YL Camp

“Come on y’all, throw your luggage in the bus, let’s get this show on the road,” yelled my camp leader Jill. We had to carry two separate buses and travel two hours to get on another bus with kids from other states. I prayed it would be an elegant bus with televisons. We came to our stop and transferred our luggage to the charter bus. There, I met numerous friends- so many to where I barely slept. After seven hours of conversating we were in Jasper, GA.

After riding up the winding hill and our ears popping from the unusually high elevation, we pulled up to a camp with an estimate of twenty other charter buses. All of us were exhausted and desperate for an ounce of sleep, except me. We got off the bus and were overwhelmed by a line of people high-fiving us and taking videos, which we didn’t find out until our camp meeting that night.

Once we got moved into the cabins we all found it necessary to take a power nap. Jill received a schedule for just that day and we weren’t allowed to see it. It was a surprise. We were never aware of the time since we weren’t permitted to have our phones, but it was usually in the late afternoons when we had our meeting times.Steve was our speaker, an amazing speaker if I must add. He would spend an hour or so talking to us about our relationship with God. He wouldn’t drill it into our heads, rather place it in our mind as, “what if theres a God…” Then we could view a video from our activities that day. Ocassionally I would see myself in them.

Twice that week we had fifteen minutes to lay in the grass and talk to God, or even just lay there. I had never spoken to him like I did in those moments. Tears were pouring down my face, and I felt an instant moment of forgivness, of relief. Then we would get quite a few hours to go around the bonfire or play volleyball. After the emotional moment I just experienced I decided to sit and talk to my best friend.

The camp not only helped better my relationship with God, but it was also the most enticing moment I’ve ever had. For the first time I was able to zipline, blob, and learn new tricks going down a water slide. Regardless of all of that one activity succeeded above all. The Quantum Leap. We would put on our gear and climb up a telephone pole then manage to place ourselves standing on top. Within seconds I was at the top; I was one of the fastest climbers. I understood I was secure, but that didn’t disregard the fact I was carrying my own weight and felt defenseless. ‘Think of yourself jumping into Jesus’ arms and proving your trust for him.” These words are what inspired me to follow through. I took a deep breath and jumped. We had a stick to hit the bell with. I missed by an inch, but that didn’t less the significance of that moment in my life. I had just proven my love and trust for God.

The camp was no doubt the best experience I have ever had. I bettered my relationship with god. On the ride home I felt like a brand- new person. I vowed to be a worthier person. There are times when I slip up, but I know I am always forgiven.