The week after EBS Camp and the week before the Sr. High MK Camp, I came down with shingles. This left me unable to be at the first MK Camp. However, Bonnie went to serve as a cook and a photographer. Ellie Beth also helped the cooking team out throughout the week. Camp was great. As you can see from the pictures, here was a lot of laughter and fun throughout the week. However, the flu bug hit camp again. About ten people ended up with the flu, but after a lot of prayer from many faithful prayer warriors the bug stopped spreading and camp remained healthy for the remainder of the summer. What was wonderfulin the midst of having a fourth of the camp sick, is how it turned the hearts of the campers to spiritual matters. Several campers commented how having the flu bug at camp caused them to slow down and listen more closely to the Lord. It turned the camp from being a great time of laughter, to one of laughter and ministry. Thank you, Jesus. Many campers told us that they had been convicted of living in a way that did not honor God and that they needed to change their ways. As our theme was, "One Step Closer", this was a joy to hear. Please pray for these campers, to walk more closely with the Lord as the return to school and family.
Then we had the Jr. High MK Camp. This is the first year, since we've been here, that we had a camp dog – our dog, Frodo. Many of the campers loved sitting with Frodo and giving him lots of attention. Of course, he had no problem with that arrangement either. Our theme was also, "One Step Closer", but with this camp we needed to change things to reflect the younger ages of the campers. We spent more time playing and using our activities as examples of Christian living. For example, Bonnie heard one of our rock climbing instructors sharing with the campers an analogy from knot tying. As she tied the knot used to attach the camper to the rope, she said that the the rope was like you and Christ. You start out separate, but as you come together and follow him through the twists and turns, you become connected and joined. While she shared this, she tied the knot and then the camper trusted that knot as they climbed up the rock wall. What a wonderful analogy for the Christian life. Please pray for this camp, that through the next year these campers would follow Jesus Christ, step by step, and grow into faithfulness and maturity in him.