CAMP: In the chaos, God's still in control

Ivan and Jonathan

Young Life Camp 2014.  

An insane weekend of non-stop adventure, fun, and loving on teenagers.  The entire purpose of camp is to create a space and time where leaders get to pour into the lives of kids; showing Jesus' love in a very real and tangible way, presenting the message of Christ and inviting them to join this crazy adventure of living life with Jesus.  This year we had a total of 120 people at camp:  38 leaders and student leaders, 70 first time campers, 2 adult guests, and 10 helpers (aka work crew).  I fall under the category of "work crew".  The title is no lie, we work hard!  Behind all the fun and adventure, there is a small team working to help things run as smoothly as possible and keeping the chaos in order. 

Pedro and Dany

     Among our team of helpers, was our neighbor, Dany, who came to serve as our on-site doctor and am I ever grateful that we had her on our team!  We had a girl wipe-out pretty hard on our bicycle ride, a bloody nose pre-rafting, the ever present headaches and sore throats, and a smashed finger, among other small scrapes and bruises.  There was Pedro, our friend from YL Venezuela, who came to lead all of the games and Club times.  Ivan gave the talks in each Club and also organized and created the schedule of camp.  Jonathan was our go-to for all things electronic, moving and setting up the sound system for each event, and leading our time of music in Club.  The rest of our team filled in the gaps:  decorating, prepping materials for games (like the 500 water balloons), serving the food, etc.  In each activity, we tried to be one step ahead. 

I'm not going to lie, camp was an extremely stressful time for me.  For someone who likes to have control and follow the schedule to a "T", camp is the surest way to move beyond your comfort zone!  The last night at camp, there is a special time after the last talk, where everyone takes 15 minutes in silence, sitting in chairs spread out along the grass, with a view of the trees and the night sky.  This is perhaps the only time in the entirety of camp that there is complete silence.  Each camper is to take this time to reflect on everything the speaker has shared and to have a conversation with God privately.  We are all encouraged to take this time seriously and including the work crew, we each find an empty chair and it is one of the most beautiful times of camp.  As I sat and reflected on camp, I thought about all the things that happened beyond my control; a few days before camp one of the helpers told me she was going to be unable to come, the day of camp 2 of our other original helpers never came, halfway through camp one of our helpers left because she had over-committed herself and needed to fulfill the other obligation she had made. 

Decorating the Club space

Little sleep and busy days are prime components to create stressful moments.  In all honesty, these hiccups in the plans got the best of me and I found myself several times losing patience with others, and it became harder and harder to keep a positive attitude.  So, as I sat in those 15 minutes, I was filled with sadness as I realized I had failed.  I had failed to keep Jesus at the center of my service.  I had allowed circumstances and emotions to dictate my actions.  I had worked out of my own strength instead of leaning on His.  It was then that God showed me that He was and is in control, that despite our humanity and our short-comings He continues to work out His purposes.  The entire time of camp, we had the perfect weather, not once did it rain during the day when we were doing activities outside (biking, rafting, pool time, group games...) which is in itself a miracle!  I can't control the weather, but God does, and He blessed us with perfect days.  And as I sat there, He reminded me that He was in control.  That is the beauty and the goodness of God, salvation is a gift.  It is not dependent on our abilities, our works, our actions...He gives it freely.  I made mistakes (and I will undoubtedly make more) but He continues to use me and it humbles and puts me in awe of His mercy.  As I looked out and saw the chairs filled with teenagers I was filled with thanksgiving and praise that God is not limited by our shortcomings, and that even then He was speaking into their lives and knocking on the doors of their hearts, and many were answering His call. 

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it s the gift of God---not by works, so that no one boast.  For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  Ephesians 2:8-10

Our team testing out the photo booth :)