camped 08 wrap up

Well, if you're like me, you find yourself these days longing to be back at camped. I personally loved the mornings when it was cooler and quiet. I would ride the golf cart up to the meeting room on the little trail along the edge of the woods. All was calm and I could reflect on the previous evening; how it was exciting and new with the students getting healed and delivered and hearing God maybe for the first time. One such morning, I remember I was riding along the trail and two baby raccoons were high stepping through the grass. When they saw me coming down the lane they just sort of froze and had that "oh no!" expression. Well, as much expression that a raccoon could have. That was the morning that I met with the leaders and we tried our best to process what happened in service the second night of camped.

I have to say, working along side our counselors at camped was an honor and privilege. The way they loved on the campers was amazing, whether it was during an activity or during the services. Even though this was only our second Jr High camp ever, it was still the best by about 10 times! The staff at Sky Ranch was pretty great. I kept hearing all week from AMPED counselors how nice and cordial the staff was. It was almost as if they really were happy we were there, imagine that! Props to Terry and Brenton for helping us with all the details before we ever showed up in Oklahoma.

Someone asked me yesterday what was my favorite moment at camped. Hmmmm. I had to really think hard about that. Truthfully, I love how Jon and I worked together during the services and during the response time at the end. I feel like I really made an even better friend with Jon at camped, and I feel like the Lord really did some blessing in his life. I love how our campers just loved on him and his response to that. I love how our campers responded every night. It was as if they came to camped hungry and looking. It was as if they had nothing to get in the way of receiving what the Lord had in store for them. I know almost as well as anyone that Jr High students face some pretty heavy stuff these days and it is amazing to see them give up a lot of that stuff at camp. God is so amazing and faithful to meet us right where we are, and that weekend, we were in Cave Springs Oklahoma, dirty and broken. But He restores, cleans, purifies, mends, fixes and pours Himself into us. All we have to do is ask and present ourselves as available. He always longs to do something amazing in us. I love that about Him.

Maybe you went to camp and you are longing for that experience again, right now. Or maybe you weren't able to go and you really want what many people did experience at camp. Maybe even though you did go, you felt that nothing happened to you and you are secretly jealous of the others that had an awesome experience. Right now, wherever you are, whatever you are doing, you can experience God almighty in all of His greatness. Just ask Him right now for whatever you need, and if you don't know what that is, it's okay. Just ask Him to do whatever He likes in your life. I promise you won't be disappointed to bring CAMPED home with you.