Camp was a huge part of my childhood growing up.
Each summer and winter break from ages 12 – 18, I attended camps run by my church’s youth group.
These weeks contain some of my fondest memories of slumber party nights, playing pranks, performing skits, forming new friendships, and it was at a winter camp when I was 13 years old that I accepted Christ into my life.
Camps are unique in that, although short, they have the potential to be truly life-changing for kids at this formative age.
It’s been many years since my days as a camper, but this week, in an unexpected shift of ministry, I had the opportunity to be a part of a new generation’s camp experience.
On Sunday, my team and the two other teams we are living with this month packed up our bags and moved from the construction site to an empty orphanage across town to hold an English camp for 50+ local youth.
This week has taught me more than a few things – least of which is that I am no longer a teenager and therefore am not quite as amused by the late night pranks and the short-lived camp romances – but also that during this time, I have the awesome opportunity to be Jesus 24/7 to a group of kids who have never experienced His love and may never hear the Gospel again.
It was a long week of getting up at 6 am and falling into bed around midnight, but there is not a single one of us Racers who didn’t fall in love with these kids and their sweet spirits.
Tomorrow starts a brand new week of camp and our final week in Transnistria. I will be co-leading the oldest group of girls aged 14-17 years and I am so excited to build relationships with these beautiful young women.
Many of the campers from last week loved their experience so much that they are returning for a second round and I know that God is going to continue to work in their hearts as we spend more time pouring ourselves and the love we've been shown into to each of them.
