Every year, there is a Christian youth camp held in Ohio. It is a camp that I attended many times as a child and now my children are old enough to go. Camp lasts for one wonderful (but tiring) week! The days are filled with church services (2 each day), organized sports, fellowship with friends, and quiet time with the Lord. I have very fond memories of attending this camp. I always left camp with a song in my heart and a burning fire to live for Jesus. It was at this camp that I received salvation and was baptized in the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ! It is my prayer that my children and all the others that attend this year will leave with the same experience!
On Saturday, July 6th, Michael and I loaded up the RV with our 3 kids and 7 others from our church and made the long drive to Lebanon, Ohio. It took us about 12 hours including the stops for meals, slow traffic due to the weather, and heavy holiday traffic. The kids did great on the trip though. They passed the time playing games, laughing, and singing.
This year the camp is being held at Camp Lebanon. In years past, it has been in a little town called West Milton, Ohio. The new campground is very nice, but it has definitely been an adjustment for everyone. Unfortunately, it rained very heavily for several days before camp started and also the first day of camp. When we arrived, this place looked like one big mud hole! There was no way to keep your shoes clean. The dorms are really spread out too and the girls were slipping and sliding trying to get to their rooms. Bales of hay had to be brought in and spread on the walking paths so people could get around. Needless to say, everyone was praying for sunshine and by Sunday morning, the clouds had moved on and the sun was shining!
Due to the terrible conditions on the campground when we arrived, there was no way to get the RV to the area we had planned to park. We would have sunken in the muddy field and gotten stuck so they parked us in a little parking lot right in the middle of everything. We were a little embarrassed to be taking up so much space, but there was no where else to go. And once they pulled us into the spot, we couldn't have gotten out if we had wanted to. There were cars blocking the only exit so we just made do with the space we had. There wasn't a hook up there so we ran the generator that first night. There's no sewer or water hook ups either but thankfully we are near a bathhouse.
The next day, the people running the camp were able to move some of the vehicles out of the way and let us get pulled out of the middle of the parking lot. I'm not sure how easy it's going to be to get this big rig out of this spot when camp is over, but I guess we'll find a way somehow. They found a 50 amp electrical plug in the building we were close to and we were able to get the RV close enough to it to hook it up. Now we at least have power and we were able to get some fresh water in the tank for limited use like brushing our teeth or night time bathroom trips.
Here are a few pictures I took around camp on Sunday. I'll try to get some more pictures soon. I've been playing the violin in the services for the younger children and working in the cafeteria during dinner so I haven't had much of an opportunity to walk around the grounds. Hopefully I can take some time this afternoon to do so.
The choir singing in the big tabernacle on Sunday evening. They did a beautiful job. Michaela sang with them.
Jeremiah enjoying the zip line. He spent a couple of hours here yesterday afternoon.
Isaiah hanging out with friends at the volleyball court.
The Ga-Ga pit. It's an extreme form of dodge ball and the kids absolutely love it!
A couple of girls from our church and their friend just having a good time.
More pictures coming soon!!!!
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