Camp Perea 2011

Wow... where do I even begin? Yesterday I just returned home from, in my opinion, the best summer camp ever! There's been so much leading up to this past week at Camp Perea and as I reflect on those things, the purpose that God was intending through it all is becoming more and more clear. During the past four years as I have watched the staff and leaders with Perea Ministries prepare for camp, I have seen so many challenges arise providing a sure opportunity for us all to put our faith in God to accomplish what He has called us to. This year, I didn't even believe that I would be able to go to camp, but I knew I needed to. Thankfully my friend Jenn is also Camp Director, and also works at the same place as me. She was not taking the work excuse as an answer, and I'm glad she didn't. I'm so blessed that my boss is an amazing woman who also loves Jesus and understood the cause for taking that time off work, she bent over backwards to make my work schedule possible for me to spend a week investing in kids who needed the love of Jesus.

First Camp Perea 2008

Time off work was just the beginning of this adventure for me in trusting God for Camp. I couldn't help but praise Him when I realized that I was only losing one day worth of pay and bills would still be paid. Another blessing shortly afterward revealed itself in problems with my car... The circumstances that God provided for me where a bit stressful and at first glace, I didn't see it as a blessing at all! I doubt very many others would have at first glance either! My car stopped running as I returned to work after I skipped my lunch to go run errands. I made it back just in time for my car to die in the parking lot with no time to worry about it then! I had to clock back on!

Through the blessings of several different friends helping to fix the car and getting rides, blessings of the alternator and battery both being replaced under warranty, and the words that God had given me in the bible and in my prayer times to not give up when the situation seemed most frustrating.... God showed me in the midst of all of this my need for Him. I had been learning of my lack of trust in Him and God used this to get me to turn to Him for answers. It didn't take long to figure out that I couldn't do it on my own!

God's timing is so perfect! After a week of my car not working and dying on me three times during that week on the way to work or home or whatever, I finally found the right person to help get the car running again. As I drove it home, I was faced with a decision concerning the next day... Do I attempt to drive my car and risk it dying on the way to work again? How will I get to camp? If I do make it to work, do I dare drive 45 minutes to camp in Stevensville? Jenn had offered to let me take her car, but I also didn't want to let fear and doubt rule over me and keep me from what God had for me. After arriving home and spending time just listening to God as I showered, I knew I had to take a step of faith and trust Him to get me to camp in my car... and He did! My car made to and from Stevensville for Camp Perea, taking one of the students home, to work last Sunday, and to and from church today, it's now running great!

I realized through this test of faith with my car, that it was also a bit of a battle leading up to camp. Yes, God used it for His glory, He always does... but it was a battle non-the-less. I praise God that through His guidance I was able to choose His will above my own :) Along with that challenge, we had only 2 students signed up for camp a week prior... the day of camp we had 11 students! God has proven faithful time and time again since Camp Perea has been running in this regard! However, I am amazed every time I see it!

There is no doubt in my mind that God brought the students that needed to be there to us. The three girls that I was given to lead were inspiring young woman that challenged me and taught me more than I think they will ever know. It was incredible to watch God move in and through them this past week. I was blown away when I saw the Holy Spirit heal some deep emotional pain that one of these girls had been carrying for over ten years! Bringing forgiveness and freedom, breaking off generational curses and so much more! That same day... that same girl had the boldness to obey the Holy Spirit and give the girls in our tents words that hit our hearts and brought the presence of God to the others that they had never known before!

That is just one of many many ways that God showed up in the lives of these three girls as well as myself, but I definitely have to say that this year at Camp Perea was one of the best yet! God taught me to truly trust Him in deeper ways, to love beyond my own ability and allow Him to have reign in my life... it's just beginning to scratch the surface but this life is so totally not about me! It's about Jesus and bringing glory to His name and His Kingdom, to love as He loved and continually obey His voice. I am blown away at His grace. Though I am so undeserving He has blessed me beyond measure and He is worthy of my life and every single praise!

Contemplations for Today

Well this is it, feeling inspired to begin a real blog. We'll see how it goes.

There's actually a lot on my mind right now. I just finished talking to one of the girls I have been mentoring from The Connection, the youth group at my church that I have been so blessed to be able to be a part of and help lead this generation. That is so much where my heart is at. Leah and I met at a girl's sleepover at our Dani's house- our youth pastor's wife. We stayed up literally all night with a conversation that only God himself could have orchestrated. I am amazed at where that conversation has brought us both today.

I am so proud of the steps she has taken in her life since that night. I remember her very blatantly telling me that she didn't want to be labeled as a Christian because she didn't think you need a label to believe. Although I do somewhat agree there, I told her that the reason why I take that label is because Jesus was real, He was a revolutionist and changed the world. He is continuing  to change the world over 2,000 years later, and I for one want to be a part of that. Taking a label meant to be bold enough to stand up for what you believe and to let your life back it up. As she put it later in her own words, "You don't really need a title to be who you are, but it is when you give yourself a title and stand up for it and your beliefs that you can look back and not be ashamed, but smile with elation. No title is needed to be strong, to know who you are, but it IS one, public way of saying to others, 'I know who I am.' " 

I'm blown away constantly by her wisdom at such a young age, seems like she is an example of 1 Timothy 4:12, "Let no one despise or think less of you because of your youth, but be an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity."

Leah and I after her baptism 5/31/2011

I was reminded of that today as she expressed her new found joy in life since that night. She finally made that decision to follow Jesus after that night, to bear His name, and she got baptized a few weeks ago. Some very bold steps of faith in walking out this life dedicated to Christ. I couldn't be more proud of her. In fact the reason why I am writing this is because I have been blown away in these past 24 hours at the ways God has been moving in this situation. Leah has been impacting so many lives around her, so many of her friends at school have since come to The Connection and made life changes too. I had a very heartfelt talk with one of them last night after talking with another close friend of mine about the doubts of how God uses me. Then I talked with Leah about laying down ourselves to know God... her brilliant 15 year old mind and loving artistic heart was a true gift from God! She seems to understand so clearly. It's such a blessing to know her and see God's power at work in and through her. God is so faithful to keep drawing us in to Him. Thank you Leah for being a reminder of that!