Oil Belt Overview

     I enjoyed my time at Oil Belt Christian Service Camp immensely. I met so many wonderful people between campers, other camp teams, and faculty, I cannot imagine being more blessed. Oil belt definitely set a precedent for other camps this summer. Six campers were baptized, one of them being Calvin Pearson, a boy in my family. My other phenomenal campers absolutely stole my heart, and one boy, Corey Moore, has completely turned his life around for God and will actually attend a week of camp at Illiana later this summer to see me and Mark King. I eagerly anticipate that week.
     Kalei Jared wrote me a super sweet letter that was wonderfully encouraging - and I will share it now, not to brag, but to show the quality of camper that I was privileged to do life with this past week.

     Dear Rebekah,
              If I would have known how close I was going to get with my FAMILY group I would have been way more excited for camp. The variety we had and the stories we shares were unforgettable... I can't wait to continue our small group sessions in God's kingdom,.
     I was extremely blessed to have you as one of my leaders. Sometimes I need a role model and you were perfect for that. I hope one day we could be reunited on Earth. I'd love to see your GORGEOUS family... yourself included. :) I'll keep your letter in my Bible and pray for you when I come across it like Mark does with his "friend" from high school... hahaha. Keep influencing people like you do, Rebelkah. If you can reach people half as much as you've reached me this week you'll be living the definition of a disciple maker. I can't wait to see you again, <3
               LOVE, Kaeli Jared <3

See? I could not have been more blessed. God is good - ALL the time.  As I reflect on my week and remember the mud pit, pool times, nine-square in the air, and all of the other fun things, what sticks out the most is the quality of people I got to meet and the life stories that they shared. I cannot put into words how deeply in love I fell with the people at Oil Belt, so I will only say again, praise God! Praise God! PRAISE GOD!!!

Here are the highlights from the week:

Oil Belt Family

     I find my family at Oil Belt quickly becoming another real family. Today, we all shared our weaknesses, and how we would describe ourselves to people who don't know us.  The campers loved going deeper, and growing to know each other more intimately. One camper even suggested that we take an extra family time to share our life stories during canteen. The yearning in these students for relationship does my heart good, and gives me encouragement. I love them all so much. I am truly blessed. I thank God for Kaylee, Kyle, Hunter, D'Shaun, Corey, and Calvin, as well as my co-leader Mark. God is good.

Oil Belt: Day 1 (sorry the title isn't more creative)

     This morning, we attended First Christian Church of Flora, IL.  The sermon spoke on courageous living.  After the service ended, Doug and Ilene, a couple from the church, took us out to a magnificent lunch at La Fuente.  We got to learn about them, how Doug used to serve in the police force, and how Ilene had breast cancer and now is fine and works at the hospital. Our server came over part way through the meal to tell us that our bill had been covered. So while Doug and Ilene had been trying to bless us, they were blessed as well as us. I saw this as a small testament to God's goodness. He blesses people to bless to others.
     Something interesting: Julia, the missionary kid from last summer at Gasconade who worked as faculty with me for the middle schoolers is here as a camper this week. She is as sweet as ever.
     Today, as the first day of camp, I met so many wonderful people! I was paired with Mark King from KCU to lead a family; his program is history and prelaw, which I found interesting.  I met a freshman boy, who I will not name for his privacy, who told me he is bisexual. I also met a wonderful young lady who shared her story: her dad went to prison for sharing drugs, her mom constantly parties, her paternal grandfather raped her, and she lives with her maternal grandparents. My friends from other camp teams right now are Vince, from LCU, and Clayton and Mark from KCU (who will also be with us two weeks at Illiana).  There are only six campers in my family, and their names are D'Shaun, Corey (who also has a heavy life story he shared), Kaylee, Kyle, Hunter, and Calvin. They are amazing kids, and I already love them all.  I can already see God growing relationships here, and I now realize what a responsibility this is. I have the potential for powerful impact.  I have to let God use me, or I could mess everything up.
     If anyone is reading this blog, please pray that I live wisely, and with compassion, and a heart for God that I might be used here for His glory. NOT for my own. Pray that I be what is needed.
   

Here We Go! 6/3/12

     This morning we packed up the van, went to Chick-fil-a for breakfast, then came back to campus long enough for team Illuminate and Tim Wingfeild to pray over us and were off! We have spent countless hours this semester preparing, practicing, and praying, and now, we begin our journey together. Today we make a stop in Corydon, Indiana for lunch and a couple of Kendal's things, and tonight we will go to sleep in Flora, Illinois at our first camp, Oil Belt Christian Service Camp! I cannot wait to see how God will move and change us this summer and use us to further His kingdom. I pray that as we set out to recruit for Johnson, we remember that, above all, we should live as servants.  I will live to serve my team, my co-faculty, my campers, and above all, my God. This summer, like the rest of my life, is not about me.  I hope that I can remember this when I find myself aggravated and exhausted at any point this summer. But right now I will not worry. World, get ready for change! Here we come!

Always Forever

I greatly enjoy playing this worship song in particular. I intend to use it frequently this summer.

Preparation

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." Ephesians 2:10 NASB

     Six months ago, I, ill equipped for being on a camp team, found myself scatter brained, unable to play guitar, and hesitant about like my team. But now, I have put together over 8 lessons, can play a plethora of worship songs on guitar, and love  my team. I may still have moments where I am uncertain, or fall short of my own expectations, but God has prepared me, beyond my own imagining, for this task of doing camp ministry and representing Johnson, which I believe He prepared, as scripture says, in advance for me to do.
     Today is the first day of our "Week of Excellence" in which we shall receive the last of our training before heading out next week. I cannot wait to see how God will stretch and change me this week!

Summer Schedule

This is a list of the places I will be privileged to serve in, and the dates I will be there, in case anyone wants to write, etc. I am SO EXCITED!!!


Oil Belt Christian Service Camp
555 Park Road                                            June 3-8
Flora IL, 62839


High Hill Christian Service Camp
20 Camp Lane                                             June 10-15
High Hill MO, 63350


Camp Pitt
1232 Oxford Road                                      June 17-22
Chatham VA, 24531


Hilltop Christian Camp
6014 S Hamilton Creek Road                      June 24-29
Columbus IN, 47201


Little Galilee Christian Camp
7539 Little Galilee Road                              July 1-6
Clinton IL, 61727


Camp Illiana
723 East 450 South                                     July 8-13, July 22-August 3
Washington IN, 47501


Camp Allendale
4605 S. Allendal Drive                                 July 15-20
Trafalgar IN, 46181

Commissioned

Commissioned: Defined by Merriam-Webster as "to have been appointed or assigned to a task or function".  

     My travel team selected the name Commissioned for this summer, not only because Johnson as a Great Commission University has commissioned us to recruit, but because as we studied through scripture, the calls of individuals to service in God's kingdom spoke to our hearts, and affirmed our corporate call - to make disciples of all nations. These collective verses from throughout the Bible, highlighting some of my favourite commissions, minister to my heart and call me to action, as I hope they will for you.
     Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said "Here am I. Send me!" God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM," and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, I AM has sent me to you." But if I say, "I will not remember Him or speak anymore in His name," Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire shut up in my bones; indeed I am weary of holding it in, and I cannot endure it. Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God. Be strong and courageous, Do not be afraid. For the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.  You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.