Today, my daughter and I leave for Church Camp. I may be more excited about it than she is. For her camp is old hat, she loves it every time. This will be my 2nd year, but like last year I am sure I will love it just as much.
So I will post my experiences when I get back, and depending on time maybe some quick updates( posted from by Blackberry) while at camp. For now here is what I wrote the night I got back from camp last year.
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Sure, I am a husband who pours his love out on his wife. Sure, I am a Dad who pours his love out on his kids. My wife and kids are the most important things to me in this world, and loving them by leading them to Christ, is what I am tasked with doing.
At the core of my soul I am a man who looks to find new ways to lead by loving others.
So,
Ask me how I spent the past four days. Go ahead ask.
I spent 4 days with 3-5 graders at Church camp learning about the fruits of the Spirit.
Volunteering as at church camp was something I have wanted to do since I first took my daughter to church camp. I however kept making excuses why I couldn’t or the deadline would pass for me to sign up.
When I first signed up this summer to volunteer I will admit to being a bit apprehensive, and wondering what the heck did I just get myself into? What did I have to offer in the aspect of Church camp?
As I prayed about camp I came to realize I was hungry for a new way to express love. Not that I don’t enjoy pouring love into my family. I was ready to step out of my comfort zone and stretch beyond the limits of what I thought was in my heart.
From the moment I stepped foot out of the car at camp, I made a deal with myself to just let go. To allow myself to love no matter the situation.
I loved on the 90 boys in the cabin where I was one of the dorm Dad’s. They tested my patience from the moment they moved in through the first late night, to the moment we packed up and left. But, I enjoyed every moment of just watching them be boys. Sure we had some discipline issues, sure we had some homesickness. I will tell you though there is nothing like 90 spirited boys in close quarters for 4 days. The stories I have from the things I saw, and the conversations I had with this boys would make you laugh and cry. What we really had were 90 boys who wanted to learn about Jesus, 90 boys who wanted to learn to love like He did.
I loved on the kids in my family Group: My daughter Emilie, Lucy, Lauren, Lindsey, McKenzie, Savanah, Maddie. William, Dawson, John, Cody, Sam, Nathen, and Tanner. Through worship and devotionals I poured out my love on them in hopes they learned about the love of Christ. We had fun together and we learned together. All of them have tremendous hearts, and God is taking hold of each and everyone by the power of His Son. I listen to their stories during devotionals as they talked about the situations in there life where it is hard to express the fruits of the spirit. I watched as they were all concerned for each other, even the boys made sure the girls were ok if they were hurt or not feeling well. I watched them express love and concern when Lauren had to go home Tuesday evening because of a high fever; the whole group asked where she was or how she was doing. I watched as a this group of boys and girls who would not sit next to each other the first day, ended the last devotional time with a group hug. Just goes to show the power of the family of when Christ’s love is at work.
It was Monday night during worship. I was exhausted from the first late night and didn’t feel much like dancing and whooping it up. I thought what would it matter if I took this one worship service off? What would it matter if I didn’t give my all? I looked and standing just in front of me was Dawson, and he was looking right at me. I immediately started dancing with the music. I could not fake it with these kids, I could not take a night off they would see right through me. I also realized God was watching for my reaction and my action.
God watched as I instructed and lead. God watched as I corrected and disciplined. God listened as I talked about his Son to the Kids…God watched as I loved.
I heard more times than I can count that volunteering at Church Camp is addicting and it gets into your soul. Well on Wednesday as the 180 kids and adults watched 7 children be baptized in the lake. Tears of filled my eyes as I remembered my Daughters baptism almost a year ago after she went to camp, and watched Dad’s, Mom’s and GrandDad’s baptize their children. I watched as 7 children turned over their hearts to Christ, and accepted his love. Watching I knew I would be back.
The past four days I found myself leaning on the example of Jesus in every situation at camp. Jesus always found the way to love… He found the Joy in the hard times…He lived in the Peace among chaos… He practiced patience when he was tired and needed rest…His demeanor was of Kindness and Goodness to those in need…His was faithful to the will of His Father even to the Cross…He was Gentle to the sinner, and the sick…He never fell to temptation and relied on God for self control. “Against such things there is no law” Christ overcame that law by his death and resurrection…
I trusted God as he watched…I trusted God as I loved…
Mark 9:37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”
It is obvious that Jesus loved the children that were around him during his ministry. I have to believe that he laughed with them as they played, and comforted them when they cried. How cool would it have been to be a kid back then and to run to Jesus with a scrapped knee, only to have him cradle you in his arms, cup your knee in his hand….And yep you guessed it Boo Boo gone. Jesus knew that is was only through their innocence that trust can be built, and through that trust faith can be rooted deep in the heart.
