Youth Camp in Ohio – Part III

There are so many facets to camp that it can be hard to express what it means to me. I love seeing old friends (people I’ve known since I was a teenager) meeting new ones and seeing my little ones excited to go because they so enjoy all the activities geared just for them. They even have their own church services (it’s geared to ages 10-14 but Justus at age 9 understands, too).

Camps are a wonderful opportunity to set aside the cares of life and put your focus on the Lord.  And when you turn your heart towards God, He never disappoints.  This year was such a blessing to me but even more important, the kids who came to camp were filled, renewed, blessed and are committed to running and finishing this race that’s set before them.

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us… Hebrews 12:1

God is stirring up our children’s generation like I’ve never seen before and it all started with an experience these kids had last January in the presence of the Lord.  If you’re wondering what I’m talking about you can email me at timbuck2mom{at}gmail{dot}com and I’ll be happy to share with you.

Just like the song says,

He’s more than just a story

He’s the King of Glory

I’m glad I know who Jesus is

 

The weather was pretty good considering it was summer and we were in Ohio – you know – where they have all that humidity?

But when Thursday and Friday rolled around, it became so hot and humid that it was miserable, unbearable (how can I word this nicely?) hard not to desire being placed inside of a freezer for a while.

Friday we were dragging around, wiping the sweat from our brow and wondering why anyone should take a shower at all since you became hot and sweaty 5 minutes after the shower (I’m exaggerating a bit – just a teeny, tiny bit, mind you.) So Friday, it was hot but then clouds started rolling in. Oh, okay, a storm’s coming.  That will be nice and help cool things down.

But then…

When the storm did arrive, it was sudden. The wind started blowing hard and kids started pouring in from the fields because this was not normal. I was wondering what to do because while I was standing by some cabins I felt a cold  rush of air, the wind was starting to really whip and I just knew this was what tornadoes are made up of. I heard crackling but didn’t know what that was either but it was all just really strange. Lily, did you tell me it was the trees?  I don’t remember.

Around this time they herded all the kids who had come in off the fields into the sanctuary and there were people scattered in different buildings around the campground, too, to wait out the storm. The storm lasted maybe 45 minutes or less.

Although there were tornado warnings out, the storm that hit us was not a tornado, it was what is called a “straight-line storm”.  These storms can have up to 90 mph winds. After the storms passed through the east there were a few million people without electricity, so it was a pretty big one. All up and down the interstate we saw trees snapped in half.

Here are a few pictures showing some of the damage done at camp.

And then guess what? It cooled down about 30° – just for the rest of the day. 🙂

After 7 glorious day (counting the really hot day 🙂 ) it was time to pack our bags and leave camp.

This will be the last time we have camp at this campground because there are new owners who are going to use it for just their church.  This camp is the very first one I ever went to when I was a teenager and now my children have got to enjoy it for many years. So, it was kind of nostalgic leaving the grounds for the last time.  The good thing is the new campground has AC. Yes!!

And I promise you… my next Ohio camp post will be the last one. 🙂 You all probably never knew I could be so wordy, did you?