Instantly Progressively Better by Stephen Solan

   I was nowhere to be found; my campers for Youth Camp One arrived promptly at 3:00pm on Sunday.  I was in the middle of preparing the dining hall with decorations for our WWII theme camp.  After I finished I quickly scuttled to the office to find my housing; you see camp had started, campers had arrived, but my belongings were not in my assigned cabin.  After being informed that four of my seven campers were here I moved my stuff to the cabin.  This was the first week of camp that I had legitimately felt unprepared for the week. To best describe the day, I felt as though I was having that “underwear dream,” the one where you show up to school or work with no pants on. I felt confused, unprepared, stressed, disorganized and lost and I was the counselor! (Please keep in mind that I did have my pants on for this whole time.) Overall, I went into my week with the mindset that it was going to be all downhill from there.  I should have expected that God had a MUCH better plan in mind!

Stephen in Frontier Village

 After the first chapel session, I could tell the week was going to be amazing. God changed my attitude from being down and gloomy, to energetic and excited. My campers began to open up about their struggles in life from that very first day!  God used this and my life experiences to share the gospel and give them Godly advice. Despite being one of the worst teams competing in the games, our morale was uplifting.  Chapel was impacting and spiritually deep.  As amazing as each day was, none of them came close to how God worked on Thursday night. Tears came pouring out, boundaries were broken, worship was cried out, and ultimately kids became conscious of their need for Christ.  I have been working at Prescott Pines Camp for five summers, and haven’t seen anything quite like it before! God is good!  It goes to show that people can be lost, and nowhere to be found, but then God faithfully shows up and by His spirit makes things progressively better - if not instantly!   

Those of you who camp to Frontier Village or Youth Camp as a counselor or a camper, do you have a break through story to share? 

The Ones who Crave it the Most by Annie Oakley

She stepped off the hayride looking as confident as I have ever seen an eleven year old look. Already she was intimidating to me. At first she didn’t talk much, just glanced around looking bored. Immediately I judged this girl. I wrote her off as a girl who thought she was too cool for camp and I was determined that I was going to give my attention to the other girls in the teepee who seemed excited about being there. But God was not going to let my selfishness get in the way of the work He was going to do in her life that week.

Annie Oakley with Campers (camper in story not pictured)

Within the first day I realized that my heart needed a change, and I began to pray that God would give me His love for her. Throughout the week she began to change, or maybe my attitude towards her began to change. I soon found out the reasons for her tough demeanor. This little girl had experienced more heartbreak, loss and trials in her life than any kid deserves to go through. The more time I spent with her the more I grew to love her. 

  All day on Thursday I felt uneasy because I knew it was salvation night. By night time I was a mess. I felt more pressure than I ever had on salvation night. I went to Ellie Sunrise, the head female counselor, crying that I couldn’t do it. She prayed with me and reminded me that it was God who would give me the words and that this night was His. For some reason my heart was pounding as I walked with my camper outside the teepee. As we sat down to talk I prayed that God would give me the words to say. What happened next was a miracle.

  I asked her if she knew where she was going when she died. She said no. I began to explain the gospel to her. Suddenly words came faster and faster. I was explaining things in ways I had never thought of. She accepted Christ that night and I know I had nothing to with it. God gave me the love for this girl and the words to say to bring her to Him.

  Being used as Christ’s hands and feet is the most humbling experience in the world. I truly know that it has nothing to do with me and everything to do with Him. Every child is an image bearer of Christ and should be loved as such. Every summer that I spend as a counselor at Prescott Pines God teaches me something new. This summer I am learning about every person’s desire to be loved. So often I am selfish with love, only giving it to people who can return it or to people that I feel deserve it. But I am learning that the people who don’t seem to want or need love are the ones who crave it the most.

Guest Blog from Counselor in Training - Allie Banks

Hello, I’m a CIT here at Prescott Pines. My camp name is Allie Banks and I’m gonna tell you a little about how this week has gone. We’d been expecting rain all week and with 23 kids here we weren’t sure what to think. But it’s been a blast! It basically sprinkled on and off throughout the day, and rained occasionally. When it came to water day on Wednesday, we were praying for warm weather because otherwise everyone would freeze! And God answered those prayers! It was clear and sunny the whole game time. Everybody had fun and not one kid left the water games dry (Hee! Hee!) 

Wednesday evening was skit night.  Every tepee had preformed and  it was so funny;  my stomach hurt from laughing so much. It’s a lot of fun seeing the way all the kids have fun watching the summer staff skits. Even though it’s the hundredth time we’ve seen it, it’s always enjoyable to see the new facial expressions on the kids. This one girl in my tepee doesn’t smile a whole lot so seeing her laughing for 5 minutes straight was very cool. I love seeing the kids open up to us a little each day while we’re here at camp and that makes salvation night that much better for us. 

Though we get tired as the week progresses we always find a lot of enthusiasm when Thursday rolls around. On this day, we go to the lake and go canoeing, swim in the afternoon, and then that night we see where they are in their lives. And even if there is only one new salvation or rededication, it’s worth every ounce of effort we put into it because sometimes we just plant a seed and that’s all it takes. 

Kindey Stones and Jagged Rocks

 She came back. With twenty-four fresh stitches on her knee, she returned to camp.  The night before while chasing the counselor with who held one of the most sought after marbles, eleven year old Alexa tripped and landed on a jagged rock, deeply splitting the skin on her knee in two distinct pieces.  Quickly the nurse applied pressure and immediately the ambulance was called. Although no ligaments were torn (exposed but not torn), she was required to wear a knee brace and use crutches because of the position of the cut.  She insisted though on coming back to camp.  “I want to make a memory out of this,” she said. “Besides, I don’t want to miss out on anything!”

 Ironically, the theme of Sun Valley Community Church’s pre-teen camp is Collide.  They even brought up a totaled car for décor and placed it outside of the chapel.  Challenging the kids to consider what happens when they know what is right collides with what the world offers, the leadership presented discussion points each day.  Thinking about our adult lives, how often have we found ourselves headed in one direction – a seemingly smooth and clear trajectory – when we come colliding into reality?  Do we pick ourselves up like Alexa and insist on making a memory of it, a positive moment, a turning point?  Despite the pain, do we still insist on not missing out on anything God would have for us or do we check out of the game? 

Last week in our summer camp in Frontier Village, a young eleven year old Chris stood to the side of the water games, hunched over in pain. “I just have a kidney stone, that’s all,” he explained as he grunted.  My face must have expressed my shock and concern because he went on like an old veteran, “Oh, I have passed five before. It’s not passing now. I will be fine.”  Of course, I walked him over to Doc Mom to have a look. His parents had informed the camp so she was aware of his condition. He was given lots of water and reminded that he knew his body and must be honest when it was time to go to the hospital.  From Utah, Chris came to camp with the knowledge that this pain was simply a part of his life and there was no way he was going to miss out on the week with his friend and an experience at camp.  Nathan is making a memory.  His childhood would not just be marked with pain but with wild-west fun and crazy hair and uninhibited worship. 

No doubt many people will ask Alexa about her scar in her future, perhaps at an ice-breaker her freshmen year in college.  “Tell us a story about a scar,“  they will ask. “Oh, this one,” she will say as she points to her knee, “This one I got at camp.  You should have seen it. It was awesome!”   

  

So do any of you have a good camp scar story to share? 

Post it as a comment!

The Far Reaches of a Cocoon

The call went out.  A camper was missing.  Five boys out of sleeping bags, bed head all glorious, toothbrushes in hand were ready for the showers.  But where was the sixth?  The counselor acted quickly despite his lack of sleep. Leadership was put on alert. Within minutes – seconds – the boy’s height, eye-color, clothing descriptions, medical history even was taken note of.  And just as abruptly the camper was found.  The sleeping bag on his upper cot began to wiggle. Like a reluctant, sleepy-eyed turtle, he emerged.  Tucked into the far reaches of his cocoon, the little camper was so curled up, he simply looked like a disheveled sleeping bag. The counselor was of course later teased and mocked by his beloved co-counselors when he shared the story. Despite such humiliation, the counselor took the time to nominate the same run-away (or tucked- away) for Deputy of the Day. With the bestowing of this title, comes the privilege to walk beside the marshal on night duty. He/she is also given responsibilities above those of his/her fellow campers.  It is quite the honor.  To be chosen for the position, the camper must demonstrate a care and concern for others, responsibility, and an attitude that reflects Christ. The counselor shared that this camper, the night before his disappearance, had given his only flashlight to a fellow bunk mate because he was afraid of the dark. He showed him how to use it inside his sleeping bag to make a safe haven and assured him everything would be alright. And even though it was only the first night of camp, upon hearing that his fellow teepee member did not know about God’s love for him, the tucked-away camper shared passionately how Jesus was not only his best friend, but his Savior. He went on to explain what Savior meant.  This camper seemed to know deeply what it means to be lost and then found!

It is during the counselor devotional times, that the staff is able to share such stories.  It is a chance to praise the good things they see in the campers. How often do we take those moments in children’s lives? Take a moment to brag on a child now! Share a story in our comments.

Wear it like you mean it!

With their pressed uniforms, their order, and their commands, the Navy junior ROTC filled one side of the dining hall. With their bright neon shirts, their enthusiasm, and their cheers, Grace Community Church’s kids group occupied the other. And both groups were very happy.  As the weeks go by and the months pass, many different guest groups come through Prescott Pines’ doors. Evening Light Fellowship visited us recently. They adhere to the traditional literal values of the Bible so their women wear flowing skirts and are adorned with long hair. I had the privilege to host the girls on the zip line.  Ever so discreetly and with grace and modesty, the young ladies were able to put their harnesses on while maintaining their convictions.  (This involved a change in a nearby teepee and a careful combination of leggings and a harness covered by a skirt.)  Resurrection Lutheran hosted their children’s camp this past week.  The church is located in a unique place in Scottsdale.  Just down the street, an apartment complex has been established as Liberian refugee housing.  The church sympathized with the needs of this displaced people group and started to bring food, clothing, and most importantly community. On Sundays, a shuttle brings them to church. Many of the kids this past week were these very children from Liberia.  Pam, the leader, spoke of how they often do not eat three meals a day. Camp provided not only an unforgettable experience for them but fed them as well. An older couple who took their time to be counselors spoke of a conversation with Suah. When the eleven year old boy found out they did not have children, his first question was “So when were they killed?” The diversity of the groups and the uniqueness of their needs is one of the aspects that makes camp an amazing place.  It is here that each comes seeking – in one way or another- and it is always our hope that we are able to reflect the love and hope found in Jesus Christ whether they come wearing pressed uniforms, neon shirts, or long skirts.   

To check out recent pictures of Frontier Village and meet the summer crew, click here!

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