Mountains, Valleys & Glue by Sara Gardner

"Ask and it will be given to you, and you will find, knock and the door will be opened." - Matthew 7:7-8

Camp is a place of dependence.  It is here that we must rely most heavily on each other.  It is also here that I feel God is most benevolent in giving us those "mountain top" moments.  Or to phrase it better , it is here that we are most willing to let our hearts experience these moments.  Even though there are days when we are not willing to ask, not willing to seek, and not willing to knock, God is still waiting to give, still waiting to reveal and still waiting to open the door. 

The funny thing is, the more that is asked of you, the more you have to ask of the next person.  This is why camp is a place of dependance.  The more a camper tires you and tests your patience, the more you need that encouragement from the next staffer, and the more you need that time with God. 

We, as a staff, are the binding glue that holds the tools together that God uses to carve away at each camper's heart. 

I have seen some tough campers in my short days here, and it is often difficult to hold together.  Because the demands of us are great, our demands are even greater.  Yet no matter what our demand, God will still give, He will still reveal and He will still open the door.

You see, camp is not a place of mountain top moments just because God decided to let them happen more frequently here.  These moments happen because people only come here if they are willing to risk the moments in the valley.  A moment in the valley is the beginning of a mountain climb.  Each step you takes you closer to God and anything in His will, he will surely give you.  One day, you may realize and look back to realize that you are standing on a mountain top of blessings that God has given you.  Everyone that you asked for, however demandingly, was given to you without hesitation. 

If you ask, it will be given you, if you seek, you will find and if you knowck the door will be opened.  So I challenge you, ask for a mountain top, but be ready for the climb! 

Sara Gardner
Camp Gilead Counselor In Training (CIT)

God is MOVING! - by Jessica Cooper

God is moving!  He is here at camp and changing lives!  Campers are turning to Him and giving up their lives for His sake.  Struggling individuals are trusting HIM and letting go of entrapments.  Those who have walked away or gotten distracted ar falling at His feet and worshipping their Creator once again!  Kids are surrendering areas of weakness for HIS glory!

A lot of campers come from really tough lives at home, but they are putting their faith in Christ.  They are not asking God to change the situation, but to change their attitude towards it.  Lifetime commitments are being formed.  Lasting friendships are created.

God's followers are creating bonds that may last a lifetime.  We worship HIM throughout the day:  in chapel, while waiting in line, on hikes, while eating lunch and when we go to sleep!  Encouragement is on the lips of every staff member.  I'm sure there is always someone praying.  I can look around and witness God's glory, love and power.

Troubles do arise though.  When 12 girls spend all the time together (eating, sleeping, playing, etc) drama will surely begin!  But God uses the strengths one has to build up the weaknesses of others.  Forgiveness is asked.  Lessons are learned.  Friendships are strengthened and life goes on. 

Life at camp is incredible.  Nothing can compare to all that happens here.  It's a time where you are encouraged, challenged, strengthened, enlightened and get to have FUN!!!  I promise you after just a week at camp your life will never be the same. 

Jessica Cooper
Camp Gilead Counselor

TRUST - by Joey Parkinson

You are Going to Be a Great Counselor … JUST TRUST THE LORD!

At the beginning of last week and at the beginning of this week I felt like I was failing as a camp counselor. I felt that I was not doing enough for the campers and that my best was not good enough. Satan has a way of getting you down on yourself telling you that you are not good enough and that you are failing. At the beginning of this summer one of my fellow counselors encouraged me to trust the Lord. It seemed so simple to just trust the Lord… Duh. But as my plans fall apart, as I fail, as I try my best I will fail. But the beauty of this week was that God has been telling me that in my weakness he is strong and that I should just TRUST him. It seems like such a simple idea trusting Someone who we have never ever seen!  The biggest thing that I am learning to remember is that God has everything in control.   

There is no other place that I would rather be then right where God wants me.  That place  is definitely right here at Camp Gilead. It just takes a little TRUST in Him. Well, actually, it take a lot of TRUST and a lot of prayer and faith in the promises that God has given us.  I am so happy to see God change the lives of not only the campers that come to camp this summer, but also the staff as God works.

To God be the Glory Forever

Joey Parkinson - Counselor Cabin 16

Child Like Faith - Katie Powell

I was sitting in chapel this last Wednesday night in between songs when I overheard this conversation between two junior campers. We had just finished singing the song “Nails.”

#1:  What does it mean when it says, ‘the nails in your hands’? It can’t possibly mean they ACTUALLY put NAILS through Jesus’ hands, can it?

#2: No, that can’t be right. He hung on the cross by ropes tied around his wrists and feet.

#1: Oh, that’s right.

It was at this point that I leaned forward and witnessed the shock of comprehension on their faces as I was explaining that they really DID put nails through his hands and feet. They were silent for the next few minutes as they realized that their sins were what had forced Christ to have real nails put all the way through His hands and feet, to hang until He died. I was surprised how easily 3^rd to 5^th graders were able to understand the things they were being taught, and they continued to surprise me all week long.

When we were discussing the fall of Achan from Joshua 7 in cabin Bible time, they were less astounded than the 6^th to 8^th graders at the fact that Achan was stoned to death for his sin. After all, the Bible does say that “the wages of sin is death”. The weeks with the youngest grades are often the weeks of camp that teach me the most, even as a staff member. I learn more from the campers themselves about taking the Bible at its word, with a simple child-like faith, than I could ever learn from chapel. This is why the younger grades of camp are my favorites. I have the opportunity to be the counselor of Cabin 1, which will be full of eleven 4^th to 6^th grade girls. I am so incredibly excited to see what adventures and lessons God has in store not only for the campers, but also for me.

This last Friday, sitting around the campfire in the victory circle listening to kids share their spiritual decisions to read their Bibles more, or to respect their parents, or shyly sharing with the camp that they had joined the family of God- those were the moments that keep drawing me back to camp. This is my 3^rd summer on staff here at Camp Gilead, and each year I am amazed at the ways He is able to use the staff to witness to children with varied situations, ages, and home lives.

I look forward to seeing how God is planning on working through the rest of the staff this summer, as we have 4 weeks of campers left to take under our wings and minister to. Please continue to keep us in your prayers for wisdom, energy, patience, and kindness towards these children.

Katie Powell

High School Staff- Counselor in Training

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”  -Joshua 1:9

God's Messages to Us - Courtney Edwards

Hello! My name is Courtney Edwards, and I am the counselor of Cabin 10 this summer at Camp Gilead.

I love seeing how God sends us messages sometimes. He does it in such apparent and ironic ways that it almost makes me laugh at how blunt God is. This weekend at my church my pastor gave a sermon on Jonah and the commission that God gave him. 

Jonah 1:1-2 “The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.’”

The whole sermon was on how God speaks to everyone, and why God wants us to be missionaries. It’s just funny how the one thing that I’m learning at Camp is to serve God in everything I do, and then I listen to a sermon on God’s commission to Jonah and how God also gave us the Great Commission. We are to obey God and follow His command by being godly people and being a light in the world.

At camp I have learned how important it is to share the gospel with the kids who are at camp, even if some of them have heard it a million times before. You never know how God could use you in the life of just one person. We are to obey God by reaching the people of this world with the Bible and the Word of God.

A lot of times at camp I get discouraged because maybe I didn’t have any kids in my cabin that stayed after chapel to talk to me about becoming a Christian, or because I didn’t drastically change the life of a strayed camper. I have to remember that God uses me even in the little changes, and as long as I speak God’s word, He will use me. And that is such a comfort for me to hear at camp when I feel like I can’t get through to all my campers.

Courtney Edwards
Counselor - Cabin 10

               

Curve Balls - Anna Heins

As a 2nd year counselor, I have a bit more experience with cabins, but that doesn't mean I have everything down.  There will always be "curve balls" that the Lord throws at us to stretch us.  This week has certainly been one of those "curve balls!" 

I love working with younger kids and was definitely excited for the youngest group of the summer.  Each cabin is of course different but there are always things that come with junior campers - them adoring you, always wanting to hold your hand, copying everything you do ...

Monday morning came and I was so excited to meet my group of campers.  After they arrived, it didn't take long to see that my cabin dynamics were very different.  I had a couple of older girls, a few younger ones, and a couple that would have been more than happy to take my place as counselor for the week!

Though it's been a little tough, it has been cool to see them bond together as a cabin.  At cabin Bible time, the older girls mostly read but that's ok because the younger ones were learning from their example!

Unlike what the world is teaching the younger girls are unconsciously teaching the older girls to enjoy being young and to not grow up too fast.  They are all enjoying the activities and each learning about God in their different way.

Though it's not what I was expecting, I am praying that God will use me to teach these girls more about Christ.  God will work through any group and He has been working in my cabin.  They have been learning to apply the story of Joshua to their lives.  It's been such an encouragement to see these girls learn how to rely on God to be strong & courageous in their everyday lives!

Anna Heins
Camp Gilead Counselor - Cabin 7

"Life"guarding - Nathan Fitzmaurice

I have learned so much this summer...even though some of it hasn't been easy!

My name is Nathan and I'm the lifeguard at the Camp Gilead pool.  This summer I have learned that I need to enforce the rules carefully or someone will risk injury.  It can be hard being the only lifeguard in charge because most times I am used to lifeguarding with others at a pool.  But now, I am the authority and the campers need to follow my directions.  I love to see all of their creativity and sillyness but when they misbehave it makes me sad and reminds that I need to do something so that their fun does not get out of hand.

Like most people, I don't enjoy disciplining and this past week was one of my first encounters with this.  I learned quickly how my parents must have felt whenever I disobeyed.  I also thought about how God must have felt when Adam and Eve sinned for the first time.  This perspective is so new to me.  It is not fun to have someone have to sit out of swimming because they weren't following directions. 

God wants the best for us and sometimes all we feel like doing is taking our life into our own hands and it ends up falling into dangerous waters.  It's then we have to realize again that we need Jesus.  And yet again, Christ jumps in and pulls us out.  He always comes back for us, no matter what we do.

Nathan Fitzmaurice
Camp Gilead Lifeguard