This past month I had the amazing opportunity to serve at a Young Life camp. I ate, laughed, served, and grew alongside of 50+ other college age students and 50 more high school kids who gave up a month of their life to serve Christ. We gave up a month of working, our friends, our family, and of preparing for school to start. We sacrificed countless instagram posts, beach days, and hours of sleep. And I would do it again about 500 more times.
When filling out the application in December of last year I remember reading and answering questions like “Can you lift 50 pounds?” “Do you work well with others?” “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”. While obviously hitting many important questions, they left out a few. Such as " Are you ready to make some of the best friends you will ever have?" "Are you ready to be in the most amazing place and then be ripped away from it after a few short weeks?" or my personal favorite, "Are you prepared to grow so deeply in love with Christ, and learn about who you are in him?" Obviously, for the most part my answers would have been no. I had no idea what curveball was being thrown at me.
Coming into camp, we all know that it is going to be life changing, we've heard the stories. But no one will ever be able to explain all the emotions that come with it. The way that I let Jesus into my life and break down my walls is incredible. How we spent countless nights staying up way to late, sharing life stories and testimonies when we had to be up in about 3 hours. It was all worth it. My life will be forever changed because of one month. Because I was vulnerable. Because I accepted a position as a cook. Because I lied and said "yes I can lift 50 pounds". Because I made forever friends.
I personally never liked talking about my feelings or emotions, but at camp it is a must. You have to talk about how you saw Jesus, or how you are physically and spiritually drained. I talked with the girls I worked with about my struggles at camp and at home. I talked about how I felt, and in those moments Jesus began to melt my heart of stone. He began to work in my life and show me how I am truly loved and that the girls desire to know my heart. I wouldn't trade the experiences of camp for anything.
The month went by fast. Inside jokes were made and bonds that will last eternity were formed. And if you ever get the chance to spend a month working harder than you ever have in your whole life, without getting paid- say YES! Because with that yes, you are saying yes to having a ten person party on one persons bunk, you are accepting a full month of belly laughs, good cries, and people who are going to be at your wedding one day. I miss camp, and I miss my people, but I will never stop planning trips to visit them, going to reunions, and face timing them just to say hello.
