The River of LIFE – part 3

Well friends, I want to take the opportunity to share about the last week I just experienced! Do you ever have one of those weeks where you just feel so ALIVE that you feel that there is no outlet?! Or maybe so overjoyed that you can’t put it into words?! Well, I’m going to attempt to share my such week with you…..

 

For the past 7 days I embarked on a memorable journey with 11 others. The mission was to paddle 50 miles of whitewater in the great Canadian Shield. Our highway was the majestic history filled  Manigotogan River. Our crew was made up of a veteran trip leader Rob (16 years on the river and 25+ years with the camp), a young buck named Spencer, a beautiful young woman of God Meaghan who is starting to find that passion for the wilderness, myself a 6 year veteran, and our 8 campers. With alot of ambition, zeal and excitement we headed out on our 3 1/2 hour ride through the northen wild till we arrived at the river. And that’s where it all begins…..

 

Right when we began our trip, we had our first devotions time as a group. The message I shared was the challenge to step into true community. The community where you actually step out and hold from grumbling. Where you carry more than just your own share of gear accross the many portages. And where you encourage even the least likeable member on the trip. We ALL have a choice, that’s how God created us and we can bring LIFE to our own lives as well as other’s lives through OUR choices. So, it was a challenge that many had never faced before and everyone seemed pretty keen on pushing themselves.

 

The first day was an amazing and semi-sunny day with alot of ground to make up before nightfall. You see, if you’ve ever expereinced the Manitoban outdoors you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about……MOSQUITOS!! And so, after 4 portages, and a long lunch break we arrived to find ourselves constantly dancing to the deafening humm of Manitoba’s provincial bird!

 

The following few days were ones to remember even for me. Of course Rob, our 16 year veteran of the river had expereinced worse. However it still was a challenge to spur on 8 campers and 2 staff through the constant rain, thunderstorms, wet tents, muddy portages, and of course the whitewater rapids in between it all. I can’t remember a time when I’ve seen mosquitos to this degree either. Our devo’s had to be stragetically placed in our day to be out of the downpour and before the mosquitos escalated from constantly annoying to unbearable.

 

My biggest stretch was getting the “business” done. How do I share this Love of God and this gift of salvation of Jesus with these kids if it’s almost impossible?! Well it’s when the Lord’s mighty plan comes forward, especially when we start to pray intently into it. I felt so lost in our devotions because of messages being jumbled and inconsistant. Yet I pressed into continually praying for each of the campers to grasp what God was saying to theTHEM. I tried to be obedient and yet take ME out of the picture so the Lord could actually work. And in 5 more rough days I would see that prayer answered!

 

As the week continued, we started to walk in great optimism everyday for a break in the clouds and the rain. Seriously, how much worse could it get?! And then it happened, the sun broke through the cloudy barrier that was covering us for the first 5 days. It was beautiful, and it was perfectly timed. A break from the bugs (who love the humidity) and the soggy feeling in our cores! Jumping into the river was fun, and exciting. The biggest wave trains and most intense rapids were that day and the Lord knew what we needed to spur on. That little voice of knowing that He was with us and had not forgotten us. That utmost appreciation for His mercy and love poured out on us. It was pretty EPIC if i might say so myself!

 

 

As thursday evening rolled around, we had another break in the rain (not the bugs though). So, if you can imagine this….we had our final devotions time. 12 people dancing around a fire so the mosquitos don’t have a chance to land. In those long 20 minutes we talked about what it meant to follow Jesus. What was stopping us from giving ourselves fully to the Lord. How do we accept that gift of salvation and walk into that rebirth as sons of God?! How do we have that RIver of LIFE flow out of us?!

 

 

I took the boys through the week that was…..the servanthood of each day. The Love of each person that week. And finally the attitude in which each one walked the whole trip through thick and thin. I shared what I saw in people that most didn’t recognize in others or even themselves. I shared how proud I was and how much I saw growth happen. I saw true community….in 14-15 year olds on a canoe trip. I saw more unity here than I did at times with adults with alot less “bugs and rain” on my own World Race journey. I knew we could walk in this thing together if we all actually chose into it. And freinds, 12 of us did last week and it gives me much hope for our global church!

 

So, to end the trip I baptised 2 young men in the river the last morning. It was still raining. The bugs were still biting. And the rapids were still running. That didn’t stop us from having on of the most memorable trips in my 6 years in outdoor ministry. Thanks be to God for HIs provision. His plans for us. And His loving hand to let us go. I know angels in Heaven are dancing as 2 new brothers have entered the Kingdom! And whether it was the mosquitos or my own joy, either way I was dancing that friday as well!