Session 5 was our last Junior High camp. It was well lets say a Junior High Camp. There is a special thing about Junior Highers and that is that they are Junior Highers. That amazingly awkward yet awesome age where reason and logic are being tested by social skills and peer pressure. Someone once said that if you live through your Junior High years then you may actually grow up to be something someday. Again I'm not sure who said it, but I did right now. We had a full group of Junior highers. We had what is called the perfect ratio, 24 campers, 12 counselors. We were amazed at how God worked out the numbers. The only thing that I was worried about was the fact that 8 out of our 12 counselors were brand new. Brand new to Camp ALandale, and some brand new to the idea of ministering to abused children through a mountain camping program. 2 Corinthians 5:17 is a verse that is common when it comes to new believers and the new life that God has given us. It was the verse that really was the tone of the week as well. It reads,
"What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!"
We had quite a few veteran campers coming to camp this week so I was anticipating not many issues related to campers acting out or really trying to test our faith and our love for them. For the most part that is what happened. We had a few campers that were needing a little extra love and attention. Most of the ministry this week was the healing of so many wounds. What blessed us the most this week was watching God open our campers up and clean out the wounds. Seeing them open up and Give their hurt to God was so amazingly powerful. The Lord Really blessed this week of New. For many of our campers it really was that 2 Cor. 5:17 became their verse of the week as they accepted God's forgiveness and God started the healing work in their lives. Praise to God for his amazing work!!
Friday, August 28, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Gideon's Mighty Men - Session 3
Session 3 – Gideon’s mighty Men
This week was an amazing reminder of the power and work that is only God’s at Camp Alandale. The week started off with 3 of our 12 counselors that were signed up canceling on us, for various reasons that none of us could control. Romans 8:28 comes in real handy during times like these. We were definitely holding on to it’s promise. We ended up with once again a full camp and were wondering how it was going to go. Let’s just say that God made those 9 counselors seem like 12. He showed us how just like Gideon it’s all about having the people that God calls more than some number or a ratio that seems to make sense. Sometimes we make plans that seem to make sense because we’ve prayed over them and all the numbers sound like they will work. Then God throws a curve ball to remind us who’ really in control.
JH Camp. 7-9th graders. It was our first taste of JH camp this summer. What was nice was that we had about more than half of the campers were veterans, meaning they have been to camp before. That mix of veterans more than helped the situation. It was a camp that surprised us in so many ways. It was also the first camp that we got to do campfire talks. They are family style talks at the end of the night where we share like parents would to their kids about God’s thoughts through His word on hot topics that teens deal with today. The last talk we do for the week is called the “freestyle talk”. At the beginning of the week we ask the campers what subjects they would like us to talk about. Their suggestions are amazing and always great discussions. From Sexual identity, to questions about God, it is always so amazing to share God’s truth with hungry and thirsty souls in need of spiritual Truth.
We did have the typical Junior High relationship stuff. You know Girls giggly and flirty with the guys and some of the guys wanting it to much and others oblivious. The great thing though was that it seemed like for the most part they took our encouragements to not get caught up in a summer camp romance and to enjoy the week with everybody.
I wish there was more that I remembered. I admit that I waited too long to really do all that God did justice in these notes. I hope your hearts are as encouraged as ours are at the amazing things that God will do when we give Him are all.
Lord Bless, and can’t wait for session 5.
This week was an amazing reminder of the power and work that is only God’s at Camp Alandale. The week started off with 3 of our 12 counselors that were signed up canceling on us, for various reasons that none of us could control. Romans 8:28 comes in real handy during times like these. We were definitely holding on to it’s promise. We ended up with once again a full camp and were wondering how it was going to go. Let’s just say that God made those 9 counselors seem like 12. He showed us how just like Gideon it’s all about having the people that God calls more than some number or a ratio that seems to make sense. Sometimes we make plans that seem to make sense because we’ve prayed over them and all the numbers sound like they will work. Then God throws a curve ball to remind us who’ really in control.
JH Camp. 7-9th graders. It was our first taste of JH camp this summer. What was nice was that we had about more than half of the campers were veterans, meaning they have been to camp before. That mix of veterans more than helped the situation. It was a camp that surprised us in so many ways. It was also the first camp that we got to do campfire talks. They are family style talks at the end of the night where we share like parents would to their kids about God’s thoughts through His word on hot topics that teens deal with today. The last talk we do for the week is called the “freestyle talk”. At the beginning of the week we ask the campers what subjects they would like us to talk about. Their suggestions are amazing and always great discussions. From Sexual identity, to questions about God, it is always so amazing to share God’s truth with hungry and thirsty souls in need of spiritual Truth.
We did have the typical Junior High relationship stuff. You know Girls giggly and flirty with the guys and some of the guys wanting it to much and others oblivious. The great thing though was that it seemed like for the most part they took our encouragements to not get caught up in a summer camp romance and to enjoy the week with everybody.
I wish there was more that I remembered. I admit that I waited too long to really do all that God did justice in these notes. I hope your hearts are as encouraged as ours are at the amazing things that God will do when we give Him are all.
Lord Bless, and can’t wait for session 5.
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