Camp.

Tomorrow morning I have the incredible privilege to go to summer camp once again. I have been to summer camp every year for the past 19 years. Yeesh. That's crazy just writing that. I was a Pine Cove camper for 9 summers and then after high school have been blessed to work or serve at a camp every summer since, which is 10 summers this year. So that's a lot of summer camp! 

2003: last year as a camper at Pine Cove

I can easily say my life has been changed because of my experiences at camp. It's where I truly saw people who loved Jesus and lived their lives passionately for Him, in a fresh, new way. It's where I learned who God has made me to be and been given chance after chance to live that out. It's where I met or strengthened almost all of my closest friendships. It's where I learned how to disciple others. It's where I learned how to walk in the Spirit and pray, pray, pray. It's where I've been completely spent after week 1 and yet made it through 11 weeks because of God's strength. It's where I was able to leave the country for the first time and share with others about camp! 

My college years, if you do the math, basically come out having spent 1/4 of my time at camp. That's crazy talk.

Heights Summer 2007

I went back and looked tonight at journals from my first summer going to work at Pine Cove. That was 9 years ago. This is what I wrote: 

"Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid of terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you." Deut. 31:6

"Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." 1 Timothy 4:12

I was 17 when I went to work that first summer, and was by far the youngest person on staff. I remember being so scared and feeling so young and inadequate. I think that feeling of inadequacy is a lesson I've learned from camp year after year, in every single position I've ever held. God is faithful to me to remind me that it's not about me or what I know or what I can conjure up. It's about Him. Camp is all about declaring who HE is to this world and to everyone present. In fact, life is just that too. 

Towers 2008

I'm grateful to be going to camp in the morning, feeling inadequate as always, because I know God shows up in the midst of my inadequacies! Camp Nikos is an amazing camp, full of amazing people, who walk in the Spirit and who love children! I am EAGER to see what God does this year. My 19th year at summer camp. 

Camp Nikos 2011