Never Stop Jumping (Ever)

We are coming upon week 4 and I cannot believe how fast time has flown. The madness of camp has become easier to handle. I am not sure if it's because I have grown accustomed to it, or because it has become less crazy. I would like to think that it is a combination of both. I have had a blast hanging out with our staff, and God is been teaching me so much more than I thought He would.

At Base Camps we have a gauntlet every morning. The word gauntlet might be misleading, so let me explain. Our staff spreads out on both sides of the road that cars come into camp on. For at least the next 25 minutes we are jumping, yelling, and cheering for the kids that come to camp. This might not sound that difficult, but when I say jumping I mean both feet leaving the ground with intensity. No weak sauce toe bouncing up in here. The gauntlet is such a cool opportunity for us to show the campers how pumped we are that they are at camp. We are joyful in this physically taxing process, because we know that the kids entering our camp will hear the gospel that day. While it is an amazing opportunity to show our excitement and joy, it is not easy.  I can recall many instances of me asking God to give me strength to jump for just five more minutes. I am still alive, and can say that He has given me what I need every morning. He is truly strong when I am weak.

Week 2 in Brentwood, TN was a blast. I had already done camp at that church last summer, and it was cool to see old campers and to be familiar with my surroundings. I noticed a few things about Brentwood while I was there. It is the Beverly Hills of the East coast, everyone plays an instrument, and hipsters are EVERYWHERE.  The family I stayed with was amazing. A classic artsy couple, he was a musician and she was a graphic designer. They were so generous and a huge blessing to us.

Week 3 in Newnan, GA just ended. I also came to this church last year with camp. We had twice as many campers this year than last year, which was such an encouragement to our mission. Newnan is right outside Atlanta and the church that we were partnering with has a heart for spreading the gospel to the huge city of Atlanta. It is really great to see such mission minded churches on this trip.

During both week s we have hade numerous kids accept Christ and it is so humbling to be a part of that process. God is good! This blog has been more serious, but I am just trying to write some of this down so I can process it. Eight more weeks of this, and I could not be more pumped to keep going.

My bro Austin Burch and me just being ridiculous. 

My view from the cheap seats at the Braves game in Hotlanta. 

Such a cool thing to do on time off. 

The Braves game. I actually loved Turner field. 

I may or may not have bought a Chipper Jones shirt. 

Johnson City, Tennessee (yes that place from that song)

Week 1 of camp is over and we are already here in Nashville for our second week of camp. I really can't believe how fast it went by. The days are long and the week is short is what we always say and it really is true. It sounds ridiculous, but it is a very real phenomena.

The drive from Tyler to Johnson City was approximately 18 hours. The first day we drove 13.5 hours from Tyler to Chattanooga, Tennessee, and the second day we had a 4 hour drive to reach our destination. Did I mention it POURED for around 9 hours of that drive? I am not complaining when I mention the rain, I am telling you that the Lord wasted no time in stretching me. I am one of the most cautious people that has ever lived, and carrying camp staff and equipment makes me decently nervous. When doing this in the rain I have to lean on the Lord even more. Thankfully we all reached our destination safe. God is good for that!

This week of camp was truly controlled chaos. I had a job that I have never done before, and our staff is majority new people. Despite being all new, our staff went hard this week and did a great job. When this happens, my job is much easier and I can focus on serving them and their campers. This week has encouraged me greatly, and my expectations for the rest of the summer are very high.

My life on stage has been rekindled this week. I got to play a bad character in our lunch skit called, "Nishma." Nishma is an evil guy from far away that wants to take over camp. Where he comes from, camp was not supposed to be fun and he tried to conform Base Camps into the no-fun place that he knows so well. Nishma's accomplice was Ishma who felt the exact same way. I am assuming that I played the part decently well, because a 6 year old girl told me, "You are a great actress." Only 10 more weeks to perfect my evil guy laugh.

God has taught me so much this week. I have more responsibility this year, and I don't know what I thought it would feel like, but I didn't think it would feel like this. I look around at the counselors on our team and the other leadership staff and I am so humbled. It is fair to say that humility is something that I struggle with, and is not something I thought I would have on my radar this early in this summer. Expected or not, humility is here and I have to deal with that. I am constantly reminded of one of my favorite passages in the Bible when I think I struggle with humility.

Phillipians 2:1-11

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, by becoming obedient to death- even to death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

God is good, I am well, and 10 more weeks of camp!!

Our Projects guy Jaden and I ate at the sketchiest chinese place ever in Johnson City and it was awesome. 

Catching up with my great friend Brandon Taylor in downtown Franklin, TN

The famous Frothy Monkey in Franklin, TN