"Priceless"

We're opening our second week of resident camp. Last week with younger campers and fewer numbers we had a good "shakedown" week where we all got into the routines without a lot of pressure. This week there are 113 middle school campers (6th - 8th grade) with many of them twice the physical size of last week's campers. How thankful we are for the 30+ high school and college students who have come alongside to minister with us this year. They are a vital part in what God will do this camp season.

As I think over the students who have come I discover many are just like our summer workers of the past - Willing to give up a better paying job or an experience that would be more "exciting" in the world's view. There is a high school fellow who is a very good baseball pitcher who had a couple of opportunities to play on All Star teams this summer and get his name "out there" for college coaches. But instead he told his dad he'd rather work at Camp Nathanael. There's the school teacher who will operate our swimming pool rather than relax at home. There are several college students, male and female, who chose ministry over money, and will work extra hours at school next year to cover their college expenses in order to be here.

I'm reminded of my first summer at camp in 1971. As a student at a pretty expensive Christian college I wasn't sure how I'd pay for the next year's costs but I did know the Lord wanted me at Camp Nathanael that summer. I came trusting Him. He proved Himself abundantly faithful as I finished the next school year in better shape financially than after the year when I had worked all summer in a "regular" job. His plan was to provided a better part-time job and extra scholarships to meet my need. And as they say, "The rest is history."

But I can promise you that there is no job or experience greater than the opportunity of leading a young camper to Christ or helping a high school student renew their fellowship with the Lord after drifting spiritually during the past school year. As the commercial says, "Priceless!"

Thank the Lord with us for each summer worker asking Him to give each one a "priceless" summer as He did me years ago.

That's what's happening along the banks of Troublesome Creek until next time.