Camp and Such

With the Camp on the Rock retreat fast approaching, I thought I'd dedicate a blog to that. I've been sitting in Caribou for the past hour (while unsuccessfully trying to get a blog template to load) thinking about what COTR has meant to me over the years.
As the Christmas music has been pouring into my ears, I've thought about my long history with COTR, but to be completely honest, I'm not really sure where or when it started. Honestly, looking back, I barely remember what even possessed me to get involved.
I remember the first time I ever visited the Kellogg Youth Group which is probably where it all began. I was in freshman in high school and my neighbor invited me. I went with a friend and well, I just kept coming. It was on Sunday nights, which didn't at all conflict with my Wednesday youth group at my home church and I found it so different. At first, I really didn't know what to think, just that I liked it.
About a year after that, the summer before my junior year of high school I was invited to come to camp as a huddle leader/staff.
It was so scary and intimidating, but exciting to get to be in a leadership position like that. The first year was so fun, but kind of awkward. I was just getting to know the other staff who was pretty much all related, but it was just so fun.
The messages were always good, they do a reenactment of the Crucifixion which was so incredibly powerful, and as staff we were able to see kids' lives change.
I was involved the next two years after, and then the summer after my freshman year of college I took a year off so I could work, and I really just didn't have time.

This past May, as I had mentioned, I broke my ankle. The brake was pretty serious (broken in 3 places) it required I have surgery and was stuck in a cast for two months. During those two months I couldn't work, I couldn't do so much for myself. Honestly it was so frustrating. I'm an incredibly independent person, I have to be. Not being able to work, having to let people and even depend on people to help me almost killed me. But, during that time I think what God was doing was slowing me down. Getting me alone, and preparing my heart for what he had in store.

While I was still in my cast I contacted Crystal about being involved with camp that summer and she was more than willing to have me back (injury and all) and I started preparing for the end of the summer.

Once my cast was off I was faced with a whole new realm of challenges, such as walking. I literally had to learn to walk again, I wasn't able to work for quite some time, but at least I was somewhat mobile. The cast was off early July and a month later I was on my way to camp.

I was so nervous going into this summer. Literally the night before as I laid in bed all I could think was "Someone in my cabin's going to puke. How can I get out of this? What was I thinking? I haven't worked with these people in so long, I'll be so out of the loop. It's going to be awkward" and so on. I literally was wondering if I had gone temporarily insane. I might of, that's possible haha.

Anyways, from minute one when the staff met at the camp, we just meshed. The whole staff just had this dynamic and friendship, it was so exciting. There was a buzz about what God had in store. But, before the kids got there, we needed to prepare. We spent hours talking about things me might encounters, situations, the campers, and then we began prayer. We spent so much time in prayer that night, and then we worshipped. After worship we prayed in a circle and the staff was given words. When it was my turn I got in the middle and I just thought, well I'll probably get like trust, because I need to work on that or something else. Or maybe I won't even have one. We begin praying and Jennie gives me my word, and it's.....shine. Shine? Then someone else speaks, he says he's getting talents. Shine....talents....and someone else speaks...."It's like you're a treasure chest!"

I almost fell over. We finished shortly after and dispersed for some individual prayer time, and as I sat there praying, I felt how deeply the father loved me for the first time in my life. You see, for me growing up, kind words weren't often spoken. And while some people may not like to hear what I'm about to say, often from my parents is where those words came from. Yes I was told I was loved,  but it was often overshadowed by words such as fat and ugly. On more than one occasion was I told, "You've ruined my life." While I've tryed to combat those things with God's truth, often I'd read and pray, "God I know that I'm your daughter, I know that those words are for me, but those words are for everyone else too. I want something for just me." And right there, those words, those were for just me! It wasn't just "Sandra you need to learn to trust me" or "Why do you always doubt me?" but that to Him I was a treasure chest, that I had something to offer. And while those other things are so true, He didn't feel the need to remind me of my shortcomings, but where He had gifted me.

If that just seems like it's the best part of the week, it wasn't. There was so much more. The kids got there, and we learned about what we had ahead of us. Our Sunday night worship, which typically is very awkward was what we normally expected for a Thursday night. These kids were full out worshipping like I've never seen before. As the week unfolded I learned that so many of these kids had come from parents like mine, and while their stories just broke my heart, I was also able to relate to them in ways I hadn't planned. And some of their stories reminded me of just how good of a life I've had. These kids were just so resilient in the face of horrible circumstances.

I've never seen God move more powerfully than what I did that week at camp. Not just in my life, but those around me. I'm so excited as I'm getting ready to embark in more responsibilities when it comes to camp and gearing up for our retreat. I'm excited to see the kids again, to be with the staff again and to see how God's going to move. Along with that, I'm so excited for next summer.

If anyone wants to get involved with COTR let me know, we're always looking out for more staff! There's my plug, but seriously. And, by that I mean, if in anyway you'd like to offer support by getting involved, or sending your kids or becoming staff let me know!