This post has been a long time coming, but I’ve written and
deleted it about 15 times in the last 2 weeks as I’ve process the experience
more and more. From May 29th
until June 2nd I had the privilege of directing Camp
Opportunity. I think I speak for
most of us that were involved when I say it was an overwhelmingly positive time
of ministry. Sure there were some
frustrating moments, times of doubt about whether we were accomplishing
anything and maybe even a couple tantrums, but as I look back those things are
clouded by a haze of love, laughter, grace and humility. It reminds me of a country song (which
pains me deeply to say) that talks about this “crazy, tragic, sometimes almost
magic, awful, beautiful life.” I
had some of the most fun I’d had in a long time, but somehow left with an
aching in my heart that still hasn’t gone away; a deep emotional impact that
I’m still trying to figure out the response to… but we will get to that later. Perhaps you would like some background.
Each year Heights Church Hands and Feet Ministries puts on a
camp for foster children called Camp Opportunity. The last 3 years we have had the privilege of receiving our
campers from a Child Crisis Center in Mesa. These kids all live together so it’s a fun connection, kind of
like a family, and we absolutely love working with their staff every year. Sometimes we even get to see some of
the same kids return, and we always love building on those relationships. The kids are typically between the ages
of 6 and 14 and we will usually have about 15 of them at camp.
This year, we were so blessed to be able to learn archery,
pottery, do arts and crafts, kayak with Tim and Crystal Ryerson at Goldwater
Lake, go craw-fishing, ride horses at Horses with Heart, have a dinosaur party,
watch movies, build forts, have a campfire and so many other fun activities. We also had some amazing times of Bible
Study with Larraine Spears and we were able to give each of them the gift of a
devotional to learn how to apply Biblical principles into their lives. It was so great to get to know the
kids, and one of the woman that works at the shelter told me that since they
have been back at least one of the kids has asked her for a Bible. What an amazing testimony of God using
something as simple as one-on-one time with a follower of Christ to leave a
child desiring to know Him more and bring Him glory!! And what a small sacrifice on our part to just love our God
in front of someone else and to have them see something that they want.
The last day each of the mentors told their campers how much
the appreciated their time together and named a treasure that they saw in
them. It was a time full of hugs
and moments that I was pretty close to tears as I realized how quickly they had
each become so important to me.
While we ate our last meal together they took turns standing and singing
Bruno Mars songs, and songs they had written themselves. We packed, cleaned and then they got on
the bus to head back to the Center.
This was especially difficult for me to accept this time around and as
my husband and had fallen in love with these kids we were asking ourselves if
we should be willing to be an answer to our own prayers that these kids find a
loving home. At the same
time we were wondering if it was purely an emotional reaction, or is it God
tugging on our hearts, calling us to act.
I still don’t know if God would want to place children in our home, but
this verse from Joshua keeps coming to my mind:
“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then
chose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord”
Even if it may be difficult we would like to serve the Lord
however He asks so we are going to get licensed and see what God does. We will be visiting the Center this
summer, and hopefully again closer to Christmas. I hope the time we spent with them has shown them how loved
they are, not only by the people in their lives, but more importantly, by a God
that desires relationship with them so much that he would send 15 people to the
middle of nowhere to just spend time with them.
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