Well, we made it back from camp and I am now awake and able to post an update for everyone.  I want t o say thank you to everyone who prayed for us while we were away.  Your prayers were needed and God answered them.  In spite of several obstacles, God did some amazing things during Camp Damascus 2007.  Let me try to describe some of the camp’s experiences.

When we arrived at camp, we discovered two primary cabins that did not have power due to a storm the previous week.  One of these cabins was mine, which also happens to be the cabin we use to set up our office for the week.  We also discovered that the new ice machine that was supposed to arrive last week was not there yet so we had to scavenge ice from different parts of the camp.  The guys from the park started working on the power situation the next day and in the course of trenching to repair one problem, they cut the main water line coming into the camp.  This was HUGE!!!  The camp was instantly without water.  You can’t function without water.  A lot of things you can skimp on, but water isn’t one of them.  We were over on the other side of the park for a few hours while they fixed the water issue.  All was restored and camp went on.  The next day the guys were back on the power issue.  It was restored by the end of our third day at camp.  They then moved on to the ice machine which, of course, caused a new set of problems when the water pipe burst when they were trying to connect it to the new machine.  Once that was fixed, the discovery was made that the power outlet would have to be changed since the new machine had a different plug.  I honestly don’t know when we actually had a functioning ice system.

There were other little issues like power to other cabins and a couple of incidents with bats in cabins, but I just want to communicate the major challenges that we faced and yet somehow SURVIVED it all. I guess it was really fitting that our series for the week was “Survivor: Student Edition”. We talked about how we “Survive” the challenges of life.  We were reminded that we are more than conquerors through Christ and that Jesus promised us we would have trouble in this world, but not to worry because He had overcome the world! There is no question that there were a number of challenges that we faced this week and I am absolutely convinced that all the powers of Hell wanted desperately to frustrate what God wanted to accomplish in the lives of those present.  Never underestimate the power of earnest and fervent prayer! 

In spite of all adversity, God reached down in the midst of the chaos and reminded us all that He is a God who desires for EVERYONE to have a relationship with Him!  This past week at camp, 29 young people invited Jesus to save them and became a part of God’s family forever!  This is why we do what we do.  We love to have fun and enjoy all the activities that go on at our camps and conferences, but this is the reason we do any of it.  We praise God for moving in this way and just allowing us to witness it.  Thank you for your prayers and support!