Camp Harlow - 3 - Mid School Camp 1

Week 2 of camp is over, and boy was this one crazy!

I don't think I have ever been this tired, both physically and spiritually, but it feels so great. This week, I really witnessed God's love and grace. Being an IMPACT member, I am able to spend time with kids, but I also get a chance to really pour into the counselors and watch them lead their campers to Christ. 

Camp started on Sunday evening and lasted until Friday, so the week was long. However, as the days went by, I began seeing how God works through His children so that his plan will be realized. I watched a counselor, who felt so inadequate, lead her girls to Christ. On Tuesday, we did a fun night at First B, with an inflatable slide and obstacle course. One of the counselor's girls, who was disabled and couldn't walk, wanted so much to go down the slide, but couldn't get up the ladder. The counselor proceeded to put the young girl on her head and walked the girls feet, using her hands, up the ladder. The young girl said later that going up and down the slide with her counselor was the highlight of her week. It really touched me because it was a huge image of what Christ does for us. We can't climb the ladder of life by ourselves. So Christ, being our savior, carries us through all of our life's happenings. He doesn't let us fall. 

Throughout the week, Riley and I struggled with worship. It just seemed as though we weren't able to do anything truly right. I had to rely on God a lot this week to build up the energy needed to lead the campers in worship, because there was negative feedback that we received from a counselor that really made us feel inadequate. Honestly, though, we truly are inadequate. Sometimes I feel as though Riley and I go along feeling like we have everything in control, when really we don't. We always need to be relying on God to work through us. The moment I began praying for God to really use us, he did. During one of our worship sessions, we began singing and I noticed that I heard a voice from the audience that rang loud and clear above the others. It happened to be a boy named Thomas. Thomas has cerebral palsy, so he doesn't have movement in his legs or arms, and has a speech impediment. Hearing him singing without inhibitions made me fill with joy, and made me stop and think. I know that sometimes we are thrown curve balls that may come in the form of rude letters or someone telling us that we need to be doing our job a certain way, but God works through us in those times to really do something great. Despite what we were told by that counselor, our worship times, with the help of Christ, were successful. God made up for any short comings that Riley and I had, and is continuing to do so. 

The highlight of my week was when Thomas decided he wanted to speak and sing in front of the campers during the campfire on Thursday. It was one of the most amazing things I have ever experienced. He was carried onstage, given a microphone, and began telling us about the prodigal son and how we are all prodigal sons; all of us need to run to our Father who is waiting for us with open arms. That young boy is wiser than many adults today. He touched my heart so much I couldn't help but crying. He began to sing with a soundtrack of a quartet group singing a song I grew up listening to in church. His love for Christ, and his willingness to shout about that love from the rooftops, was so amazing. He touched my heart so much I couldn't help from crying, and I had to go up and lead worship afterwards! He taught me so much. He was a blessing from God who taught me what it really looks like to worship God with everything that a person is. It was truly beautiful. 

As a whole, this week was a great success. We had many new life commitments, as well as re-commitments from the campers. It is so great to watch God work. I feel so blessed to have this job. I wouldn't be anywhere else, doing anything else. 

Thank you for your prayers regarding how I was feeling last week. I found out I suffer from allergies and was given meds to take care of them. Since I have been taking my medicine, I have been feeling so much better!
I can still use prayer for continued strength, rest, and time that I can take out of my busy days at Harlow to spend with God. 

Despite the great fun I am having at Harlow, I feel so blessed to have a long weekend I can have to rest!

God is great. :)