Now I know what you’re all thinking, this is just some story about a summer camp trip. Well you’re wrong, this wasn’t just some week, it was theweek at camp. So brace yourselves for my amazing testimony of what Riverside Youth camp was all about.
To start it all off, we begin at check in. Now you can be sure that all these student I was checking in, were tired and excited for what laid ahead. I know that I was, I was searching for something more, and I knew that all these kids were as well. I tried my best to seem like the best example of a leader for the youth camp, however I was far from it. I had my church kid face on, and I’m sure everyone around me saw that. From that moment, checking kids in, I knew that my life wasn’t going to be the same when I came back.
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Fast forward to us finally arriving at camp, all of us eager to get out of the cramped bus. When I mean cramped, I mean we were packed like sardines in a can. The bus finally exploded, excited kids and luggage pouring out the doors. We then make our way to our cabins, were I could tell some of us were unsure, I know I was. I mean I didn’t really know most of the girls in my cabin, so I was nervous to see it pan out. It went great might I add. The girls got changed and ran to the waterfront, where they spent most of their free time. I however felt like a body walking. I felt empty and distant from God, and I kept wondering why I was even here. The feeling of not being qualified and uselessness set in, and it wasn’t even dinner.
Night one
On the first night, Pastor Lucas Forsthoff brought the house down. He preached the message on chasing after God’s dreams, rather than our own. If I am honest, this message really tore down a lot of my own dreams. I remember thinking that I was chasing God’s plan, turns out I was wrong. All the plans that I had were wrecked, and I can honestly say it scared me. I kept thinking the whole time I was there, that I needed to know what God had in store for me, however, I didn’t need that at all. I needed to just trust God with every second of my life, and I do just that now. Does it scare me sometimes? yes, but it doesn’t have me chasing false things.
Night two
Now this has to be one of the messages that brought tears to my eyes. Pastor Luke titled this "Back At It Again." This was one really struck a nerve in me, because it focused a lot on second chances. I knew, that in that moment I needed a second chance for the way I had been living. I wasn’t living the way I should have been, and I knew that I needed God, I needed that second chance. It also brought so many people near to my heart. I kept thinking about them and everything that was holding them down, and how it broke my heart to see that struggle within them. However I know that God is always with them, even if they don’t see it.
Night three
Night three was pretty empowering. We talked about a Jesus movement, and the spark inside me ignited like a wildfire. I felt the shift in my heart to make Jesus known on my campus. I knew that it wasn’t going to be easy, but the most powerful things usually aren’t. I was so beyond blessed to have had this moment, and I now have the hunger and determination to bring Jesus to the lost hearts of my campus.
Night four
Now this had to of been my favorite message all week. We talked about hunger, and what spiritual hunger was truly about. I enjoy this message a lot and really saw what I was doing to my own personal spiritual hunger. In fact, I was killing it, I wasn’t reading my bible much, I wasn’t praying. I was letting it die, and didn’t do anything to stop it. I saw that in order for my spiritual hunger to remain, I needed to feed it ALL THE TIME! Not when it was convenient for me. I can say that by me seeing this, I read my bible almost every day, and now pray multiple times. I am so hungry for God, and I am keeping it that way!
All in all, the night sessions were amazing to say the least. However, the sports we did were amazing to watch unfold. Go OGs! which was my team (the orange team who dominated might I add) really blossomed. A leader always seemed to emerged in everything we did, it was beautiful.
Now to end with this, I didn’t leave the same person. I spent a week away from the world and was still with God. I was brought back to the start of where it all began. I was shown what I could be losing if I kept living my life the way I was. I remember two years ago, I was that kid that was lost and not sure who Jesus was. Yet, I was saved two years ago. I was changed from the inside out and forever new. I was far from perfect, but it didn’t matter because I was with Jesus. I had to be brought back to where it all began, to truly see what was at stake. I am not the same person I was at the beginning of the week, and I don’t think any of those kids were either. All in all, my week at Camp Michindoh was life changing. Truly.
