Week 1 was a blur honestly. It was so hard to know what was going on, I did not feel prepared, emotionally or physically ready for what was about to happen. The groups arrived on Sunday and it didn't feel real. All I had been preparing for or training for had finally come and it almost blew me over. My mom had her open heart surgery 2 days before that camp began, and that was about all I could think about. It was hard to want to be at camp and not be back home. But as the week went through, it was a huge blessing and I felt better about not being with her. I was able to talk to her I think Monday and it was just amazing to hear her voice. I'm so proud of her for what she went through, and how tough she was through it all. I will never know how God's timing works through all these situations, why it happened now, but I know it was for his good. Like I said earlier, the whole week ended up being a huge blessing, our groups had a great time, and I was overwhelmed with how good God was to us that week.
Week 2 was tougher for sure. We had a few difficult situations, but Gods just showed himself through them. It was dumb things that people complained about and wanted changed, it wasn't easy, but we did it, and things turned out for the best. A group that got their project switched when they weren't supposed to be, ended up having God really speak to them. The partner organization said it was their favorite group they've ever had with Group, God really worked through it! He for sure taught me a lot more patience that week, and I probably also used my phone more than ever before. It was our pre-teen week and the younger kids definitely took a lot more of our energy. But it was a new challenge for sure.
Week 3 was another great week. It was kind of difficult because it was the week of the 4th, and I had a lot of projects cancel or need to switch last minute, so I was constantly scrambling for projects. But all the groups had a great time, and our Wednesday night (cry night/ the gospel message night), despite the fact that it was a holiday, was the most powerful night we've had all summer. God was really moving in the chapel that night. The worship, God sightings, everything was just perfect. There were some amazing ones. There was a group who went to a nursing home and was able to have another volunteer accept Christ through their group devos at lunch. God was also really speaking to my heart. The theme of our summer is Made, and it comes from Revelation 21:5 which says, "Look, I am making all things new." So the whole theme deals with how Christ alone makes our lives completely new. There is a lot I've been dealing with emotionally from this past year, and I had been just praying "God make me new, God make me new," but God just was telling me, "Rachel, I AM making you new, its already happening, I am working in your heart." It was just so beautiful, and I could just physically feel God's presence in that room that night. God kind of brought me back to what this ministry means, hearts and lives being changed, and all the little things that I was being caught up with, didn't matter.
Our worship leader that week was a guy from India, and listening to his stories were incredible, how he had played with Tim Hughes, and a few people from Hillsong. God was just so good to us this week, with many great stories, great groups, and lots of hearts being moved. The stories and God sightings were just incredible.
So now it is week 4, and it's going well. This is our biggest camp so far, and we've seemed to manage everything alright so far. We have 104 and they all seem to really enjoy their projects which is great. It is Tuesday night off, and we are spending it downtown Charleston, walking around, hanging out at Starbucks, just really relaxing. It has been great so far, and can't wait to see what else will happen this week!
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| The Pineapple fountain downtown - our weekends have been so great as we have explore downtown Charleston and surrounding areas |
