STAND

Our vacation was a great blessing.  We returned home on Saturday evening and as soon as the car pulled into the driveway, my feet hit the ground running.  My daughter and I were leaving for church camp bright and early Monday morning.  One great thing is that while we were on vacation I was able to do laundry (yes, most women still do housework while on vacation) so most everything we had was clean.  I simply had to transfer our clothes from one suitcase to another.  As I began preparing for camp I began to realize just how many things we were going to need.  The only things that would be provided for us were a bed frame and mattress.  I had to remember to pack things that one doesn’t normally have to think of packing (bedding, towels, wash clothes, soap, snacks, etc.)  That nearly threw me into a panic.  The rushed schedule I could handle but realizing one day prior to leaving that I was woefully unprepared unnerved me.  I also had to remember to keep my things separate from my daughter’s because we didn’t know what the sleeping arrangements would be.  By the time I finished packing and going back and forth to the store several times, my foyer looked like we were moving instead of just going to camp for five days.

We made it to the church to load in the van just in time.  All things considered, I think I did rather well.

The camp was held at Converse College in South Carolina.  The campus is small and beautiful.  God blessed me in that I got a dorm room all to myself.  It wasn’t luxurious by any means but I was very grateful none the less.

My job for the week was to chaperone five girls.  I had never been to church camp, nor had I chaperoned five preteen girls but God quickly calmed my nerves and gave me one of the best weeks I’ve ever had.

The Fuge camps are organized into a busy but not rushed schedule.  We went from 6 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. and after all the days activities, none of us cared that we didn’t have ammenities.  We just wanted to rest and be prepared for the next day.

Morning worship was amazing.  We sang, danced, jumped, and in general got pumped up to go out and participate in activities to the glory of God.  What I didn’t realize was that although I was chaperoning five girls, I had a lot of free time and I’m so thankful that we didn’t have access to televisions, radios, telephones or computers.  It allowed me to spend the large portion of my time alone with God.  I listened to God and talked to Him in ways that are difficult without solitude.

My girls and I had our own devotions early in the morning before breakfast.  They didn’t even grumble too much about having to get up ten minutes early to do this together.  We also had a short devotion and talked about the days activities at night before lights out.  Again, they didn’t complain much about giving up ten minutes of their free time at night.  It was just after one of these times that one of my girls came to me privately and asked me about salvation.  My heart nearly jumped from my chest in excitement.  It had been so long since God had allowed me to lead anyone in prayer to accept Him as their Lord and Savior.  I try to plant seeds everywhere I go but this, praying with a young lady.  Was I prepared?  I wasn’t sure.  The Holy Spirit spoke through me as I’d rarely experienced before.  I was willing, I opened my mouth and His will came to pass.  One more child who was now my beloved sister-in-Christ.