July 19th

You know I could be giving the play by play of what happens here. It would help to figure out what the chaos looks like but (A.) the experiances were special in a way words might fail to convey and (B.) it might get boring if it is a list of names, activities, and places/times. Today more than any other day so far was special. Today in a word would be "moving". Today's highlights would be answered in prayer and the Spirits works. Among other things God has brought a comfort to the situation with the large girl and the interaction between me and the campers. Even the relationships between counselors has grown a great deal. Tonight before dinner I went with the camp dean to setup for a movie showing, The Incredibles, that would happen later. He reminds me of an old friend I once knew and charished. I can only hope and pray that my old friend is as close to the Lord as this man.

Anyway, we setup and talked a bit and then watched the movie. After that we went to the nightly service which was in the chapel this time. Pastor Steve, my churches Pastor, related the movie to us like this (more or less)...the mom says "everyone is special" and the boy comments "that's just another way of saying no one is" and how we tend to think we aren't special, especially speaking to the campers. At the end of the session Steve asked if anyone wanted to share in any related (or non-related) way. He then sat down which is another way of saying that he would wait everyone out if necessary to get things going. The Holy Spirit was nudging me and filling my head and heart so after a few minutes of waiting for the campers to go I stood up and told my story in brief summary. The part that related to the topic and to the campers. I sat down and then a counselor stood up and spoke. Then 4 or 5 campers stepped up and shared. It was most certainly a movement of the Holy Spirit in the room. The fire just needed to be ignited for it to burn hot. Of course in true Junior High fashion it ended with an inappropriatly timed bathroom request, but people in that room shared a moment and as they left they agreed out loud. Praise God!

I thought that would be it but while we left a camper who shared his problems with me earlier was in tears by the event. I tried to let him know it was ok to be moved by the event and to cry. I offered to talk to him later, if and when he wanted. Now you'd think that it would have stopped their, but no. One of the boys I had met earlier approached on the walk back to the cabin. He said that he could relate alot to my story and asked what happened to me. I told him where and when I truly became a follower of Christ and what became of it in a relativly breif way as I didn't want to talk his ear off and I don't want to pressure him. He seemed to take it to heart and I believe God is hot on both of their heals. I am really looking forward to more of this.