Little Brother

I couldn't breathe. By Thursday afternoon I couldn't hear. Thursday evening brought on a small fever, and I just wanted to go to bed. Summer colds are the worst! But worse than a summer cold, was my attitude about it. I couldn't seem to stay focused enough on Thursday; I was taking every step and going through every motion of my job with one thought: "Just finish this, then you can go to sleep".

It was never "just this one last thing" though, as I and the other counselors kept adding new items to our To Do List. Finally, it was late Thursday night - we were almost done for the day - and we had one more task. Every Thursday at camp, since it's the last night, we hold a bonfire and eat s'mores; it's quite the ordeal. So, there we were around the fire; about forty-five crazy boys, a handful of sleepy counselors, and two sick ones. 

Rewind. All week long, I and the other girl counselors were running camp behind the scenes (This is something we do every boys' week, and that the boy counselors do every girls' week). It gives us a chance to recoup from counseling the week before, and to build relationships in a different way with the campers. One young boy in particular - we'll call him S - became something of a little brother to me. He was a crazy kid, with a kind heart, and a super thick afro.  

All through the week, S and I would run into each other (it's a small camp, and with only forty-five campers, it's not hard) and I would ask him how his day was, what he was learning, and what his favorite part had been so far. He was always quick to give me an answer, then slap a high-five before running on to his next activity. I loved how positive he was! 

Fast forward. Back to Thursday night. I was standing in the sea of boys around the camp fire, half there and half consumed with thoughts of my pillow, when S came over. I looked at him and smiled (well, it probably looked like a smirk) 

"Hey, S. What's up?"

"Oh, not much." He said as he took a huge bite from a s'more.

"What's been your favorite part of the week, S?"

"Hmm..." He thought for a minute. "Probably this."

"S'mores!?" I was a little shocked. I thought that surely it would be something deeper than a sugary snack.

"Well, actually..." S looked at me and smiled. "I just accepted Jesus - then I got s'mores."

My shock only grew then, but in a joyful way. I was thrilled! 

"Oh my goodness, S! That is so incredible! Ah! Who've you told? Have you talked with any body from the Center?"

"Yeah, I talked with Reed (his counselor) and Dave (the director)..." S looked over at me again and smiled. "Then I came to you."

He came to me third. I couldn't quite believe that. All week long I hadn't had any kind of spiritual impact on him, none of us girls had. But somewhere along the way he and the other boys began to see us as mentors just as they saw their counselors that way. I am blessed to be able to say that Thursday night, S went from being my little camper, to being my little brother in Christ.

You never know how you're impacting someone. You might never have the chance to share Christ with them - but if S has taught me anything, its that your words aren't the only way you show people the love of God. I want to encourage each of you to live Christ out by loving others through your actions - we don't always have to speak the truth to make an impact.

In Him,

Bekah S.

I Don't Have What It Takes

The week was off to a smooth start: no one was in a fight with any one; everyone was excited for camp; the weather looked great...oh, and I sat in the middle of a group of ten high school aged girls, in total shock. What did I just get myself into, Lord?




I don't have the patience to lead these girls with grace.


I don't have the energy to run on only 4-5 hours of sleep each night.


I don't have the answers to their questions.


I don't have...




When I focus on what I don't have, it is beyond easy to get lost in negativity. But as I sat with my ten girls in our family room (NOTE: ask me about that, it's a fun story!) I was reminded of what the Lord has shown to me time and again throughout the years, that I don't have what it takes - but He does.
And it is in my weakness that His strength is made perfect and His extravagant love is made evident.




Amazing, isn't it, that when you allow our God to speak through your life how easy it is to love people? How easy it becomes to open up, be transparent, and to accept with grace those around us. And isn't it even more amazing, the sense of wonder you experience when the Lord's strength consumes your weaknesses?


Friend, it so is.


That first day of High School Girl's Week was my wake up call to the fact that my God is greater, stronger, higher than any other. That I was nothing and could do nothing without His breath in my lungs; indeed, He was reminding me to breath...in...out...in...out.


Doing life on Monday, Friday seemed far away; waking up on Friday, it seemed to have come too soon. Each of my ten campers had grown so much in my heart, filling up more space than I thought I could possibly have for them! They each are unique, creative, silly, deep - all in their own ways.


Yep. Friday came way too fast. But as I gave my girls one last hug, and prayed over them as they loaded into the van, I knew that the Lord had shown them love. Through my willingness to recognize that I didn't have what it would take, God stepped in and gave me what I didn't have. Believe me, He longs to do the same for you - allow Him to be the strength you never realized you don't have. We are weaker than we think - and He is stronger than we can ever know.

Blank

I've tried all weekend to sit  down and write this post for all of you, but I keep drawing a blank. How do I wrap this last week up into a handful of words? It's harder than you'd think. I suppose I'll just start at the beginning and  work my way to the end.


As it was the High School Boys week, the girls and I moved into the camper on the edge of camp grounds. All week long, we prepped camp for the summer and ran errands around for the boys. I reached a new level of tired I've never reached before; literally being able to fall asleep standing up is a talent. Each morning I woke up to Jesus, a cup of coffee, and the sleepy smiles of 40 young men. They always smelled funny, listened to their music incredibly loud, and teased me and the other girls - and it was wonderful.


Not all the boys were the happy go lucky campers that some were; there were a few who were just rough. Say their names and I would equate it with "Little Stinker".


But we watched as the week went by and the shrouds of pain, anger, and defiance fell off. We watched as a boy who casually admitted that he "knew he was on the path of destruction", turn his feet around and run to Jesus. We watched as a boy who came to camp silently, left laughing and cutting up with friends he didn't have before. We watched as the boys worshiped, all of them in a tangle of feet dancing and fists striking the air, voices raised to shouting. We watched as the laughed, grew serious, got angry, became homesick.


We watched as the vans drove away and all the boys waved to us, throwing hearts and I'll miss you's - well, one of them passed us his phone number through hand motions, haha. We watched as one van returned for a forgotten item and one of the little stinkers from day one climbed out, stood in front of us and said, "You girls do know I love you, right?"


All we could do was smile and cry. It wasn't an easy week - but all of it was beautiful. Seeing Christ move so fluidly through the lives of these students, not in one big bang of miraculous proportions but softly and calmly, is a new side of Him I've never seen.


But I want to see it again.


As my team dives into the next week of High School Girls, I invite you to pray with us for energy for the staff and openness to the Spirit. Pray for a peace to settle over my heart and the hearts of my teammates as we meet our girls today, and move in to the next week of loving them.


In All His Love,


Bekah S.

Extravagant Love

Ten college students sat in a circle last Monday night, talking about the idea of "extravagant love".

I am the youngest of those ten; each of my teammates coming from their second or third year of college to dedicate their summer to Camp Summit. We all came in to the week of training with very little idea of what we were getting in to. Sure, we knew we would be counselors for a camp that opened up to inner city kids - but most of us didn't know what that even looked like. We didn't know each other, and we certainly didn't know what to expect. But as the week went on, all of us began to see just how much of an impact we could make in the lives of young kids simply by loving them extravagantly. 

Define "extravagant": Going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount [Merriam-Webster Dictionary and Thesaurus] 

Define "love" : Unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another 

[Merriam-Webster Dictionary and Thesaurus]

That's pretty much it. As counselors, we discussed how best to reach these kids where they are - and I'll give you an idea of that later - and we all agreed that the best thing we can do is to reach these kids with unselfish, loyal concern that goes beyond society's accepted norm for love. To love them continuously, without regard for our own personal emotions, and show them that we care for who they are where they are at. Only when they see that we love them, will we be able to show them how much God loves them. 

So, where are these kids coming from? Let me tell you.

Many of these children don't know what it feels like to have three meals a day - some show up having only eaten one meal the day before, and nothing since. Nearly all of these kids come to Camp because their parents need a 'week off' - a chance to do what they want without a little person getting in the way. Several of them are victims of sexual abuse, rape, physical and verbal abuse, who need a way to come out of the situation and heal. Yes, you should know that all of this is happening right here - not just in the slums of a third world country, but here in our towns in our neighborhoods. Camp Summit is open to any kid who wants to come, free of charge through the generous donors and support raised by the staff; these kids are driven out to camp for a week away from the stress of their home lives, surrounded by nothing but the love of Jesus and opportunities to explore their talents and gifts.

On Tuesday, my team and I had the opportunity to lead a day camp - without being allowed to speak of Christ or promote Camp, as it was purely a day of fun - for about 100 second grade students from a local public elementary. I lead story time, and my teammates split into activities like crafts, rock wall, and basketball. 

These kids were hysterical! Each one was unique and totally animated; loving on them was an easy thing to do. There was laughter every where in the building, and I can't help but smile as I remember how much the children loved listening to "Charlie the Caterpillar" (honestly, I never got tired of reading it either!). Later in the week, my teammates and I received thank you letters from each of the kids. My heart overflowed, and many of us began tearing up as we heard the words children had written:

 "I want to be a counselor someday"

"Thank you for inviting us"

"You never let me give up, and I am so happy I made it through the rock wall!"

Dozens of the kids came to their teachers the next day asking for permission slips to go to camp; they all saw love in us, and it ignited in them a desire for more. My team and I were so encouraged by this show of excitement in response to something we viewed as small - we showed love to these kids, and they soaked it all up. It was just a taste of the opportunities we will have throughout the rest of the summer, but what a taste! 

As we move throughout the next nine weeks of ministry I ask that all of you come along side us in prayers for extravagant love. I am praying for you as well; that you might have opportunities and courage enough to show extravagant love to those in your life. You will never realize the impact in can make in a life. 

With All His Love,

Bekah S.