OH, what a summer I have had. I was just reading back on my last blog post and laughing a little at myself. I knew when I decided to go back to camp for the summer that I was following the Lord's will, but once I was there, in the midst of it all, I questioned it. I questioned it for almost half the summer. Countless prayer sessions and journal writings to God, I told Him over and over again that I knew there was a purpose for me being at camp, but I needed Him to show it to me. That I needed greater revelation from Him on what I was there for. I asked and I asked, at times becoming discouraged, frustrated, and upset. It even got to the point one night in mid July where I sat in my favorite spot on camp balling, crying harder than I had in months ready to throw the towel in and leave but at the same time everything inside me said I could not. God said I could not. That was the turning point in my summer I believe. I began doing everything with a greater purpose. The mundane of my job became worship unto God. I served His people as though I was serving Him. I allowed Him to come in and transform my friendships. I began to be used greatly by Him in different ways in particular staff's lives. I watched God transform the summer I was having and it was incredible. I didn't forget about Tacoma, but my heart got so much peace about being away from there. For the last halfish of the summer, my heart stopped aching to be in two places at once and I was able to just be where I was when I was there. That's something I am rarely able to do. Something I hope God began teaching me about this summer and will continue to help me grow in. One of the biggest joys of my camp summer and one of the greatest purposes I feel I had at camp is difficult for me to put into words, but it has to do with friendship. God used me in friendship with different people, to help do His work in their lives this summer. No more joy did I have then when I got to sit down with one of my sisters and listen to them and help them and most of all pray for them. I wish I had gotten to the point where I was doing this much earlier in the summer as I feel I wasted a lot of time, but as one of them reminded me as I said that on her last night, God had a perfect plan and He used me when He did for a reason. Such peace I gained from those words. I know they are true too, as during one of the last worship songs we shared as a staff, I began to weep. It appeared to others that I was crying because summer was coming to an end, but truly I was crying instead because God spoke to me in that moment. He said to me, you my child, you made the right decision, you were here for a purpose, and I used you, you did exactly as I knew you would, and I blessed each moment of your obedience to me. I ended the summer in a peace and love. I see so much good God has done and I praise Him and I see the potential for Him to continue to work and that really makes me excited.
My summer would truly have ended up different if it weren't for these 5 gals. God used them in my life just as much if not more than He used me in theirs. I am truly grateful for all the fun times we got to share, the joys, the sorrows, the good times and the tough. I watched the Lord challenge and shape them this summer. Come August 15th they were not the same women I met on May 30th and that is the beauty of God's work. I love each one of them dearly and love watching the Lord's continued work in their lives as they have transitioned away from camp, though it's been tough, He is fully there.
Kati
Jenny
Beth Anne
Skye and Cecilee
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