welshie's wanderings

August 2005. EMW Outdoor Camp:- 14-16 Year Olds

What a week! Brief rundown…

Thursday (two days before camp): Ceryn told assistant ladies leader can’t make it due to illness and asked to fill that role.
Friday (one day till camp): Ceryn’s feeling really ill. The cooks Abi and Rachel are up till very late getting the food sorted!
Saturday (first day of camp): Ceryn’s on a bus up from South Wales with some of the campers. The weather’s atrocious. And when arriving at Lampeter to change buses, it’s discovered the bus for the onward journey hasn’t been booked…
Meanwhile, the car the cooks were travelling in breaks down almost before they set off and their dad has to hire a van to drive them (and the food!) to camp…

Sunday: Whilst playing games on the beach, one of the lads falls and dislocates his knee. Monday:- After a five hour hike, we return to site to find that the oven isn’t working and dinner’s gonna take a little longer than expected…

Tuesday: The chaplain has to go home as his wife and son aren’t well.

Wednesday:- More antics with the oven! Ceryn’s got impetigo (but doesn’t know it yet!) Thursday:- The gas goes completely! Which means no oven, and no hot water…

Friday:- Ceryn’s told she’s got impetigo.

Saturday:- Break camp, and get ready for the next one…! Week 2 starts…

What a week eh?! Thankfully week 2 wasn’t as crazy as that. But it was a perfect example of God’s faithfulness and the fact that, no matter what plans we make, He is in control and will have His way. Proverbs 19: 21 says: “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s will that prevails.” So true! Let me run through that week again for you…

Thursday (two days before camp): God knew this was gonna happen!
Friday (one day before camp): as above!

Saturday: He is the God of the weather and kept us safe in the bus on the way up. The problem with the un-booked bus was sorted, too. And praise Him that at such short notice a van was hired and Abi’s dad got them safely to camp, and travelled back safely.
Sunday:- Praise God that he was airlifted out safely and even managed to re-join the camp for the rest of the week!
Monday: Praise God that the campers were amazing during this time and not once complained about having to wait for their food. Instead, they actively joined in games and spent the time getting to know each other and forming friendships. Amazing!
Tuesday: Praise God that the chaplain was able to get home safely to care for his wife and young son, and that we were able to re-arrange the camp timetable to include whole-group Bible studies instead of meetings.
Wednesday/Thursday: Praise God that it was (finally!) sorted out! And that the people on the adjacent campsite were kind enough to let us borrow their oven.
Friday:- Praise God that Ceryn was able to (finally!) get hold of some antibiotics and remain on the second week of camp.

And what else can we praise God for?
That all the campers and officers were kept safe during the activities – gorge walking, mountain climbing, abseiling/rock climbing, canoeing, swimming…
That there was a tremendous atmosphere on camp all week not just amongst the campers but the team of officers as well.
The so many of the campers benefited spiritually from the week, that some re-committed their lives to Christ and at least one gave their life to Him!
That despite it being, practically speaking, one of the worst camps ever in terms of nothing going right, spiritually speaking it was one of the best camps ever! God is faithful!!!!

posted by Welshie @ 6:24 am