Middle School Camp

Camp two weeks ago began as a struggle. I was wiped out. I began to think, what about me? I was feeling drained emotionally, spiritually, physically, and mentally. I was also very home sick for the first time since I started camp. Nonetheless, God is faithful and He taught me once again to be dependent on His strength. I was reminded of the lesson that I leaned before I even began. It’s not me, but God that is at work. I am only a vessel, which He works through. So, if I was fully surrendered to Him, it shouldn’t really matter if I felt insufficient, because He is sufficient. It was His strength that I needed to depend on, and that I did. He surrounded me with fellow counselors who supported me and He lead me to His word for strength. The second day of camp I read Psalm 90 at random, which discusses that Christ is our strength, foundation, and the one who establishes the work of our hand. Amazing.

This seemed to be the theme of the week. I was exceptionally burdened for my campers last week. However, all I could do was earnestly pray for them and trust God to do His work through me and in their hearts. I was reminded that sometimes we need to be satisfied with sowing rather than reaping, if that is what God calls us to do. I had a wide range of spiritual maturity in my cabin. Some of the girls had been Christians as long as they could remember. Then there were others. One was a practicing Catholic who didn’t fully understand salvation. She had a heart to serve God and others, and yet had never truly known Christ, it saddened me that all she did for God was, in essence, for nothing because He was not working through her. Another attended church, appeared to worship with all of her heart, and knew everything about the salvation message, and yet had no interest in accepting Christ herself. This left my asking “why?”. Still another had heard about God all of her life, but did not fully understand how He could be her personal Lord and Savior. All I could do was care for these girls and attempt to show them who Christ really is, and who He could be in their life. God definitely was at work as the Catholic girl began to understand the significance of Christ and the way that He made for us to God as our intercessor. The second is still a mystery to me, but I trust that God is still working in her heart among the seeds that were sown. Finally, the last girl made a commitment to Christ during SMASH and even wants to tell her fiends about Christ and start praying in her very anti-Christian school.

God is good, and, as always, He is faithful. He amazes me. I am so in love with Him. I am astonished by His love. I praise Him for His sacrifice. I thank Him for His grace. Finally, especially in response to this week, I stand in wonder at the strength that He gives us when we are weak. He is amazing.

I spent this past week volunteering at an International Youth Conference in Tennessee. It was incredible to see God at work there and in my own heart. I’ll post details soon! Thanks again for your continued prayer!