This year we took our kids to Lost Canyon located in Williams, Arizona. It was an amazing week for us. Kelly took 4 girls to camp that she has walked along side for the last two years. I had 8 boys in my cabin along with another leader named Tucker.
It seemed like in that one week we went through every kind of emotion possible.
There was points where I felt so angry and frustrated because of how disrespectful some of the kids were behaving. There were points were I was in tears because of the stories each of them poured out during cabin time and there was points of complete and utter non stop laughter and fun.
On the last night at camp I had the boys write a letter to them selves. I told them to write about their week at camp and what it meant to them.
Here is what they wrote:
I learned that through all the things I do God is still there. I learned that gangs are everywhere and that you can’t run from them. I like the zip line, ropes course, playground, bikes and the pool. God told me to forgive my dad. He also said gangs are bad. I had fun at the pool party, fair/carnival and the course. In the future I would like to get out of the whole gang thing and get a job. I would like to see my mom and dad again and for my sister to live a happy life. I would like to graduate from high school and go to college. I want to get married and have children and see them grow up.
This week was good. It made me think a lot of how God is going to change my life because I have accepted him in my life. HE even changed it this week when I was here. Like when I had my one on one with Felipe. He told me about the group that can help me actually do the thing that I want to be. That the dream I have might be able to actually succeed and do it. This week was also cool because I got to learn more about some people. This week also showed me that God is not going to be able to do every thing him self, you have to help him and try to do some stuff for your self.
This week I learned that I will never be alone because God is always with me. This week I had a one on one with Tucker. This week was the best because I met new people. The new people I met were cool. When I was out here at camp I was able to learn more about God. That he was put on that cross for our sins. What I did this week was went to the pool and hung out and played sports out here with different people, went on the blob. What I did when there was nothing going on was go to the pool hall and played games or go to the store. What I didn’t do was call back home because I didn’t want to hear about the problems. When we went biking it was cool because I wasn’t able to do it back in SB. We also had a pillow fight war just for fun because we were bored. The best thing that happened to be here at camp was just having fun with friends. What I want my future to look like is good and not do what I was doing before. I hope everything changes. What I want my return to look like. I would like it to be prefect and for there to be no problems!!!
I had fun this week but also it came with ups and downs. From problems with the girls to problems with really close friends. This week I had a one on one time with Tucker and we talked about the worst day that I had. I believe in God because no matter what he will always be there for you. This week I met a lot of new people, I met the people that I had beef with.
This week I learned a lot of things like how I can create a relationship with God and how I can be less of a sinner. I also had a great week because I realized how great life can be if you have a relationship with God. Also I realized that I have to work at having a relationship with God but it also doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy. My week here meant a lot because it got me away from the streets and violence and possibly of getting in trouble. It helped me escape. My high this week was meeting new people and my low this week was drama.
This week has been really good. I have learned that no matter what God will be with me forever. He is eternal. He died on the cross for our sins. He is pure. He will forgive us for any sin that we have had. One of my highs was just being with my best friends. My low is all the drama that happened with other cabins. This week meant that God took in all our sins so we can live with him in heaven. I want my future to be with God and follow in his footsteps. I want my life to be better and for me to have more faith and love in God. God will be with me 24/7. God and I will stick together forever.
God is spoke into each heart and I am excited to see what God has in plan for each of them.
Now I'll let my wife tell you about her week:
The week was so special! Here I was with my four faithful girls who have walked with me through my experiences just as much as I have walked with them. These are the same four girls that came to our wedding! I love sharing life with them. I love their child like faith with me and their colorblind and sometimes even culturally blind eyes that they have.
From left to right: Maria, Ashleigh, Kelly (me), Denise, and Melissa
We did a lot together at camp. Pool games, the amazing race, cabin games in our matching gray shirts, camouflage bandannas, and face paint, the obstacle course at night (…I was the only one really injured), the ropes course, the playground, dress up nights (see picture above), club, girls dance party, and much more. I loved our late night chats and giggles around my bed! I love when were silly and can be real with each other. I always treasure the one on one time I have with the girls. They come alive and share things that I can’t believe they trust me with! I’m so thankful for their trust!
Post camp…
At 2:30am, I dropped Melissa off after arriving home from camp. With little energy, we pulled her things out of the trunk of my car. She gave me a hug good-bye and whispered in my ear "That was the best week ever!"
A few days later, I got a routine call from her mom asking if she was really going to be with me that night. It was a camp reunion night, so of course she was going to be with me--she wouldn't miss it! I asked her mom how things had been since she has been home. Her mom proceeded to tell me that Melissa told her in a conversation that they were having that "she learned that she can put the past behind her and start fresh..." I knew that she had gotten that from listening to the club talks.
On the outside she appears to be a lion, but inside, she's a lamb. It is neat for me to be the one to see her progress and little by little understand things more. While Melissa did not make a full decision for Christ, I am please and encouraged at the growth that happened during "the best week of her life".
This past Monday, we had our first Bible study at our apartment. Three of the four girls were able to make it along with the other two camp leaders (Gaby and Sara) and their 6 girls. I love their honesty of where they are. Denise gave her heart to Jesus at camp and was excited to read the Bible for our study. Melissa so boldly says that she’s not there yet. She has great questions and is learning little by little. Maria doesn’t really say much, but our conversation tells me that she loves to be in this safe community of people.
Below is the video is the video that I made with Maria at camp when she went on the big swing on the Playground. It’s called “Maria’s Great Adventure.”
Thank you to all of you who made it possible for these kids to go to camp!! Thank you for all your prayers! You are HUGE part of reaching these kids for HIS Kingdom!
