Well, I survived my first and second camps. It was amazing. I knew that God would be working in big ways this summer, but I expected it to be a slow build, rather than a firestorm right out of the gate. I guess it just goes to show that God is bigger than the limits our human minds can set.
We arrived at Covenant College to a haze of fog and mist. Up on the mountain, you are literally walking through clouds. It’s a surreal feeling when you can’t see more than ten feet in front of you. But it’s also a reminder to be present where you are. I suppose that was the theme of this first location for me. Be present in the moment. Be fully committed to where you are right now.
Sometimes I get so wrapped up in thinking about the next step, the next thing, that I forget to experience where I am now. I miss out on opportunities to be joyful, to learn, to talk to someone right in front of me, because the idea of ‘what’s happening next’ is so consuming. Being forced to focus on what was right in front of me every morning as I hike up the hill to breakfast is a gentle reminder to soak up every moment.
After loading in, we had a few days to get settled before our first camp started, which was a luxury I am extremely thankful for. I got to take a breath before the storm of four camps back to back. As soon as Registration Day (Reg Day, for those in the know) hit, campers were on campus and I was finally doing the job I’d been practicing for weeks.
Our main drama, “Cheese Louise”, is a story of a family, broken from an older son’s death, and trying to put the pieces of their life back together through work at their grilled-cheese cart and a mission to foster kids in need. I play Claire Ellis, the mom.
During the mornings at Celebration, I play Magda… a character I have created. Magda is of Eastern European origin from a “small country you’ve never heard of where there is land, sea, and sometimes sky.” She has a shady past in which she probably at one point was an assassin or spy, and claims flamethrowers and attack bears as her weapons of choice. Magda won a contest to be the Foreign News correspondent for 3:27 Camp News this summer and has a segment called “Advice With Magda” during the show. If you’re feeling bored, go check out #AskMagda on twitter.
In case you were wondering, Magda’s advice is not normal, nor even sound. So far, the campers are loving it. We’ll just have to wait and see what craziness she grows in to.
As promised, here are some of the things I’ve learned at camp through our various Camp Pastors, staff devotionals, and my own observations.
1. Jesus is not medicine. He is a person you can know.
2. In this world, the consequences of your sins can never be erased. Jesus does not erase you memories of sin, he heals them.
3. You will never be “picked last” when it comes to the grace of God. He chooses you first, and calls you holy and beloved.
4. If you live your life within and through the love of God (agape) the virtues of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, endurance, and forgiveness will become the fruit of your life.
5. You are not who other people say you are. You are who God says you are.
6. It is okay to have childlike faith, but not okay to remain childish in your faith.
7. “Jesus is like a Red Lobster Cheddar Biscuit. Why would you ever settle for the wonder bread the world tries to offer?”
(That last one is a direct quote from one of our camp pastors. But it makes a lot of sense, ya know?)
One of my favorite moments from camp, so far, was actually late at night when I was tired, and all I wanted to do was go back to my room and put on comfy pants. Callie (my fellow actress) and I were leaving the cafeteria and were stopped by various groups of students and leaders as we tried to leave. People wanted to talk to us about the drama, our characters, and most of all, they just wanted to talk to us, because they related to us (well, our characters, but we still listened). One student, poured her worries out to us about being a leader, yet not feeling qualified while also dealing with pride. Callie and I got to talk to her and share pieces of our own stories which related to her. She ended up responding to a call of invitation on the last night. On the final morning of camp, she found us and thanked us for listening. It was a very cool moment.
I’ve been lucky enough to work with both Rec and Missions these last few camps and will be making a more thorough post on that later. They deserve far more attention that a few sentences at the end of a post. I cannot say enough how amazing everyone on my team is. It's incredible. Every single person brings a wealth of talent, intelligence, compassion, and faith to the table, which makes for a truly awesome work environment. I can say with certainty that I love each and every one of them and cannot wait to see what God has planned for us this summer.
Until next time, dear friends.
