Woodland Acres Bible Camp

I spent two weeks from the 5th-17th in a camp with Fred down in Green Forest Arkansas. I initially drove down thinking I would just be hanging out with Fred and learning from him but thank God his plans are not ours. When I got there they informed me that they only had one male cabin leader for 20+ guys from middle school to highschool. So they invited me to be a cabin leader for at least that week, I accepted gladly. It was an interesting week seeing as how I had 5 directors kids and 10 other kids to juggle all at once and if you know anything about dealing with kids whose parents are "in charge" its quite the task. But this task was one I was familiar with seeing as how I was a "pk" growing up and probably was the same punk some of these kids were. God blessed me with a few kids i really got to call on and pour into for that week one being a kid named Joel Brock. Over and over again I was plowing into these kids minds that I dont care if theyre "Christians" but rather I wanted to know if they were Disciples of Jesus Christ and had a commitment to the relationship with him. Well this Joel cat caught on to this whole idea of God and the commitment it took and was just humbled on the last night during sharing time with everyone and the Grace of God was at work in his life and him and I ended up just praying God back into his heart so that he can just continue that life with Christ. A few other kids I had good influence on because of Gods Grace in my life personally allowing me to be a living example. I was so thankful for that whole week and built good relationships with the directors and leadership, good enough that they invited me to come back for gradeschool kids the next week. I was hesitant at first because I would be all alone but just kept reminding myself I am serving its not up to how I "feel". I called Scott the director back to confirm I was coming and he informed me that I would actually be cabin leading for the staffer kids and watching over them in which was basically the core kids I had the week before and was pouring into. I was thrilled for this because I got to call them to a higher standard as well I was called to a higher standard myself. The week was difficult and a struggle but thats human beings period! I got to shed some light into what it was to live daily with God and had nightly meetings over 1 Thess. with them and discussed what it meant to be an example unto others. Again this kid Joel just still continued growing and I was pouring into him and he was just eating it all up. I ended the week with great relationships again and ones I will take back home with me always and who knows maybe see this camp again...I know I will be in touch with some of them and am doing that to this day.
I am still perplexed at camps in general sometimes its hard for me and
I know others to have an influence that lasts but I do know God has an influence that always lasts. I just at times wonder if camps for one week can have complete effectiveness always but again God always is effective so I am always wowed at that. I dont know alternatives but sometimes I think we just need to have longer camps or once your theyre counselor you just go back when they do and stay in touch with everyone of them individually. I just wanna be as effective as I can and I have seen effectiveness when you live life with individuals daily. Either way God is unreal and powerful in ways I dont even comprehend.
I am still in touch with Joel and am actually speaking to him as I write this and he is young but a man in so many ways but trying to figure out how to consistently do that and who knows hopefully I can help at some point plant a house church with him and some others that live close to him from this camp. I thank God so much for the ability to speak and type and see because without it, it would be so difficult to have the relationships I have and am blessed with and am emberassed at times when I take those things for granted and see those who dont have those abilities and kick butt in relationships. I am so entranced by Grace.