Let me start by saying THANK YOU for your prayers and support while we were at camp this summer! Your partnership in this ministry is invaluable and a blessing from the Lord!
Another summer has come and gone, and in God’s great mercy and kindness, this one did not disappoint. I am constantly astounded by God’s generosity to His children. At Passover, we read a series of prayers called, “Dayenu,” which means “it would have been enough.” We go through the long itemized list of the amazing things God did for the Jewish people, enslaved in Egypt: “Had He split the sea for us and not led us through on dry land, it would have been enough, DAYENU! Had He led us through on dry land and not drowned our oppressors, it would have been enough,DAYENU!” and so on and so forth.
Often this is how I feel about camp. Had He kept all of our campers safe and not met with them in such a powerful way, it would have been enough, DAYENU! Had He met with them in such a powerful way and not let it be so fun, it would have been enough, DAYENU! You get the idea.
Camp Gilgal’s 2013 summer season was another year of God’s jaw-dropping goodness, His gift of joy, His perfect provision, His extravagant mercy, and His powerful love for His children! We held three amazing camps, and I am excited to share some stories from them with you!
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| One of the lovely ladies of Reuben helping a little lady of Naphtali learn her memory verse! |
Our summer season started with junior camp for Jewish believing children between the ages of 8 and 12. At junior camp, our campers are split into “tribes.” This year, the oldest ladies tribe, the tribe of Reuben, took it upon themselves to be big sisters to the tribe of Naphtali, the youngest ladies tribe. When the tribe leaders from these tribes informed me of this “adoption” of sorts, my heart melted. Every night, they tucked the little ladies into bed, prayed with them, and even helped them work on their memory verses. Never had I been so proud of these young ladies, many of whom I could remember from when they were in the youngest ladies tribe themselves! What an amazing picture of God’s love and heart for His little ones. These ladies went above and beyond and it was a great blessing to me, to the tribe of Napthali, and to the Lord’s heart as well!
Just one week after junior camp ended we packed up once more and headed to teen camp for campers ages 13-15. Teen camp is epic! Boating on Bass Lake, night games, rock climbing, hiking through Yosemite, and about a million other things! At teen camp we also have the opportunity to challenge our campers to continue to take their next steps in their walk with the Lord. What makes camp such a special place is how seamlessly it brings these two things together. Two words: GIANT SWING.
The giant swing is exactly what it sounds like. Campers are harnessed and climb a tree to a platform about 100 feet in the air. After being re-rigged, they scoot off the platform, and swing! This is an exhilarating activity, even for the bravest of our campers, but what an amazing opportunity it is for God to do something in the hearts of those who are a little less than adventurous. This day was one of the highlights of my summer as I had the joy of coming alongside a number of precious, and nervous, campers, challenging and encouraging them, cheering them on and watching them have victory over fear! This blessing is made even sweeter when later throughout camp, we hear these campers refer back to how God gave them courage to tackle their fears, and how they know He will be faithful to do that for them again in their lives! Camp is a very special place! Rounding out the summer season of 2013 was adventure camp, a road-tripping, house-boating, good-eating, and powerful-worshiping-filled week! Adventure camp is for campers between the ages of 16 and 18. Because many of them have served as staff at camps earlier in the summer or are even beginning their college careers, many of these young men and women are in a place of taking ownership of their faith. Often it is at this crucial transition of life that God gets their attention in a real and life-changing way.
This camp was a bit of a different experience than previous adventure camps because on the last night of camp, we recorded a live worship album. I hope that you someday have the opportunity to see young men and women respond to the call and heart of God, to see them meet with Him, experience Him, and worship Him with their whole hearts. That night will forever be one of the most important moments of my ministry, and I am incredibly humbled and proud to tell you that very soon you will be able to catch a glimpse of it, when “Camp Gilgal: Live” is made available online!
DAYENU! Any one of these things would have been enough, but our God is an extravagant Father, and He continues to generously share His love, provision, and grace in my life. For those of you who have been following the saga that is my college career, I am thrilled to share with you that by God’s grace, on May 24, 2014, I will finally get my hands on one of those little square hats, graduating from San Francisco University with a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies. Please continue to keep me in your prayers, here are some specific ways you can be praying!!
~Pray for God’s grace, His grace, and more of His grace. In order to pull off my 2014 graduation I am currently taking on a 20-credit course load, and will need to complete 21 more credits between the winter and spring semesters. Pray for peace that surpasses understanding in getting things done, working hard, working well, and knowing when to rest; whether in school or at work.
~Pray for my family, that God would continue to draw us closer to Himself and each other, despite being across the country from each other.
God has used your kind words, encouragement, prayers, financial support, and care powerfully. He has been so good and I know that your extravagant love is a reflection of His! May He extend that love and grace to you today!
In the extravagant Love of our Good and Faithful Father,
Melissa “Streetlight” Weinisch
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