Dry Gulch USA is a place of year round activities and outreach created by Pastor Willie George and managed by his church, Church on the Move. It is located in Adair, OK and takes on the role of a christian summer camp during the warm months. This is the definition those who have never been to Dry Gulch USA will give you. However, those who have experienced the incredible outreach and ministering that is done here can all agree that our definition for this place is life changing.
It was the summer of 2007 when I had my first summer at Dry Gulch USA, I was pretty young and this was my first experience so far away from my parents. Thankfully, I had family all around me as I had come with my home church. I remember thinking the whole week I was there that this place is unlike anywhere I have ever been. My life and so many of my close friends were changed by our experience here as children. I talked about Dry Gulch for weeks after I had left and I even still have an entire scrapbook dedicated to my week there. Along with the t-shirt and camp CD I still use regularly.
Fast forward nine years to 2016, I am nineteen years old, and in the middle of my first year of college. This first year of college was a real struggle for me as I was one of those who thought I had everything figured out and ended up realizing I have nothing figured out. I was leaning on God more than ever and my relationship with God had become more personal than ever. I woke up one morning and just really had Dry Gulch on my mind. So, I listened and pulled them up online. The first thing that pops up is a link to fill out an application to be on summer staff for the 2016 summer camp.
I knew this was God, and I obeyed.
I went through the application process and learned I had gotten the position of a senior counselor. I was thrilled! I was going to Oklahoma again, I was going to the place that changed my life as a child. This was a dream come true.
I was due to be in Oklahoma on May 31st and wasn't supposed to come back home until August 12th. So, my mom, being the person she is, promptly planned a camping/road trip to our destination that was a 10 hour drive. That goodbye was one of the hardest things I have done. Yes, even harder than when I was ten.
In no way will I be able to explain my time at Dry Gulch. It was the most physical, mental, and spiritual challenge I have ever been faced with. I met people who had such an impact on my life I could never possibly attempt to put into words. I met my best friend, Cambry, who even though is still 10 hours away is my rock that I don't know how I ever survived without. I met a new group of girls between the ages of 6-12 every week who at times made me wonder why I signed up for this, but most the time made me marvel at how absolutely incredible they are. The talent and intelligence and burdens that some of these kids possess is astonishing.
I spent three months at the most incredible place on earth. There is no place in the world like Dry Gulch, anyone who has been there knows exactly what I mean when I say that. Again, this place has changed my life as an adult this time. I am forever grateful for the things I learned here and the people I met. But then came time for goodbyes, I thought telling my mom bye for three months was hard. Leaving Dry Gulch felt like leaving home, and for the first week after leaving it felt so strange being back in the 'real world'. Then I realized the real world needs to be more like Dry Gulch.
Praying just to tell God thank you for all he has blessed you with. Worship in the middle of town. Being genuinely concerned for others and their well being. Standing strong in your faith and being the light to others. Before the summer staff left Dry Gulch for the very last time Paster Greg Scott gave a powerful message in which he said "The three most important times in your life are when you were born, when you are born again, and when you realize what you were born to do."
This is just one life changed by Dry Gulch. There are thousands. Thank you, Dry Gulch, for changing my life, being my home away from home with open arms, and putting me on the front lines by leading children to God.
