Submerge 2007

With the beauty of Your Son,
I find myself undone.
I love You endlessly!

The words to that song continue to ring through my mind a week later! So loudly that I seem to be consumed with reminders of the Son's beauty that I experienced over those 7 days at camp. Of course, you cannot really call it camp because there is nothing near "roughing it" as you might imagine camp would be. I'll give you a brief glimpse into my world during Submerge... Yes, it's long but doesn't even begin to cover the week...



There were 12 chicks that entered my life beginning last Sunday and ending on Saturday (of course, they didn't exit my life, only we don't share the same roof now). Some I knew, some I just met. But the common thread was camp. Had we not all paid our fee, we would not have shared lives.

On Sunday morning, Pathfinders loaded the bus and headed to the sandy white beaches of Destin. The bus ride was unusually quiet. When we arrived, we were all excited about the unknown. What would God do in our lives this week? Oh, the suspense!

The answers are as follows:

He delivered from insecurity...
He gave new views of ourselves...
He forgave.
He set apart.
He gave freedom away.
He poured out mercy.
He loved on us.
He healed.
He blessed a few more than they could imagine!
He showed up and showed off!

He made Himself known to young and old. He exceeded my expectations!

I personally had some things going on that He healed me of (spiritually/emotionally). I don't understand it, but I know without a shadow of a doubt that I was called to be there. Although you could not literally hear chains clanking, I heard chains breaking. I watched students lay down insecurity, immorality, and shallow living at the altar. It was by far the most amazing sight and beautiful sound ever!

Back to my room...I had the most amazing chicks in both of my rooms. For the most part, the pathfinders (Ashley, Angela, Meghan, Caroline, Alicia and Alexis) were familiar with one another before we arrived. We tried to do a little of everything for everyone. We rode bikes, ate out, went on the beach, some body surfed while others were literally thrown into the waves, ate by the pool and had dinner on the beach, talked until 2-3am (EVERY NIGHT), and more. Services were amazing!! We were all poured into by Rev. Spike, Pastor Mike Haman, Scott Stillman, and Pastor Tyler. "I love the Word, I love to speak the Word, I love..." (That's for all my friends that were there!). We even witnessed someone win a $1000 while at camp. That was definitely a God moment for Haley (the winner - from another church). I heard that she needed $900 to go on a mission trip. Isn't that just like God to give her $1000 (tithe $100 and $900 left for the trip!!!)?! It was amazing. As I hugged them all goodbye Wednesday, I felt so sad that camp was over for Pathfinders. God was so present there. My prayer is that they brought that presence home with them and didn't leave it in their rooms or on the bus.

(check out the cool chick taking the picture at lunch...I didn't notice the mirror until after the photo! duh?!)

THEN...the refuge chicks arrived. Six of the greatest high school students arrived not knowing one another. They were all nervous about staying with others they didn't know. But after the trip to Starbucks, all six chicks and I knew we were meant to room together. God really hand picked that group. We had amazing talks, I watched girls lay down insecurity at the altar and make decisions to be pure (Oh! Music to my heart!!!). And the last night was unbelievable. God was everywhere and security made us shut down things. Satan never ceases to stop trying to destroy lives. I think he failed miserably last week. Lives were changed and students were encouraged. People made decisions to walk away from the ordinary (world) and make a run for the extra-ordinary (Jesus). Freedom rang throughout that resort. There is no way that the vacationers did not know we were there and that Jesus was present. I made some incredible friendships on that trip (ABC order - Brandi, Joyce, Kelsey, KiKi, Stephanie, and Tiffany).

Then, who can forget "the Tram" (and our Tram Buddies)! Hats off to all those drivers who tried to do their best to deliver all of us at one time to our houses, the beach, the Village, Starbucks...

The trip home was cool too. Riding a bus with high school students verses middle school is very different. It's much more civilized. When I got home, Doug had supper cooked. I ate and crashed! Then Sunday I got to see Miley. I am amazed at how much a baby can change in one week! She is such a sweetheart! I just love this baby! She is such a blessing to all of us!