I will start out by just celebrating and rejoicing in the Lord. We had two beautiful girls come to know the Lord this week. I could not be more happy to have Reagan and Jazmine as my new sisters in Christ. Every single kid that my home church brought to seek week made a commitment to the Lord. I know for the girls we had Marie re identify with God. For the guys we had a few re identify with God and we had a few who felt a call into ministry. My heart is singing and dancing with all the commitments! Over all the camp had over 40 salvation's, over 100 re identifications and about 30 call to ministry. How amazing is that!?!??! When God enters a room no one leaves untouched. I just could no longer hold back how excited I was to gain so many new brothers and sisters in Christ! Now on to talking about the whole week!
We arrived at camp around 5. We took a few hours to settle in and fill out all the paper work. At 7 seek week officially began. The moment we walked into the worship center I knew that the Holy Spirit was present and that this was going to be one spirit filled week! We started the week of with a powerful message. Kyle Byrd spoke about how we were created in the image of God. I often forget this and this past week I saw that my girls had forgotten this to. We are perfectly handcrafted. Made in the image of a beautiful father who loves and cares for us. This intensity of praise to the Lord just continued to grow throughout the days! It has been a while since I have been in a room full of people just worshiping the Lord freely. There was one night where the music stopped and 300+ voices just continued to sing and dance for about and hour. It reminded me of the beauty of God and His children. We didn't need instruments to worship Him. Our voices are instruments that bring Him the highest praise. I saw as each night walls were broken and kids began to worship God without fear of what others thought. One of the girls in my group all week struggled with the desire to lift her hands in praise and the fear of that not being what she grew up doing. She was afraid of what others would think. By the end of the week she was lifting her hands up and dancing like no one was watching. It was Beautiful. One night I looked up during worship and in the row in front of me I saw the guys from my church with their arms around one another and heads bowed worshiping together. This brought tears to me and I just stared in amazement. About three days into camp one of my friends got hurt during the crazy and fun dances. She dislocated a knee and sprained her ankle. When she fell and I realized she was hurt I immediately shut down and went into instant prayer mode. I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder and when I looked up it was Hannah, one of my girls. She and the other girls gathered around and said they wanted to pray for Madlynn. Instantly all the guys joined in and we got in a circle and all began to pray out loud at once for her. Theses kids who barley knew this girls felt like God was calling them to lift up a prayer for her. They followed the call and reacted. I just stood in tears once again at the beauty of 13 of Gods children praying for one of His hurt children.
I could go on and on with stores of amazement, but there are not enough words to sum up how the week went. I watched as kids ripped up their cool cards and really exploded for the Lord. I struggled with the words to say to a girl who felt the pain of loosing her mom a year ago. I listened as girls told me that they were not certain that they had a relationship with Christ. I rejoiced and cried when seeing the smiling faces and tears of girls who just accepted Christ. I prayed and held close a girl who finally felt God tugging on her heart to lay down here idols and her burdens and accept Him. I laughed to the point of tears at the ridiculous conversations in the cabins. I watched as a poem spoke to so many kids and as lyrics filled their lives. I danced like I never have before and I sang like the Lord was right in front of me. I stood in awe as 14 rec members led kids in outrageous games but shared God with these kids and related the games to spiritual matters. I saw the beauty of children and the joy in their eyes as they felt love for the first time, and I watched the sweet hugs and smiles of sisters rejoicing with new adopted sister. My heart if overjoyed and filled with so much amazement!
If I had to sum up this past week in one sentence here is how it would read.
God came, He spoke, lives changed.
I asked some of the kids to sum up the week in one sentence Here is their responses.
Marie- I am not worthless!!!
Ty- This week is the week I wait for all year long and I really didn't want to leave. I love the rec team and had alot of fun learning about God in their games. I love worship and had a lot of fun dancing and singing with the Lord and listing to Jake's poems. This is honestly the best week of the year for me!!
Tristan- I realized my true purpose in being called to go to camp at last minute.
Jasmine- Camp was the best thing that could have happened to me.
Those are just a few of the amazing things said about this week! This week God showed me His true calling on my life. His calling is for me to work with teens. Work with girls who feel worthless and helpless in this world. Never have I had a more clear picture of what I was made to do. When God has a plan He sees it through every time! Its time for all of us to dance in His glory! I can not be more blessed to have had the opportunity to go as a leader. I only hope that God blesses me with that same opportunity next summer.God has such amazing things in store for the Paint Rock youth! They all have willing hearts and are ready to follow His call. James has been equipped as an amazing youth pastor and is ready to lead these kids wherever God calls him to. Being part of FBC Paint Rock youth for the past three years has been a life changing experience. Getting to be the girls leader this summer is something I will never forget!
Here are a few photos I took while at seek week this past week.
Seek Week 2014 is a week that will forever be part of my heart. God changed lives and the kingdom was furthered. I wish that I could relive those moments forever. I am blessed to have had the opportunity to be part of this spirit filled week. I am beyond joyful at the community between the youth group. I love that God can move in mighty ways.
Here are a few photos I took while at seek week this past week.
 |
| Sweet hugs from Jasmine and Reagan after they accepted Christ into their lives! |
 |
| I love the smiles on their faces as they celebrate their new sisters in Christ |
 |
| Trace and hannah after the mud fight |
 |
| Here is a group photo of me with the girls! I am so blessed by them. |
 |
| We love skyler! |
 |
 |
| Pyramid time |
 |
| I love these kids. |
You are made in the image of the beautiful, majestic, mighty, loving God. Live in that image! <3
God bless <3
Heaven Slaugther
No comments:
Post a Comment