Onto Junior Camp...

WOW!!!! Another week is already done and I am now sitting 20 minutes away from camp to catch up on things and prepare for the next week ahead. The Intermediate camp is complete and the Junior Camp is coming in soon. The Junior camp, for those that do not know the Camp Otyokwah lingo, is for people going into the 3rd and 4th grades. These kids are coming into camp for the first time both on their own and for longer than a weekend time frame. Nearly hitting the halfway point of camp I am noticing, including in myself, that the endurance camp called camp is starting to get at some people. Some of the staff is starting to get tired, and I took a step back at times this week to catch up on rest and get refreshed for the energy that I enjoy bringing out to the camp environment. I am now close to my 10th summer in a row with camp ministry, and it is a job that I constantly have a joy and passion for. I remember this week for a few things...

1. The camp staff was ready to work together. There were no separations between the camp and volunteer staff. There was a unity this week that has not been shown in many others.
2. God really used the staff in many different levels. In many different ways, but the gifts of the Spirit were shown at different times.
3. Energy. Even in the times when the staff was getting tired we pulled together, prayed consistently, and pressed onward toward the goal.

It was sad this week that a staff member had to go home early due to some situations, but it was neat to come together and just pray for that person while they were on their way home and pressing on in their life. The biggest highlight of the week was the fact that last night the power went out in camp (and I believe that it is still out at this point in time). Even through that happening the staff rallied together and adapted to the situation by continuing with the evening and going to plan B in the programming scenarios. John 3:17 was a verse that came to my head that really fits with this week, but also in the past weeks with campers and staff:

For God did not send His son to CONDEMN the world, but to SAVE THE WORLD through His son.

God had a purpose and plan for His son to be on earth. It was shown a few times in the Old Testament (especially in Isaiah 53) and through the words that were given to people in that time frame for what was to occur. God did not have to do any of this but because of HIS GREAT LOVE for us He chose to go through the punishment and death in order that we have the chance to have ETERNAL LIFE. I know my blog isn't that long this time but it has been a crazy week with a lot of things happening, but I know that God is still in control and He has His hands in many different areas not just at this camp but in all of life!! Be blessed everyone!