Ohio Camp

As soon as we left Tennessee we were on our way to Ohio. So made the marathon trip to Ohio and made it there around 8:30 that night. To greet us was Kristen, the camp director, to show us around and to show us where we were going to be staying. Along with getting us settled we had a counselor meeting of sorts and learned all about the invisible tree and dish duty.  So first we get the girls in their dorm and get them settled, and then Kehl and I head to our dorm. The first thing we noticed was that the whole inside of the building was covered in permanent marker. People from ages ago had written on the walls of the boys dorm. I mean we found a signature from 1958 Wow! This building was old but with lots of character. Soon we asked so, ” where are the showers?” With a small chuckle they let us know that there is no indoor plumbing in the guys dorm and that the showers and restrooms are across the camp grounds. So this week I learned as long as there is a bed in a building and I am dry that is pretty much all I need. It was not bad at all not having indoor plumbing because we were out of the dorms so much I barely noticed at all.

Anyways, we arrived during the first service so we did not get to meet the kids until after the service was over. So after the service we had a meeting where we could meet all the teens. This was a small camp and there were only about 21 teens so we got to know them really well. Upon meeting the teens I knew that we were going to have an experience that was totally different from the first camp. Because we had a opportunity to really get to know all the kids, and that is what happened. The days were planned out really well but there was also ample time for hangout time with the kids.

We started out each day with a devotional in which each counselor had the opportunity to give one each day. I think it was a great way to start of the day. It is great to see how each camp has really emphasized the importance of bringing Christ into every part of your day. After devotion there was breakfast and breakfast dishes in which each team alternated meals. After breakfast was the morning counselor meeting, which I loved because we got to pray for the campers and tell stories of how we saw them growing. After the meeting we had morning worhsip.

Worship was like aerobics. Each song had cool moves to go with it and involved lots of jumping around. It was a really cool way of making sure the kids were awake. But about half way we would slow things down and really get into singing and having time to just focus on the words we were singing.

After worship our speaker, Roger (Doc) McKenzie got to speak to the campers. He did a amazing job that week. I learned SO MUCH from him being at the camp. I was really blessed to see how he interacted with the teens especially at the altar. He even included our team into his services.  His sermons were exactly what the teens needed to hear and I could tell he dreally listened to what God was telling him to preach on. I felt I got to really learn so much about ministry from him. I am really glad that he was there.

From there we had lunch, games, dinner, service and afterglo. The kinds of games we did depended on how much it was raining. We had a mystery place day where we went and played video games all day a churches youth building. The kids loved it I think they could have played all day.

The teens at the camp were such good teens. I got really close to them really fast. The second or third day of camp an bunch of the teens found out that some of their friends got into a really bad car accident and the prognosis did not sound good. So it was an emotional night for them and we were just had to be there for them. Their friends are going to be alright, but they have a long road of recovery for them so please still remember them in your prayers. The teens were so open to me and I loved hanging out with them. I felt honored that they would share their stories with me, and tell me things about themselves that they would not tell complete strangers, and yet told me. I got to play and grow with them daily. I got to pray with my guys at the altar and discuss what their prayers meant.I just hoped I could show them what a Christ follower looked like.

God worked in those teens lives. We had one service where many of them went down to the altar and just let go of the chains that had been weighing them down. They wanted so much to be back into relationship with God. Some of those kids already knew how gruel the world could be, but they also knew how good God could be. Many of them were reconciled with God that week. I felt so blessed to be a part of that process with them, I got to pray with them ,have discussions with them, and got to encourage them as they took new steps in their journey. God was truly amazing at that camp!

Many other funny things happened that will be posted hopefully later this week. Anyways we are headed to North Carolina in the morning for our next camp. Pray for safe travels and safe Urgent Care team members. Take care and I will try my best to keep you all updated!!

Random Stories

I met this old man named Roy at camp and I got a chance to listen to his life story. He told me about how he lived in the times of segregation in Nashville, Tennessee. He told me that it was so segregated that the school districts wanted to bus his two boys an hour and a half away from their home just to make sure they would go to a white school. This was when intergration was legal but people were still reluctant, and sending white kids to a black school was unheard of. But Roy and his wife ( whom I met and she just told me to call her Granny), decided that it was just stupid to put their boys through that and decided to send them to the black school. Not only did they send them to the school, his wife applied for a teaching job and worked at the school. It was really awesome to see people that were part of the struggle of intergration, I mean they really help paved the way for intergration in there area. I felt honored that he shared that with me!

Roy also told me how much he valued education and how he made sure his sons got an education. But one of his sons did not listen to him and decided to go to work at an electrical company digging ditches after high school. But after two and a half days of working he decided that college was the place for him. So both of his sons got degrees and are working good jobs. Roy also wanted his wife to go back to school to get her doctorate, but she said she would only go if Roy began to learn how to play piano. So he told me when he goes home he knows a lady that will teach him to play piano so his wife will go get her doctorate. Then he looked at me and said as soon she goes I can quit though. He was real funny. And to end this story I will write my favorite quote of the conversation, “Been married 47 years we haven’t always had the most money, but at least we didn’t argue.”

Now the Skunk Killer story.

At the Tennessee camp there was a youth leader named Josh. Josh was definately from the south. We went to the creek the first day of camp and he caught (forgive my spelling of this word) crawl dads, and scared many girls and Luke with them. But the most interesting thing he would do was after all the campers had gone to bed, he would take his gun out and kill skunks. He did catch a couple in a bucket too. I never knew people hunted skunks, but one less skunk in the world to spray on me is not a bad thing. Anyway Josh was a really cool guy and it was really cool to see his heart for youth ministry.

So, Check back to see my Ohio camp experience. God was there through many trials and it was wonderful to see how he worked there.

Tennessee Camp Pt. 2

So I will say it again the people at Tennessee camp were nothing short of amazing. The kids loved making fun of me in the morning. I am not a morning person at all. I bad mood in the morning I am just really out of it, and it is apparently very funny seeing me try to communicate with people in the morning.

One of the best parts of camp for me is to see kids who are really shy come out of their shell, even just a little bit. Brittany, Kehl, and I had a girl on our team that we would have to almost beg to take part in activities at the beginning of the week. It was awesome see her drag her feet to day anything to a girl who wanted to go first at certain games.

I met some really cool people at the camp. First we met some guys from Kentucky Mountain Bible College, they were part of a singing group that came to perform one night of camp. They were really cool and they got to lead some non formal worship by a bonfire we had the night they were there. And one of the guys Nathan got to share a little of his testimony, which was nice because I love to see how God works in people lives. We did not get to spend that much time with them at the Tennessee camp but we found out we would get to see them at our next camp so more on meeting them on the Ohio Camp post that should be coming really soon.

A group that we met that were really cool was This is Luke. The drummer ,Luke Ramey, was also the speaker at the camp was really cool. His sermons that week were extremely eye opening and they gave me a whole new perspective on scripture I had heard all my life, but had not been presented to me in that way. The best part about it was the fact that I got to talk to Luke everyday about his sermons which I really appreciated. We also just talked about life and just random stuff. It was just awesome to be around the speaker to see his vision not only for the camp, but also to see his vision of a life of ministry.

Another person I got to meet and spend time getting to know was Jay. Jay was just to cool it was really fun hanging out with people my age, while being able to spend time with teens too. Jay and I had many talks and many chances to talk about God and his plans for both of our lives. Also it was cool to talk to him and see his heart for ministry and his passion for music. He and Kory did and Awesome job leading worship that week, and lead the most amazing medley of chorus I have ever seen. I also got to meet Jay’s friend Lana, who just happened to be a music major. It was cool  to talk about classical music stuff and the other person actually understand. I think everyone reaches a point in their major where only other people who are in your major can understand what you are talking about.

Kory was also leading worship with Jay that week. And it was really getting to know him that week too. But we learned quickly that the teens did not allow any funny business when it comes to games, especially basketball. Kory was not part of a team but wanted to play basketball, so being a team captain I thought it would be ok if he took my place for a bit. Wrong!! The slasher ref Daniel did not like that at all , and promptly kicked Kory out of the game. So we learned asked before you do anything. But, I liked that they did that because it was to make sure that the teams were being fair and there is nothing wrong with that. Anyways, Kory liked all types of music so it was cool talking different bands and groups with him.

I hope I will be able to see those guys again.

Dustin was a counselor too at the camp and this guy was an amazing songwriter and singer. Dude if you are reading this you really should do some shows and record some of your music. Trust me it will sell!!

I have much more to write and it is coming soon… look forward to random stories from camps!!! Here is a little teaser one story will be called ” Skunk Killer”. That is all for now you should see more stories today and tomorrow!

Tennessee Camp

Wow it has been a long time since I have been able to write and much has happened.

The Tennesse camp was a really encouraging experience. We were met on Sunday evening by the camp director and the campers with open arms. From the moment I introduced myself I felt like they just wanted to get to know me more. Our team had a counselor meeting after  a small worship service that was like the unofficial start of camp. During the meeting it was determined that two people from our team needed to be head coaches and the other two serve as assistant coaches. So we chose Brittany and Kehl as the coaches for the teams. Brittany being a coach was  huge milestone because she was the first female coach ever for the camp. So way to change things up Brittany.

As with all camps days started early. Everyone had to line up before the 7:15 bell to win points for their respective team. So campers would wake up around 5:45 to take showers. It will probably be the first and last camp that I don’t have to beg the guys to take showers.

Recreation games were pretty rigorous. We had three hours of kickball, extreme soccer, basketball, and volleyball everyday. It was pretty awesome because I got good workouts that week. There were some down times between the games and it really gave me an opportunity to get some of the kids stories and to gauge where they were spiritually.

The kids at the camp were so awesome and open to what God wanted to do with their lives. With some of those that were open we had some that were hesitant . Especially one guy he, was mad at God for things that had happened in his life, but during camp he finally let go of the pain and hurt he was carrying. And it was amazing to see how God can move if we let him!!! The guy had such an amazing spirit about him and I know that if he continues to trust God, he is going to do many great things for the kingdom!!!I

Ok, I think that is enough for now, but I have more things to write about Tennesee camp.So…. Tennesee part two is coming real soon! P.S. look up This is Luke they are pretty awesome guys!