When I was a freshman in high school, my school had their first YoungLife club, thanks to some of the most enthusiastic, friendly, God-loving folks I've ever known. Before I knew them, I started dating an awesome young man named Cody, who attended YoungLife and had a big heart for Jesus and loved all people, in YoungLife and not. I never went to YoungLife with him or any of my other friends that went, even though I am a Christian and it looked like so much fun. Instead, from a distance, I judged an organization that is meant to bring people to know and love God, for being made up of imperfect people; that thought made ME a judgmental hypocrite and human hypocrisy is one thing that I have learned can (and will) turn people away from God. Fourteen year old me had so much to learn!

Almost a year later, Cody passed away and everything in my life, including me, changed. For I just kind of existed; I wasn't really living my life, I just sat in silence a lot, sometimes for hours just to watch. I noticed everything, and I never stopped thinking. I never blamed God, but I wanted to know why, why him and why so young? I soon learned that God puts people here for a purpose and once they fulfill their purpose He leads them home with Him. Even though we are sad and missing him on Earth, Heaven is a far better place, I was blessed to know him for the time that I did and when we get to heaven someday there will be an awesome meeting.

I stopped asking why and started asking how I could leave the legacy of love that Cody had left with so many people in his life. Because he loved it so much, and people kept inviting me, I started attending YoungLife. The leaders were hilarious and awesome, and a few were in college so of course we looked up to them. I went to club at school and on the county level, as well as campaigners, which was a smaller group split into a guys and girls bible study that gave an opportunity to learn more about God in depth. I quickly learned that I was so wrong about my judgments of YoungLife because I was welcomed overwhelmingly when I went for the first time, everyone was so kind and loving, and it was something that I wanted to be a part of. I saw in a Spoken Word video that church is not a museum for the good; it is a hospital for the broken, and I think YoungLife is a lot like that. YoungLife is meant to introduce God and what it looks like to have a relationship with Jesus, while also loving others and having fun, clean, stupid, young fun; YoungLife is not church, and it is not meant to replace church, it just couldn't do that. I asked my leader what her favorite part of YoungLife was, and she said that it was "come as you are", we love all people. Even if you are unsure of your faith, or not a Christian, all people are welcome to YoungLife. And for anyone else who was like me, you should go see what it's all about before deciding it isn't for you!

While attending club there were raffles that gave away things like t-shirts, stickers and sometimes discounts on summer camp fees. For me, summer camp was out of the question because it was a whole week away from home with kids I went to school with that I didn't know if I could be on the “summer camp level" with and so I never showed interest. Almost all of my other friends were doing several fundraisers all year, and it took hard work but it is definitely possible to raise the funds, and because I started going later in the year, I found that out much later.

We watched a video about where camp would be, it was a surprise and it turned out they were going to Sharp Top Cove in Jasper, GA. From the video there would be a zip line and a blob (the thing filled with air that you jump off of a platform and land on and it launches someone else into the air and into the water), swimming pools, a lake and tons of other camp activities that were top-secret to make it a more fun experience. In May, I began receiving texts from my YoungLife leader telling me that I should go to camp and about how awesome it was, asking me if I was interested. I said no, but I probably made up an excuse like family vacation or something. The texts continued into June from other leaders and I had to tell them the truth, that it was definitely way too late to ask my parents to pay for camp, even though it sounded like it would be so much fun. My leader texted me two weeks before camp and told me that he had a solution, and in Cody's honor, someone was offering to send me to camp. Looking back now, I know that if God wants us somewhere, we are going to make it there one way or another. A week before people were supposed to leave for camp, I decided I was going to camp. A lot of people went through trouble to help me get there and I believe that God was pushing me to go.

We were given a pretty crazy packing list, and because we had no idea what we were going to be doing, as it was secret, my friends who had previously gone would only say how much fun it would be. We turned in our cell phones mid-bus ride, and some people were pretty bummed out about that, but if you have ever been to a camp that you can't use a phone, you find out pretty quickly how amazing it actually is. If you've never had to, just take my word for it. Immediately upon arrival there were activities planned and the fun started. It was so beautiful. There were people from all over the country, but I grew so close with the girls from my county, and especially from my high school. I don't want to give too much away, but it is incredible. Rarely do you get an opportunity to stop focusing on everything going on in your life and strictly focus on your relationship with Christ, even though without Him I might as well have nothing else in this life. I learned how to have a more personal relationship with God, and I learned how to praise him with other people. During the time I spent with my leaders they taught me so much, and really helped my heart heal; they taught me that I was so blessed with the time that I spent with Cody and God could have chosen anyone else to experience part of life with him but I believe Cody was meant to teach me about love and I am better because of that. I remember sitting in a room with just my leader, and I felt as though I had been living in the dark my entire life and I chose to flip a switch to meet the sunlight for the first time. I felt in my heart like I understood for the first time what it felt like to be a follower of Christ, and to be enveloped in His love. I learned so much about other people through fun, physical, team activities as well as more private and serious opportunities for conversation and reflection. Overall, I became more aware of, receptive, and responsive to God. Each lesson learned was an answer to a question that I had either wondered about God, or that someone else had asked me, and they were all answered in such a way that I had a better understanding of my faith. I also watched so many people, including people that I knew and was friends with, choose to give their lives to God. What an incredible feeling to be able to walk with others in Christ. That was seriously the best week of my life; I never thought I would be able to choose one occasion or event or period of time that was my favorite, but this was the best week ever.

If you are thinking about going to camp, or to YoungLife Fall weekend retreat with College Life, then the entire week time teaches you about God, no matter where you are in your relationship with him. For those who don't know Him, that's okay too! You will experience so much more than I could ever express in words. The week will also be filled with so much love, fun and Jesus. Also, the food is always amazing, which may or may not be a determining factor for me, no matter where I go. There is always a host/ characters from a skit that lasts all week, and they are hilarious. I asked a lot of my friends that I met through YoungLife and others that attended with me what their favorite parts of camp were, and I want you to read them, because you might not be convinced that you need to be there this summer, or next, but you do.

"I would say that my experience with work crew (serving campers in different ways, working at the camp but not like a counselor) was incredibly rewarding, because I got to serve others for a change and because I knew where I was in my faith. It was humbling to watch others go through the entire experience of becoming who they are with God, because it is a whole new life to live. Apply for work crew!"

“I'd say to anyone who is unsure that you should take the chance! What are you going to lose if you go? It's a week of fun and it's a week you get to spend with some of the coolest people out there! You won't regret it. It is a changing, unforgettable experience."

“If you are unsure of your faith then I would definitely say go to camp because it will help show you God's grace and love in each one of us! I also think camp shows you that you do belong in a community that truly cares about you."

“My favorite part of YoungLife camp was definitely cabin time. Cabin time is where we would come back together with the girls (or guys) in our cabins and discuss the lesson/message. At first it was difficult but eventually everyone put down their “mask" and really opened up. We all knew it was a safe space and that we could say anything we needed to and not feel judged. It was a relief to see how many people have similar issues to you. It helped me realize that I am never alone. This also helped me grow in my faith with God because cabin time brought us closer to Him. You'd be insane not to go. YL camp was honestly the best week of my life! Everyone should experience YL camp at least once. What's the worst that could happen? You don't enjoy it? Yeah right!"