As I looked over at one particular cabin on Sunday evening I thought to myself - this is going to be an interesting cabin this week! It did not disappoint me! But it was not just that cabin that was so interesting and would keep us on our toes this week because this week for many reasons proved to be challenging and tiring, but yet so rewarding with 66 campers and 34 staff on site. Our staff at the end of the week was exhausted but what a great week for the Kingdom! We saw 14 souls won to Jesus Christ and 4 people go through the waters of baptism. He was at work and He did not disappoint! He never does.
I want to share two stories with you this week - the first about a Grandmother who had the great privilege of leading her Granddaughter to salvation in Christ and then just days after, saw this same young lady being baptized! Our cook Connie McRae had her granddaughter Hailey here as a volunteer in the kitchen this week and had time to share Hailey’s need for Jesus. Hailey prayed with Connie and invited Jesus to be her Savior and then asked if she could be baptized. I think of the account of Phillip and the Ethiopian Eunuch in the Book of Acts as this man questioned Phillip about the scripture and Phillip led him to Jesus and then the Eunuch saw water and wanted to be baptized. What a wonderful picture of salvation and wanting to follow in Christ’s example for us!
The second story is just as impressive - as a young boy named Rylan came to my office upset that he had not had a chance to talk about something on his heart to his counsellor. He told me that he needed to talk because he was leaving that day and had to figure something out. This young boy was not even registered for camp and was younger than the others but we decided to let him stay. God knew why his Mom wanted him here. Rylan shared with me that he wanted the sin in his heart to be taken away and he wanted it gone then. I shared with him the great divide that faces us because of our sin and how Jesus bridges that divide and it is only through that bridge, (Jesus), that we can have salvation and forgiveness of sin.(John 14:6) Our Spiritual Director, Brian Johnston was walking by my office at the time and I shared with him what Rylan wanted to do. Brian led him in a prayer of forgiveness of sin and for his salvation. This little boy was supposed to be here and what a blessing he was! When his Mom and Dad arrived to pick him up he quickly shared what had happened with them and his Mother burst into tears of joy.
So now for what else took place this week. The weather again was super. On Monday evening the boys took tents into the woods behind the Camp Director’s house and set them up and most of the boys slept in them along with our staff. On Tuesday it was the girls turn and both nights they were treated to roasting hot dogs and marshmallows in a fire pit that Daniel Shaw had dug. They had a great time asking questions to both Brian and I and let me tell you some of the questions were deep! On Wednesday Little Rays Reptile Show came and the campers and staff always love seeing these exotic animals. Lots of screams and ah’s!! On Thursday the Natural Resources of Nova Scotia came and shared with us about our native animals and brought some that were taxidermy. They also played a couple of outdoor games with an environmental concept. Then it was off to the woods again to build lean-to’s that Daniel could go to sleep in. It was very interesting to see how the campers put these together and how they used their imagination. Of course what would ECO Week be without campfires and so we had two of those down by the beach. Skits were done as well as songs being sung.
Pastor Brian shared from the first chapter of Genesis all week, showing us how we are made, God’s plan for our lives and how He wants for us to follow Him in faith. I love the way Brian interacts with both the staff and the campers. He goes with them to their activities and really gets to know the campers on a personal level. Brian and I both had several opportunities to speak into their lives as they asked questions about life today and the things they are concerned with.
It is hard to believe that next week will be our last full Camp for 2017. Keep our staff and campers in prayer as we desire to see Him again this week.
In His Service
Greg Porter
Camp Director
I want to share two stories with you this week - the first about a Grandmother who had the great privilege of leading her Granddaughter to salvation in Christ and then just days after, saw this same young lady being baptized! Our cook Connie McRae had her granddaughter Hailey here as a volunteer in the kitchen this week and had time to share Hailey’s need for Jesus. Hailey prayed with Connie and invited Jesus to be her Savior and then asked if she could be baptized. I think of the account of Phillip and the Ethiopian Eunuch in the Book of Acts as this man questioned Phillip about the scripture and Phillip led him to Jesus and then the Eunuch saw water and wanted to be baptized. What a wonderful picture of salvation and wanting to follow in Christ’s example for us!
The second story is just as impressive - as a young boy named Rylan came to my office upset that he had not had a chance to talk about something on his heart to his counsellor. He told me that he needed to talk because he was leaving that day and had to figure something out. This young boy was not even registered for camp and was younger than the others but we decided to let him stay. God knew why his Mom wanted him here. Rylan shared with me that he wanted the sin in his heart to be taken away and he wanted it gone then. I shared with him the great divide that faces us because of our sin and how Jesus bridges that divide and it is only through that bridge, (Jesus), that we can have salvation and forgiveness of sin.(John 14:6) Our Spiritual Director, Brian Johnston was walking by my office at the time and I shared with him what Rylan wanted to do. Brian led him in a prayer of forgiveness of sin and for his salvation. This little boy was supposed to be here and what a blessing he was! When his Mom and Dad arrived to pick him up he quickly shared what had happened with them and his Mother burst into tears of joy.
So now for what else took place this week. The weather again was super. On Monday evening the boys took tents into the woods behind the Camp Director’s house and set them up and most of the boys slept in them along with our staff. On Tuesday it was the girls turn and both nights they were treated to roasting hot dogs and marshmallows in a fire pit that Daniel Shaw had dug. They had a great time asking questions to both Brian and I and let me tell you some of the questions were deep! On Wednesday Little Rays Reptile Show came and the campers and staff always love seeing these exotic animals. Lots of screams and ah’s!! On Thursday the Natural Resources of Nova Scotia came and shared with us about our native animals and brought some that were taxidermy. They also played a couple of outdoor games with an environmental concept. Then it was off to the woods again to build lean-to’s that Daniel could go to sleep in. It was very interesting to see how the campers put these together and how they used their imagination. Of course what would ECO Week be without campfires and so we had two of those down by the beach. Skits were done as well as songs being sung.
Pastor Brian shared from the first chapter of Genesis all week, showing us how we are made, God’s plan for our lives and how He wants for us to follow Him in faith. I love the way Brian interacts with both the staff and the campers. He goes with them to their activities and really gets to know the campers on a personal level. Brian and I both had several opportunities to speak into their lives as they asked questions about life today and the things they are concerned with.
It is hard to believe that next week will be our last full Camp for 2017. Keep our staff and campers in prayer as we desire to see Him again this week.
In His Service
Greg Porter
Camp Director
