Church camp is something that I look forward to every year. Friendships are rekindled and hearts grow deeper in the Lord. Many lives have been changed because of church camps across the United States.

However, the most dreaded day in my life is the day that church camp ends. Tears are shed and hearts feel empty. I hate driving home knowing that I won't see those people for a whole year.

We spend an entire week surrounded by Christians and loving friends. Temptations and sin are limited. We are away from the world. No cell phones. No social media. No news. We are completely cut off from the world with a sole purpose of growing closer to one another and to God.

We get this clear picture of what a Christian life looks like at camp. We have friends and counselors who are there to talk about our strengths and weaknesses 24/7. We have bible class and worship everyday. The environment and atmosphere at camp is something that you can't find anywhere else. Camp changes you. But it’s when you come home from camp, that things really start to change.

You come home with a camp high. But I can promise you this: the camp high doesn’t last forever. The world starts to suck you in again. If I could stay at church camp forever, I would. However, that is not realistic.

We tend to get comfortable at church camp and when we get home, we are uncomfortable. After church camp, you have to learn to become comfortable being uncomfortable. We are uncomfortable because we are outside of the camp bubble. It isn't realistic to stay in that camp bubble forever. We have to immerse ourselves back into the world; however, we do this with a Christian mindset and follow it with Christian actions.

Life after church camp is discouraging and sad. You miss your camp best friends. You miss how easy it was to be a Christian. You miss the devotionals, the singing, the constant encouragement. You miss your camp crush. You miss the cafeteria food. You miss the sweat. You miss the inside jokes. You miss the bugs. You miss staying up until midnight laughing with your cabin. You simply just miss camp.

But that’s okay. It’s okay, because what you learned at camp, God calls you to teach others and spread his word. Don’t be discouraged that camp is over. Be grateful because this is an opportunity to shine your light as God instructs us in Matthew 5.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16 NIV

So, stay joyful my friends and start the countdown to church camp next year!