between the two... Jesus is the bridge!

Aside from the messages impacting me...the teens did! I think they did more than they realize. I have built some amazing relationships with teens! I didn't mind being the "mom" when people needed a hug from "mom". Fine with me. Anyway, these teens were incredible.

We had a talent night on Thursday evening. There were kids up there that have never been on stage before. They were so nervous, made mistakes. In the world the kids would have been boo'd or laughed at. Not here. Every single teen encouraged the ones on stage. It didn't matter if it was an amazing performance or if the person made many mistakes. They cheered them on anyway. It was a night full of acceptance and love. Where was this when I was a teen???? LOL

I think the best part of this week though, was starlight devo. We sat around a fire and had a devo. Well, on several nights while returning to our cabins, my beautiful daughter snuck up behind me and held my hand the WHOLE walk back to the cabins. What a sweetie! I thought that was the sweetest thing she could do. Surrounded by peers and still wanted to be by her mom. WOW!

So, hopefully, I will know soon if I can go again this year. The teen I talked to last night said she was asked if she would want me as a counselor again and she told them definately. When I saw her on Sunday she told me I was the best counselor! WOW! Just blown away from that.

Like I said, it was an amazing week! I've learned much over the last year, if I'm allowed to return this summer as a counselor, I have more ideas for my team and cabin! I know what's important and what's not. I can't wait... I'm so excited!