The Calm Before the Storm

For a day of preparation awaiting the arrival of the campers, we surprisingly accomplished a lot today. Chelsea is in the kitchen already cooking meals for the staff and volunteers, and she is already sore from standing on the concrete kitchen floor for twelve hours or so. Both meals she prepared today were hits – lots of compliments for her cooking all around.

David not only served by cleaning dishes, the kitchen floors, and setting/clearing tables, but he also took part in orientation, developed an idea for the video workshop (praise God!), and even had enough time to finish preparing a lecture he had been working on. Also, David was presented with the possibility of giving a message one morning to the campers. Pray for God’s leading in all aspects of this endeavor.

We have been consistently encouraged by the people here running and serving the camp. Chance, the other leader of the video workshop, has been a truly calming force – I don’t think anything can phase this guy. The service team has also been an encouragement, as all members seem to be excited to give all they have to make this camp run smoothly and have fun at the same time. It also seems that the women Chelsea is going to work with in the kitchen for the camp are full of energy and willingness to jump in to work. There are many volunteers returning to this camp for the second, third, or more times, and reuniting with these people has been a great reminder of how wonderful this camp is, and how amazing Christ’s church can be.

The staff is a true blessing and example of Christ to both volunteers and campers. We were reminded of this today as Tom Guffey, the director of the camp, and Marc Neddo, this year’s camp leader, led us in orientation. They spoke frankly about where this camp’s heart lies – in the saving grace of Christ. Tom reminded us all that the two weeks of this camp may be the only opportunity many of these campers will ever have to experience Christ personally. The French culture is very secular and reserved – it takes a long time to get to know someone well enough to share the good news of Christ’s death and resurrection. This is truly humbling, as it pushes us to trust in God’s work at the camp instead of attempting to achieve anything on our own. If it is the only opportunity to share truth with these campers, we must pray continually for their hearts, for nothing we do alone can open their hearts.

Marc ended today’s orientation by reading comment cards from previous campers responding to the question of what they learned at camp. Among comments that reflected that this camp was the first opportunity many campers ever had to know Christ, truth, or grow in fellowship and humility, Marc also read a comment from a camper who come to the camp two years ago. This camper wrote that despite the positive influences of the camp, as a Muslim, he knew there was only one true God, and his name is Allah. Over the past two years, the camp had been praying for God to open the heart of this student to see and seek truth. This camper is returning this year.

Please pray for this camper and all the other campers, as we know that our work here is not simply to provide a good time for these young men and women, but to work for an eternal purpose – the salvation of their souls in the saving love of Christ.

God bless.