Now that we have been home for a couple of weeks, there is some distance from the trip.
Distance in days.
Distance in miles.
Distance between twenty-four team members who lived together for two weeks.
Distance from camp.
Distance from campers.
Distance from tea. Really good fresh Harry-made tea. Or Jake-made tea. Whichever.
And with that distance comes some ability to reflect truer on the trip. To look back with stronger eyes and rested hearts.
When our team was formed, when all the paperwork came in last October, Tom, Katie B, Justin and I sat down with the applications as smiles crept across each of our faces. Yes, this would be quite a team.
Through the months of meetings and fundraisers, we saw LITERALLY hundreds of answered prayers. We saw LITERALLY thousands of dollars enter our account to assure our travel.
And as we took off on July 9th, I felt such peace. The kind of peace that only comes from being smothered, covered, and chunked in prayers.
The unity our team experienced was uncommon, to say the least. The Lord knit our hearts together, joined us as one team, and helped us to lead a very very successful camp.
Do you realize we went to camp with only about 50 bandaids? Katie B and I purchased a first aid kit at Wal-Mart for $10. We didn't use 1/3 of it. Almost eighty people for a week and no serious injuries? Almost eighty people for a week and no arguments amongst the team or the leaders? Uncommon. And blessed.
The students from camp are still talking about it- on facebook, in emails, even in some snail-mail letters received. This wasn't an American invasion that was cool and lasted for a few days after camp.
This was a Holy Spirit invasion that was WAY beyond cool and it will last the rest of their lives.
Because of you, our prayer partners, we are certain that EVERY CAMPER (except one) went home with the personal saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Family lines are changed forever. Generations of Scottish people will grow up in a Christian home because of your commitment to pray. We were safe. We were healthy. We were loving (which, let's be honest, could easily be the toughest on long mission trips). :)
This is far more than a mission trip. This is an investment. This is a long term relationship. As long as we can, we will invest in this youth group, in this church, until they are able to run a camp on their own.
With each year, the Lord has asked more of us as a team, and as individuals. And each year we have seen more of HIM. Salvations. Believed-for healings. Restored relationships. Restored families. Restored hearts.
And we have YOU to thank. Your constant prayers were felt, appreciated, and depended on. Lives were changed because of you. Hearts were healed because of you. Students and adults were kept from serious injury because of you.
We as a team can not thank you enough. We have prayed many blessings over you, so know that just like you asked God for big things in Scotland, we ask God for BIG THINGS for you.
Sunday, August 24th is Mission Sunday at RiverStone. Where the next mission teams are formed. Pray that God would again hand create our team. That exactly who needs to go to lead camp and facilitate camp would go. Pray that God would speak clearly.
Thank you again. From the bottom of our hearts. From the bottom of my heart. As the leader, I could not, WOULD NOT, have been able to do this without your constant prayer support for me and your people. You have made the difference.
Your prayers covered the distance.
