Last week I went to my last I-Camp at Turner Falls (it's really not as bad as it sounds, we're just changing the location of the camp). Camp has become a place that I look forward to going to every year. It never fails once January hits I get camp fever and camp is in July! This year was no different. I think I actually looked forward to going even more (I think that the fact that it was the last time I was going to be there as a coach had a lot to do with that). I prepared for it like I always do...prayed the week before that it would be a great week, that the kids would really go after God with all their heart, and that it would be a life changing week. Little did I know that God also planned what I prayed for those kids to also happen to me. A couple of weeks before leaving I started to become very stressed and doubtful about God's provision in my life and what His plans were for me after Italy. I knew God was going to provide, but I was having a hard time believing it (which is so dumb, because He's come through time and time again) and I know He has plans for me after Italy (I just like having at least a 2 year plan). I caught myself getting really down and just losing my joy over a lot of things (and don't worry God's working with me on the whole trust issue and keeping my joy). So I was really looking forward to going to camp to get away from everything and just spend time with God and of course all of the amazing kids :)
During that week God opened my eyes and reminded me of what my focus should be. I spent a week with 13 amazing girls that all have a story (some amazing and some sad). To see these young ladies dealing with all sorts of issues...of not feeling pretty enough...to just wanting to feel accepted, etc. broke my heart. Some of them had no idea how God saw them, that He doesn't make junk and that He doesn't make mistakes. That He loves them more than they could ever imagine. Seeing this made me realize that along the way of trying to figure everything out before I leave for Italy and trying to raise my support money, I had lost focus of the most import reason of me going into missions and that's to share Christ's love with every person I can and to let them know how great their worth is in God's eyes.
So that prayer I prayed for them the week before actually became my prayer. It was a great week I met amazing people, got over my competitive ways (kinda haha), but most importantly lives were changed and decisions to follow Christ where made, and I got a gentle reminder and heart check of my focus.
"I wanna clap a little louder than before, I wanna sing a little louder than before, I wanna jump higher than before, I wanna shout a little louder than before. Freedom, freedom, freedom, freedom, freedom, freedom, freedom, freedom. I wanna lift my hands higher than before, I wanna love you more than before, I wanna worship deeper than before, I've gotta scream louder. No more shackles, no more chains, no more bondage I am free. Halleluiah, halleluiah, halleluiah..." - Eddie James
