July 23rd

The campers are gone now. They packed up and the parents arrived. We had a small presentation for everyone and they filtered away. Their weren't many tearful goodbyes in our cabin, but I didn't expect many. After cleaning up and sharing sometime together as counselors we had a group prayer and departed. The first thing I did? Stop at McDonalds. Yeah, yeah I know. A brief summary of the Camp Penn experiance for me:

I'm quiet, independant minded, and afraid to step outside of my own saftey-net but their was a need for Counselors at Camp Penn and God apparently thought I should be one of those to fill the position. So He put it in Pastor Steve to call me and scary as it sounded to me it I said yes. I am so very grateful for the chance to take part in this past week at Camp Penn. I went expecting a change in my life and to be forced out of my norm, but I am overwhelmed by the the relationships built, the growth of both the children and myself, and the work of Gods hands in that place over the week. As the week went on and the children had time to listen and process the scripture, it's relevance to them, and the testimonies of the counselors their walls started to fall down and some of them were truly moved by the experiance. Not only did they have fun over the week (playing volleyball, 4 square, swimming, and learning how to use tech equipment) but they also came to know God and His presence in their lives and the lives of those around them. I was blessed to get the chance to listen and speak with several of the youth about their struggles and what God can do for them as well as what God had done in my life. By the end of the week I admit I wanted a nice shower, a softer chair, and a peacefull place to recover. But I also wanted to stay. Those children and the time with them meant a lot to me and hopefuly a lot to them. Personaly, I have come to trust God a great deal more than before and I came to love serving Him in a way that I thought was beyond me. I am really looking forward to next year and getting another chance at it.