camp

Camp was great! It was such a good time to spend time with God, which I must admit I hadn't been doing consistently for the few days preceding camp. I wasn't expecting it, but God spoke to me words of comfort...and if you know Him too then you know that His comfort is like no other! Again I was overwhelmed by His love for me...

This camp was really atypical of YM camps, which usually have so much hype surrounding them, with the extended hours of praise and worship late into the night, and all that. The camp committee decided to cut back on the 'hype' this year, and it really was such a good thing. Instead of emotional highs we had youth making sober decisions to change their lives for God. Instead of hype we had quietness and trust...something deeper.

Our camp theme was Psalm 27:4 -

One thing I ask of the Lord,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.

There really was an undercurrent of seeking God throughout camp. We delved into: holiness, fighting to be in God's presence, and quietening our hearts to hear His voice. I learned so much.

I was especially blessed by a video sermon we saw called 'Indescribable'. Man, I was absolutely blown away. The sermon was pretty much an astronomy lesson - a lesson that put me in awe of the enormity and beauty of this universe, and of its Creator. I was reminded of these verses from Psalm 103:

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

After having the universe described to me, those verses took on a whole new meaning. Thinking about a God who could span the universe in the palm of His hand, coming and making Himself obedient to death on a cross...I couldn't breathe. I don't know if it hit anyone else the way it hit me, but before I could join the night games (which would run late into the night) I had to run off by myself just to catch my breath. I sat outside staring at the stars and still in awe...I re-read Psalm 103 and I was blown away again. God is truly indescribable.

And the other thing that made camp so good: all the friends I made, especially my camp group Sinai! We sure had some crazy times, and some really good conversation! Man, I was so blessed by these guys. Here's a shoutout to you all: Ben, Sam, Annabel, Sarah, Rachel, Dennis, Gilbert, Theon, Elliot, Eunice, Ray Ian, Lon Hau, Caleb, Clarissa and Laura - thanks so much for an awesome time, I'm missing you guys already!

Man...I was so encouraged by the things I saw God do in people. I was so heartened by Dennis (the bro in Christ, not the biological bro) who was seriously seeking out how to live for God. Jase and Nic - God really did answer my prayers for them. Allison's sister. Ray Ian. Gilbert. Others could continue this list!

It was also awesome getting to hang out with Ivan again. It's crazy to look back and wonder how we remain such good friends though we see each other like...less than once every two years.

What else?? The games were lots of fun - big thank you to the cross-trainers!! Night games was fun esp the water gun fights....which started when the official game ended. Haha. The almost all-nighter on the last night was really good too. And playing a hybrid of basketball and rugby with the guys. Haha...

OK so there is my camp summary of sorts. I am definitely very glad I went. :)