What I learned at Confirmation Camp!

Last month, I had the distinct pleasure of going to camp!  Just last year, I'd never been to camp before, and I really wasn't looking forward to it this time.  In any case, having duly prepared for the topics that I would teach, I purchased ample amounts of bug spray and suntan lotion, packed my bags and headed to camp.
  I must say that I felt half dead on my first two days, the temperature was around 88 degrees and the humidity was in the upper 90s.  I felt like a damp sponge all day!  On the third day, I started to acclimate and feel much better.  I'm not sure if I was just getting used to the heat, or whether it was the energy and excitement of the youth.  There were those who were homesick, with it being their first time away from home, and there were those who struggled with the active nature of camp.  Others had a difficult time with the heat and the mosquitoes, as I did.  Still, there was something about being around all of these kids that seemed to perk me up.
  Confirmation camp goes from Sunday afternoon through Friday - they stay there the entire time.  Pastors and other lay leaders pair up to teach two Bible study type sessions a day, but the rest of the time is filled with camp games, swimming, boating, etc.  In the evenings, we shared worship around a campfire overlooking the lake.
  As the days passed by, I began to see changes in many of the youth.  One boy, who'd been crying just the day before, now seemed to be having the time of his life.  A girl, who seemed not to care in the least, suddenly started taking interest in what was happening, answering the questions, and even helping others. 
  Each of them seemed to have a different experience; each experienced growth in different ways; each and every one of them became a part of something greater than themselves... including me.
  By the end of camp, I was actually sorry to see them all go.  It was then that I realized how important my role was during that week.  Along with the other adults, and camp counselors, we had the honor of shaping these young people lives, perhaps a little - perhaps a lot.  I pray that they will look back and fondly remember their confirmation camp experience, the friends they made, the things they learned and the new activities that they tried for the first time.  I know that I will remember them.
  What did I learn at Confirmation Camp?  God was with us during this time of laughter and play, as well as the times of worship and song.  God was with us in the tears and the tantrums, as well as the joy and warm hugs.  I had been dreading the inconvenience of camping, but I'd forgotten how God can use us, even in our grumpiest moments, to make a difference in the lives of others.