Number 8:
“This year was my 3rd year going to camp, and by far the best and most life changing year. I made so many new friendships that will last a lifetime and strengthened my friendship with God. In the past years, camp has been a huge mountain top for me. I come so close to God for a quick five days and when camp is over I would climb down the mountain and go back to my normal everyday life. Going to church, praying, but not really having a close relationship with God. This year however, I feel is going to be very different. I now have a strong desire to do more to come closer to God. I want to make an effort to make Him a bigger part of my life. I came to this realization on the last day of camp. The power was out and everyone was singing, praying, or writing a letter to their future self. Looking around everything was so peaceful and I could feel God’s presence in the room. I knew God wanted to have a closer relationship with me and I made a promise to Him and to myself that day, to work harder to make that relationship strong. I want to thank all the counselors for inspiring me and helping along on my journey. I also want to thank all my fellow campers for being there every step of the way. I never have, and never will ever walk alone.”
Number 9:
"Thanks so much for all you did for us at camp. Hearing the counselors speak about God was what I needed to help me remember about having faith. I have had a lot of change in my life this last year and have gotten discouraged and sad about it. I know the counselors aren't God or were not trying to act like him, but they were speaking about God, and it helped to get me back on the right thoughts, it helped me remember why I do things and what I want to be like. I felt like the devotions were a way for God to be reaching out to me. I loved being surrounded by people who talk about church, Jesus, and growing spiritually. I love how the counselors are older and share their experiences with the campers. I felt like I could open up to the counselors and I can call them all friends. Middle school can be tough but when we have good people in our lives (like the staff and peers from camp), it makes the hard times easier. I know that God has a plan for me. I am moving to a new state, away from all those I have ever known, my role models, friends, family- I have faith that it will all be okay. God, will be with me holding my hand. I know I need God in all the times of my life. I also needed camp to help me remember what is the most important thing in my life and I have that no matter where I am or who I am with!"
Number 10:
"A year. Many may think its a long time, many may think its short. A year could be prosperous, a year could be deadly. Then I entered into high school. This year. One of the toughest of years of my life. I leave an environment that I've been in community with for 8 years that uplifts Christ, loving and cherishing Him. For me, this year was like a drought. I felt that God wasn't there. Wasn't there to satisfy my lonely heart. You can guess what I did. I filled my heart with worldly possessions. I turned to worldly possessions. But I wanted more and more. I completely spit him in the face everyday, lie to Him every waking hour, kill His heart every second of a minute.
A week. Many may think its a long time, many may think its short. A year could be prosperous, a year could be deadly. Then I came to camp. This week. I found a love that stitched my broken heart. A wonderful love, an indescribable love, a love not centered around me, but centered around others. The love of Christ. Now my drought was becoming a fruitful garden, a sign of life. A sign to warn the devil "Oh nu-uh Satan, I am a son of God and I am loved and nothing on this planet is measurable to the caring, loving, kind love of MY father." And there is one other thing I learned from camp. We need to build community. Because without support of our brothers and sisters in Christ, we are hopeless."
“This year was my 3rd year going to camp, and by far the best and most life changing year. I made so many new friendships that will last a lifetime and strengthened my friendship with God. In the past years, camp has been a huge mountain top for me. I come so close to God for a quick five days and when camp is over I would climb down the mountain and go back to my normal everyday life. Going to church, praying, but not really having a close relationship with God. This year however, I feel is going to be very different. I now have a strong desire to do more to come closer to God. I want to make an effort to make Him a bigger part of my life. I came to this realization on the last day of camp. The power was out and everyone was singing, praying, or writing a letter to their future self. Looking around everything was so peaceful and I could feel God’s presence in the room. I knew God wanted to have a closer relationship with me and I made a promise to Him and to myself that day, to work harder to make that relationship strong. I want to thank all the counselors for inspiring me and helping along on my journey. I also want to thank all my fellow campers for being there every step of the way. I never have, and never will ever walk alone.”
Number 9:
"Thanks so much for all you did for us at camp. Hearing the counselors speak about God was what I needed to help me remember about having faith. I have had a lot of change in my life this last year and have gotten discouraged and sad about it. I know the counselors aren't God or were not trying to act like him, but they were speaking about God, and it helped to get me back on the right thoughts, it helped me remember why I do things and what I want to be like. I felt like the devotions were a way for God to be reaching out to me. I loved being surrounded by people who talk about church, Jesus, and growing spiritually. I love how the counselors are older and share their experiences with the campers. I felt like I could open up to the counselors and I can call them all friends. Middle school can be tough but when we have good people in our lives (like the staff and peers from camp), it makes the hard times easier. I know that God has a plan for me. I am moving to a new state, away from all those I have ever known, my role models, friends, family- I have faith that it will all be okay. God, will be with me holding my hand. I know I need God in all the times of my life. I also needed camp to help me remember what is the most important thing in my life and I have that no matter where I am or who I am with!"
Number 10:
"A year. Many may think its a long time, many may think its short. A year could be prosperous, a year could be deadly. Then I entered into high school. This year. One of the toughest of years of my life. I leave an environment that I've been in community with for 8 years that uplifts Christ, loving and cherishing Him. For me, this year was like a drought. I felt that God wasn't there. Wasn't there to satisfy my lonely heart. You can guess what I did. I filled my heart with worldly possessions. I turned to worldly possessions. But I wanted more and more. I completely spit him in the face everyday, lie to Him every waking hour, kill His heart every second of a minute.
A week. Many may think its a long time, many may think its short. A year could be prosperous, a year could be deadly. Then I came to camp. This week. I found a love that stitched my broken heart. A wonderful love, an indescribable love, a love not centered around me, but centered around others. The love of Christ. Now my drought was becoming a fruitful garden, a sign of life. A sign to warn the devil "Oh nu-uh Satan, I am a son of God and I am loved and nothing on this planet is measurable to the caring, loving, kind love of MY father." And there is one other thing I learned from camp. We need to build community. Because without support of our brothers and sisters in Christ, we are hopeless."
