It has been a long time since I have been to just sit down, and reflect on what had been happening in my life lately. I think it is funny how your life at one point can seem so slow, and the next your off running and you ever wonder when is that down time going to come back. I have been away for a week at one summer camp with my church and the very next day, I am at another summer camp for 2 months. But I wanted to take some time and share what has been on my heart.
I was working at this summer camp with my church way out in the middle of the Redwoods in Northern California. There is no cell service, whatsoever. I have been in and out of the real world since June 2. For a week I was volunteering at a summer camp operated through my church for foster kids. I won’t go into names or details about the camp for safety and privacy reasons. However, I will share with you a few things about this camp. This camp as I mentioned was host for foster kids. These are kids who are needed, and who feel neglected from the world. These are kids who have been abused, and who have been abandoned. As anyone can imagine, this just breaks the hearts of many souls and many of us just want to take these kids and wrap them around our love, and protect them from all the bad. One camper I had, was what we called a “runner.” Someone who would run several times a day and run away either because he was mad, or because he didn’t feel comfortable. For whatever reason it was, I would always have to chase after him. I wouldn’t get mad or yell or anything. I would just follow him and make sure he was okay. I’d keep him in sight, but wait a few minutes after running to give him his space to have thoughts. The very first day I met this boy, he ran within 2 hours of camp. And I was thinking “God why!” But after I caught up to him, he and I sat on a bench and he poured is life out onto me. Again, I won’t go into specifics but it was probably one of the hardest stories I have ever had to listen to. And I realized there is nothing wrong with this little boy. He’s not crazy, or a bad kid; he just has no idea how to react to all the bad in his life. He’s scared for his life. The rest of the week, He and I talked about God. We talked about God’s love for us, God’s forgiveness and how God will never ever leave us no matter we are, and no matter how many times we do wrong or even do good. Well fast forward to the end of the week, he accepted Jesus Christ into his life. As I sit here writing this, I get chills every time I say it, or think about it. This is an 8 year old boy and he accepted Jesus Christ as his savior. He accepted God to protect him through all the scary times, through all the times there’s doubt and fear. He now knows Jesus is with him and He will never leave him.
I don’t know how if I’ll ever see this 8 year old boy again. And as I worry and pray for him each day, I need to know that no matter was circumstance he is in, God has him. All I can do is pray for him. Looking back I can only thank God for giving me the patience, and love to not pull my hair out every time this little boy would run away. I write about this story because that whole week at camp, not only was I isolated from the world because the lack of technology, internet, social media, and cell service, but it gave me a chance to be away from all distractions and focus on serving for God. When that 8 year old accepted Jesus Christ that was easily the cherry on top of the whole week. But after being away from the people I served with and looking back at that week of camp, it made me realize this is going to be my life for 11 months in 2017. I am going to be away from family, friends, cell service, and social media. I will be away from all the distractions in the world and be with a group of followers just like me who want to serve, who want to make the world a better place. I will be away from everything and everyone I know, serving with a team who I haven’t even met yet (but who all sound super awesome!) and following the path that Jesus left for me. After that week at summer camp with my church, I could not be more excited to go on this adventure on the other side on the world. I could not be more excited to serve God.
Just a final note, as I’ve said I am at another summer camp working here for the rest of summer. So once again I will be isolated from basically from everything. There are computers here but they are extremely slow. We’re talking dial up slow. But as I’m here at this camp, I look forward to this summer. To all the new challenges, and new experiences I will be learning. One of the biggest challenges is that, this camp is not a “Christian camp.” Not many of the staff or the campers know about God or even care one breathe to talk about Him. I wonder if God has in set for me to introduce God to a couple lives while I’m here…….
But I will be back soon! Thanks so much for reading my new story!
