Camping Season! Round 1

It is surprising the things I get myself into when you say ‘Yes.’  Back in 2008 I was asked if I would help with the Youth for Christ (YFC) Lebanon summer camp, and I said ‘Yes.’  Since then I have volunteered each summer I’ve been available and enjoyed being part of a dynamic ministry doing excellent work.  Due to a number of circumstances this year, including expansion of camps and a birth in the National Director’s family, the senior camp was in need of a camp director.  I was approached about taking on the role.  In weighing the decision it was clear to me that I did not have the time, the creativity, and certainly not the experience to qualify me to direct.  Yet the need was there and someone believed in me, so I said ‘Yes.’  That was months ago, and since then I had a nervous feeling in my gut about planning and implementing a one-week event for many dozens of 15-19 year olds.  As it turns out, I need not have worried.

 

I knew from the start that there was a great team assembled to run this camp but they still managed to surprise me.  Many of them are friends and people I have served with before.   Others came with high report and praise.  As the planning stages proceeded I saw many individuals take initiative to assure that all the bases were covered.  I was hardly needed at all as people applied their creativity and crafted their portions of the camp.  When it came to camp week I simply found myself playing the role of conductor; I waived my hands and kept time as everyone executed their designed parts.  There were a few times when we needed a quick executive decision, yet even then it was a team effort that contributed to the outcome.  Overall I had people at all levels, from campers to helpers to leaders, doing their part and making my job as director as trouble-free as can be expected.

In the end it was a blessed time.  We were a total of 75 people, six days, and 0 hitches.  It was a week filled with fun and friendship, honesty and challenge, and life-changing decisions.  All of us involved were ministered to in some way or form as God revealed greater insight of His love and the great hope of a life in Christ.  We walk away from the camp with a lot to learn and areas for improvement, but the testimonies in the lives of the campers assure us that God was King of this camp and His grace is rich.

I’ll get another chance to lead a camp in August for the teens of our church and sister churches.  This time I’ll have Ruth with me as co-director, which automatically makes everything better for everyone!  I look forward to experiencing more of God’s faithfulness demonstrated in summer camp ministries.  It’s wonderful to have these opportunities to be part of the special things God is doing in Lebanon.  Experiences like these make me want to keep saying ‘Yes!”