We really can't believe that today is our last day of Summer Camp 2009. It has been a really wonderful week, with so much deep growth and passion imparted into our students. At the same time, we had WAY too much fun. :)
The Cereal teams have had a great week. The scores have been close day after day, so Thursday's games were worth tons of points, each team hoping to pull away from the pack for the victory. (By the way, the winning team will be announced at the Homecoming Service Friday night- 5pm picnic, 6pm service.) We took a favorite game, corn hole, and twisted it- RiverStone Camp style. Instead of throwing bean bags, the students had to toss ham hocks. Normal, right? :) We also played a game where the kids had to try to catch eggs in a cup.... while holding the cup in their mouth. It was a great new game. Definite keeper. :) The scores have been tallied and the students are begging to know the results. And they will.... tonight.
Thursday night features what always seems to be a camper favorite- the dance! With a different theme every year, the dance continues to inspire some really interesting costumes. This year's theme was PROM THROUGH THE AGES, so we had outfits from the 1940s and outfits from prom this year. With some great performances by the Jonas Brothers, the cast of Grease, High School Musical, Taylor Swift, and MC Hammer, the students were fully entertained. And our counselors did quite a job lip syncing those songs.
Scott spoke to the students about how to take this passion and desire and have it impact their daily lives, especially on their campuses. It is amazing to see God move on their hearts and give them each a conviction to see real change happen at the schools in Cobb County next year. The counselors made another fire tunnel, this time the students being encouraged to move much quicker through it. :) We ended the night jumping and dancing and worshiping God.
It was a great week for our students and counselors. We consider ourselves blessed to be under the teaching of Scott Thompson this week. As well, we are so grateful to Daniel Bashta, Kim Walker, and the band for leading us in worship this week. And of course, Cory and Kristin are awesome leaders for our students, as well as the cell group leaders and other adults who volunteered their time this week to minister to the campers.
Our camp week was also blessed to have the Sozo Ministry here every day to minister to the students and adults. It is such a powerful ministry, changing hearts and healing lives and making a permanent impact on the future of the kids. We are grateful that these adults took the time to come here and invest in our students.
The prayer room has been busy every morning. It is amazing to see these students and adults getting up at 6am to go pray for our camp, for the day, for their schools and their friends. We are so grateful to the adults who set up the prayer room and committed to that place throughout the week.
While we are thanking adults, we'd also like to take time to thank the nurses Kim Long and Shana Owen and Dr. Richard Bardwell for taking this week and being here for our students and counselors in case of emergency or sickness. Praise God, we have not kept them very busy. (Though I personally fell down a hill. You're welcome for that fact.)
Also, we'd like to give a HUGE thank you to Chip and Veda Bush. They have run the administrative side of camp for ten years now and are hanging up their jump drives and retiring. They together have served our camp year after year selflessly, staying up late at night and getting up early in the morning and working months and months in advance, to make sure that the details of camp are in line. We pray many blessings for them in return for their service to our youth.
For your students (and you as well), each evening service, each morning Awakening, games, and teaching impact groups will be available to watch on demand on our live broadcast site. (Thanks so much to Boo and the other guys who made this possible again this year.)
Thank you again for allowing us to live with your students and hang out with them this week. We are so grateful for the opportunity and we look forward to MORE that God has planned for them, and our schools, and our youth ministry, this year.
Hope to see you at the Homecoming Service tonight!
