So as most of you know I have served for the past month up in Island Park, Idaho at Old Faithful Christian Ranch. This had to be one of the hardest yet most rewarding summers of serving yet! I have to admit that there were days I was thinking "God, why on earth am I here right now?" But God made it all worth it this summer.
July 9th-13th we had Sr. High Camp. This is a camp basically for 10th grade up to graduated 12th grade. Let me tell you it was difficult, some members of my cabin were rebellious towards me because of the lack of age difference, while others were okay with it. I had to rely on God for the strength and the patience to handle the situations as they came up. God does not abandon his people though! "Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary." (Isaiah 40:30-31)
July 16th-20th we had Jr. High camp. This is for 7th grade-9th grade students. This camp was easier for me because there was more of an age difference. However, I still had to trust in the Lord because my strength is weak compared to what I had to face. This week was really great though, I saw a renewal of a passion for God and it encouraged me to keep following God. We also had one boy from our cabin give his life to God. Let me tell you, nothing gets me more excited about God then seeing people come from death into life. It is invigorating to say the least.
July 30th-August 3rd we had Junior boys camp. The week before that was a Jr. Girls camp for 4th-6th grade girls that (for obvious reasons) I did not assist with. But Junior boys week was definitely a challenge for me. You try watching twelve 4th-6th grade boys for a week and you will understand what I mean. But God prepped me and strengthened me for the challenge. We had at least 5 boys out of our 12 recommit to or accept Jesus Christ. IT WAS FANTASTIC! I had one kid come up to me on Wednesday night and ask me, "How do I accept Jesus into my heart?" I told him, "That is the best question ever!" I made sure he understood what Jesus did for us and he accepted Christ. As it says in Luke 15:7 the angels were rejoicing over that one soul that was saved!
So to sum it up, this July was incredibly difficult for me personally. I struggled with self doubt, with sleeplessness, rebellious campers, sleep deprived staff (I can't say I was any better though lol), and Satan on the prowl. But as it says in 1st Peter 5:8-9 "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world." Resist him and he will flee. That is what we did at Old Faithful Christian Ranch this year.
I'll look into getting some pictures posted on the blog here soon hopefully!
If anyone is interested in serving at Old Faithful Christian Ranch next summer check out the link below and their facebook page!
http://www.ofcr.org/
https://www.facebook.com/OFCR.org
God bless!
July 9th-13th we had Sr. High Camp. This is a camp basically for 10th grade up to graduated 12th grade. Let me tell you it was difficult, some members of my cabin were rebellious towards me because of the lack of age difference, while others were okay with it. I had to rely on God for the strength and the patience to handle the situations as they came up. God does not abandon his people though! "Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary." (Isaiah 40:30-31)
July 16th-20th we had Jr. High camp. This is for 7th grade-9th grade students. This camp was easier for me because there was more of an age difference. However, I still had to trust in the Lord because my strength is weak compared to what I had to face. This week was really great though, I saw a renewal of a passion for God and it encouraged me to keep following God. We also had one boy from our cabin give his life to God. Let me tell you, nothing gets me more excited about God then seeing people come from death into life. It is invigorating to say the least.
July 30th-August 3rd we had Junior boys camp. The week before that was a Jr. Girls camp for 4th-6th grade girls that (for obvious reasons) I did not assist with. But Junior boys week was definitely a challenge for me. You try watching twelve 4th-6th grade boys for a week and you will understand what I mean. But God prepped me and strengthened me for the challenge. We had at least 5 boys out of our 12 recommit to or accept Jesus Christ. IT WAS FANTASTIC! I had one kid come up to me on Wednesday night and ask me, "How do I accept Jesus into my heart?" I told him, "That is the best question ever!" I made sure he understood what Jesus did for us and he accepted Christ. As it says in Luke 15:7 the angels were rejoicing over that one soul that was saved!
So to sum it up, this July was incredibly difficult for me personally. I struggled with self doubt, with sleeplessness, rebellious campers, sleep deprived staff (I can't say I was any better though lol), and Satan on the prowl. But as it says in 1st Peter 5:8-9 "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world." Resist him and he will flee. That is what we did at Old Faithful Christian Ranch this year.
I'll look into getting some pictures posted on the blog here soon hopefully!
If anyone is interested in serving at Old Faithful Christian Ranch next summer check out the link below and their facebook page!
http://www.ofcr.org/
https://www.facebook.com/OFCR.org
God bless!
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