Cimarron
Valley, Colorado.
May-August
2007.
These
people. This place. The Lord was in it all.
Thursday
night, I walked into Buswell Library with this hope- find a summer internship
for my Christian Education requirements. I sat down at the computer and said a
quick prayer, "Lord, please guide me to where You want me to be." The
very first listing read: Cimarron Valley, Colorado. Family Christian
Camp- Sonrise Mountain Ranch. Ummmm, what?! This is perfect! With
excitement, I filled out an application, had an interview, and the next thing I
knew, I was on my way.
Arriving
at the camp, almost instantly, the group of us interns clicked & that was
just the beginning. The rest of the summer? a taste of heaven.
We lived together, prayed together, laughed together, planned together,
played together...we ministered alongside one another, we worshiped together, and we made trips to the city together listening to David Crowder Band's Sunset
& Sushi. We fought off bats, we watched movies, we went on hikes, we threw out trash, we
met new families, we set up "River Breakfasts", we anointed each
other with oil, we corrected one another, we created new activities for the
kids, we held crying babies, we slept under the stars, we read C.S.Lewis together
before going to sleep, we set mulch on the playground (yelling "for the
children!"), we visited each others' homes, we ate together, we
studied the Bible together, we fought off lies, we spoke truth over one another,
we cooked, we cleaned, we taught each other new things, we learned from one
another, we listened to more music, we invented, we dreamed, we saw those
dreams become reality, we loved.
The
awesome part about this whole time was that we didn't do a thing. It was
the Holy Spirit so clearly at work in, through, and among us and may HIS name
be praised. The word grateful does not do justice to the gratitude that swells up when I think about these people, this ministry, this place... & yet, all I can really say is thank you, thank you, God, for this rich gift of an
experience to let me step into what you were already so clearly at work doing and for such treasured brothers and sisters in Christ. Father God, You are so gracious, good, faithful, and kind.
"Let
the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one
body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message
of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another
with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit,
singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you
do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving
thanks to God the Father through him."
Colossians
3:15-17
“They
devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the
breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many
wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All
the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold
property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple
courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad
and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And
the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
Acts
2:42-47
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