Anticipation has been building for months, and finally the day is here. Bags packed, Encouragement Wall supplies organized, snacks bought, arrangements for puppy made and every possible scenario in my mommy brain was covered (First Aid kits, puke buckets, extra clothes, etc.).
We arrived at EMS around noon, eager to get our rooms set up and began putting up the wall. When I came upon the room that I planned to stay in, I discovered dust an inch thick on the floor in some places and set to work trying to clean it up. I worked with Darrel and the Chappells to set up the Encouragement Wall, hoping and praying that God would use this activity to bless many.
Around 3:30, other leaders began to arrive and get settled in. At 4, we gathered for our final orientation meeting and covered a multitude of details and prayed together before going to greet our campers. By 5:30, the line was forming outside and the anticipation was ever increasing. How exciting to see youth and parents who were ready to begin the week. At 6, we opened the doors and piles of snacks, drinks and diapers for the Harrisonburg Pregnancy Center began to pile up on tables around us. Students were ushered to their rooms, girls downstairs this year and boys upstairs. After they settled in their rooms and said good bye to parents and siblings, students were walked up to EMU to hang out, play soccer, volleyball, Frisbee and cornhole. Looking around the lawn at EMU, my heart was encouraged to see students mingling with those from other churches and schools and not just hanging with their own groups of friends. One of the main visions of Renew is to bring unity to the Body of Christ and to see the factions and cliques shut down. By day one, that was already beginning to happen and my spirit soared with expectation.
Around 8, we filed into the auditorium for our first service of the week. The volume level was to the roof, the loudest it has ever been for night one. I remember the first service we had at Renew Camp 2011, students were nervous and timid and by night three or four, the volume was increased. This year, we were there from the start. My heart went out to those who were with us for the first time, those who were struggling to say good bye to family members and preparing for a week of sleeping on a cold, dirty floor.
We began our service with announcements, followed by worship and the Word was brought to us by Mike Souder, the founder and former director of Renew Camp. Mike introduced our theme for the week, the Beatitudes and began with “Blessed are the
After the service, we returned to the cafeteria and sat with our work teams. This year, we were named after cereal brands—Frosted Flakes, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Life, Cocoa Puffs, Wheaties, Lucky Charms, Captain Crunch, Golden Grahams, Granola, Rice Krispies, Cornflakes, Cookie Crisp, Trix, Fiber One, Honey Bunches, Cheerios, Berry Kix, Fruity Pebbles, Raisin Bran, Mini Wheats, and Fruit Loops. My team was filled up with girls that from Truth and Grace, Cornerstone, and t Church of the Nazarene. My co leader was Tonya, and we were blessed to be given charge over Angel, Maddie, Kelli, Jennifer, Bethany, Oriana, Dana, Ellie and Lydia.
(Beautiful story about how Lydia came to be at Renew Camp this year. I met her twin brothers at Renew Camp 2011 and they have been dear to my heart since. Their family used to live close by, but they moved to the city last year. On the Thursday prior to Renew, Lydia posted a message about the packing list. My heart sank, knowing I had not seen her on the registration list. I contacted the person in charge of registration to be sure, but she was not on the list. I was told there was a waiting list and that those students would need to be contacted first. In the end, God made a way and less than 48 hours before camp, Lydia was given the green light. I was blessed to get her in my room and on my team. Thank You, Jesus, for answered prayers!!!)
We did our best to chat amidst the noise of almost 250 other excited campers, making plans for our first work day.
We dismissed for bedtime and I took my church girls to our room to settle in for the night. We were joined by three lovely ladies from Eastside—Valerie, Janae, and Laura. We made introductions again and said a prayer, turned off the lights and most drifted off to sleep…
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