My Week at Mission Camp

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Hello readers! I am back from Mission Camp with the tiniest of tans, some great life lessons, and a host of marvelous memories! My friends and I had a great time hanging out, serving people, and learning more about God and each other.

I spent last week at a rec center, working with a bunch of kids aged about five to twelve. We played games in the mornings (Who knew dodgeball could be so insane? Seriously, I was sore everywhere), then swam at the pool in the afternoons. Pretty basically, my group just spent time with them, letting the kids know we cared enough to hang out and get to know them.

One of the coolest parts of camp, though, started when our student pastor mentioned that we shouldn’t reserve serving for the mission sites. We could serve right there at camp, too, by holding doors for people or taking others’plate to the dish return after a meal.

To be honest, I didn’t think much of it at the time. I thought those were just examples, you know? We didn’t have to take them literally; they were just suggestions of how we could serve.

But after the next meal, a bunch of the younger girls went up to complete strangers and asked to take their plates. I probably don’t have to tell you I was flat-out amazed.

And inspired.

I started by taking my friends’ plates, and by the end of the week, I’d taken a stranger’s. I think by the time we left, most of us had done it at least once. And all to serve and show the love of God.

I went to camp to do that – to show the love of God – but I gained a lot from everyone there as well. The band was amazing and being in constant worship certainly grew my relationship with Him. The preaching was phenomenal, opening passages, revealing truths in Philippians I’d hardly noticed before. As I said, it was girls two or three years my junior who motivated me to serve right where I was. And I can hardly forget the kids I hung out with at the rec center. They were all wonderful and super-sweet; even though I only knew the latter group for a few days, I already miss them and will always remember the time we had together.

I learned a lot over that week, too: to be more humble, concentrate on God more, and be anxious less, trusting in the Lord instead. Mind you, I’m not saying I have any of that down, but with God’s help, I am working on it.

Overall, camp was a phenomenal experience, and I can’t wait for next year! Seriously, why is it not next summer right now?