For the past month or so I have been working at a Christian camp! It was the most amazing summer of my life, and I want to go back. Yes, there were hard times-frustration, exhaustion, and pain among them-but I loved it! Bible verses hung up in the kitchen where I worked (I worked in the kitchen, my main jobs being to mix and serve and clean up the drinks) truly helped me to keep going. One that I really loved was Nehemiah 8:10b-"The joy of the LORD is your strength". I also would repeat "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" when I felt flustered at the meal times or when I felt stressed about jobs. I made lots of friends who I love and learned to trust. I was really able to share my heart with several very special girls, and for that I'm thankful. The other workers were all great-the staff at camp this summer became like another family to me. I loved annoying them (examples would be waking them up in various annoying and creative ways, spraying them with a hose when cleaning cars, tossing ice cubes on their chairs, etc.), and they generally would play tricks back (or scold me, if they couldn't think of tricks themselves). I must say that I loved all the family dynamics that played out-I've always been the oldest, so it was great living in a situation where I had older "siblings" to care about me. Actually, everywhere I went at camp I knew others really cared about me (and, yes, I cared about them :D ). In skits (I was in four skits, and loved making people laugh-something new for me to enjoy as acting and humour have never been my strong qualities), in choir (what an amazing choir! I loved singing in the group as a soprano on the beautiful songs), and in work I learned so many wonderful lessons from the Lord as He showed me the strength that comes from Him when His children call upon His name. I heard about 31 sermons during the 38 (or 36?) days I was away-it should be impossible for any Christian not to learn from such a spiritual environment. It wasn't wasted on me-God convicted me on many issues (you can all pray for me, you know! ;D ). God has shown me so much during this summer, the most important being this-that serving Jesus is the BEST THING ANYONE COULD DO WITH THEIR LIFE!!!!! It was the most joyful experience of my life-even the hard times were wonderful, because God used them to show me His strength and how He IS my strength and shield. While cleaning toilets or washing windows, mopping floors or preparing salads may not be "fun" jobs, they were a wonderful part of my summer because God used them to change me into something better, someone better able to serve her Lord. Now I hope and pray to return to the camp next summer to minister once more.
God bless, and more posts will be coming soon!
Love,
Indi Raine
Neh. 8:10b