Camp Lake Louise

After two years of completing service hours, but failing to hand them in, the count of volunteer work I needed to do was quite substantial. To fulfill them, I signed on board to be a camp councilor at Camp Lake Louise. As summer progressed, the thought of sacrificing a week of my freedom seemed ludicrous. I almost backed out, and if I had, I would have missed the most influential week of my walk with Christ. Arriving at camp, I didn’t know what to expect. I found myself in a niche tucked away in the beautiful, rolling hills of Northern Michigan, the stunning Lake Louise to look upon with the slight turn of my head. The surroundings alone took my breath away, leaving me in awe of the Creator that made it all. Equally astounding as the splendor around me were the little souls I became acquainted with in those seven days. Throughout the week, they showed me a love I hadn’t often come upon; without knowing who I was, having no prejudice or assumptions, they accepted me completely and without judgement. As I learned more about each child, I was astounded to find the struggles that they dealt with; split families, bad neighborhoods, endless situations that no 4th or 5th grader should have to deal with. I knew that for this week, I was to be their example, and that I needed to wrap them in the love that God had so blessed me with. Every morning, I woke up before the sun, put on my running shoes, and headed outside. I decided to try something new, using this escape that I so much enjoyed, and dedicating it to God. For forty minutes, I spoke with the Lord, pouring my heart out to Him, praying for the girls, my friends, my family. I sang praise to Him for the beauty that surrounded me; the sunrise over the treetops, the dew that coated the grass. As I did so, all I could feel was His love and mercy flowing over me. Never before had I felt so close to my Savior, His blessings becoming evident with every thought I prayed. As the week progressed, my relationship with Christ continued to grow. My child like faith crept its way to the surface, matching those of the campers that surrounded me. I felt a change, and it felt good. I could hear Christ knocking at the door of my heart, asking me to let Him in once and for all. I knew it needed to be done, but until a campfire on one special night, I hadn’t let it happen. As we sat around the nightly fire, a fellow councilor shared his story of his walk with Christ. What happened when he was done is something I can’t explain with words. I saw a friend accept Christ into his life, handing to Him all of his being. Never before had I seen something so beautiful, never before had I cried such tears of joy. It was a moment that opened my eyes completely to the power of Christ’s love, mercy, and compassion. My child like faith was back, setting me on fire for the Lord. In a short seven days, the depth of my relationship with Christ multiplied, showing me just how much I needed Him in my life. From that week on, Christ had found His permanent home in my heart forever.