08 Feb Joy Beyond Measure

As mentioned in the article above, January is a big month for Mission UpReach as we conduct our annual Bible youth camp. Our first week of camp is always for the 8-11 year olds. The new campers (8 year olds) are often children who have anticipated the day they will be old enough to go to camp. They arrive with eyes wide open and hearts full of joy beyond measure. It is truly delightful to behold. Our consistent experience with the young campers is that they leave their families in tears as they head to camp, but they leave camp in tears as they return home, wishing it could last longer.

Our second week campers (ages 12-14) are mostly regulars who began camping with us at age 8. They know the limits and rules, and dive headlong into the fun without abandon. The number of injuries increase with this age, keeping us busy patching wounds and an occasional trip to the ER for X-rays. This age is probably the most vulnerable to the attractions that the world offers with many of them already addicted to their devices and social media. We prohibit cell phones during camp for both campers and staff. The kids seem to forget all about such distractions and enjoy the freedom that socialization brings. I am always impressed with the messages of the campers’ final skits. While they love to be humorous, they seem to always reflect the values we work to instill during the week. The best skit wins big with a second and third place to follow.

Our third week is for the 15-18 year olds. They are generally very cooperative and since many of the campers for week 3 have been staff for the previous weeks, we make sure that while the theme remains the same, the activities (and even the menu) are different from the previous weeks. This group always includes some teens on the fringe. I often wonder what they might be looking for by being at camp while not necessarily seeking God in their daily lives. I trust that camp for them has been a safe place in their growing up years and they have had unique experiences that draw them back to camp. We truly believe in the power of the Word of God and there is no shortage of the Word being taught at camp, even while having fun.

At the end of camp, we always have a camp celebration at our church the following Sunday. This year we had 297 in attendance, which included numerous campers and their parents who normally do not attend our church. We are always so happy to have them and hope that their visit might inspire them to return on a regular basis. At the celebration we always allow several children to share their favorite thing about camp and what they learned about God. This year, as is generally true, the campers shared how much they love the food. We provide 3 good meals and 3 snacks. This fuels them for all the activity and gives them a sense of security, something that many of these children do not have at home. The overall message that campers seemed to take home this year is that God loves us all regardless of color, beauty, or social status. We praise God for such a beautiful opportunity to serve His children.

A Precious Gift

As many of you likely assume, our annual Bible camp is costly. We served hot meals to approximately 295 people, for a total of 4,130 meals and 4,130 snacks over 3 weeks. We have a wonderful kitchen staff who wake early and work all day to keep everyone fed. We rent a beautiful rustic camp for the 3 weeks and incur expenses such as transportation, staff, security, craft supplies, and many other materials. For the past 2 years, a wonderful family (who choose to remain anonymous) has donated the funds needed for camp. This is such a wonderful and precious gift. One that, without a doubt, will have lasting results into eternity. If you and your family are interested in being a part of a one-time donation towards camp, feel free to contact us a phil.w@missionupreach.org.