This was my first time going to an American Christian Camp! Yes, I said American because the first actual Christian Camp I went to actually wasn't in America. Growing up, real talk, I DESPISED the thought of Christian Camps. Just the people that I knew who attended them and the people that I knew were faithful "Church Camp" goers, just really put me off about the whole thing. For a very long time church camp to me seemed like this week where a bunch of young kids (mostly forced by their parents) spent the week completely surrounded by "Spirituality". They were surrounded by adults with such a disconnect to the struggles and temptations the everyday teen or tween or young adult was facing in the upcoming generation. While trying to shove guilt driven hell fire and brimstone sermons down everyones young adolescent throats. It seemed like a week where everyone acted all good and "christian", had their moment of spiritual euphorism, to only go back home to whatever life they were living before. Which for most people I knew, was not very good at all.
The whole thing just seemed very hypocritical to me. And for the amount of MONEY (LIKE FOREAL, WHY YOU COST THAT MUCH) and time that was being asked of me for an unauthentic "churchy" experience, I told myself that I would never go.
Theeeeen, I met some really good freinds who loved God. And they convinced me to go to church camp. And this is how it went :).
Ofcourse it was not all good, there were moments behind the camera where there were still youngins who didn't obviously want to be there and kids who were still struggling with their faith (Which is a position we have all been through). But I realized that, even though it happens at church camp, it is not what it is about. One of the biggest blessings of camp, I would have to say was especially watching the older generation of camp organizers. Who were once campers themselves, making their once a year voyage to this run down, absolutely disgusting, rotting camp in the middle of muggy Florida, to see their friend. The genuine memories, hugs and laughter among people from all walks of like but calling each other brother and sister was a truly beautiful sight to witness. I thought of one day me and my friends being in their shoes. All of us old, decrepite, knee's cracking every time we stand up from a chair, with 100's of pictures of our grandchildren to show off (because my grandkids are definitely going to be better the, theirs, duh), reminiscing on how good God was to us, even though life was not easy. To lead us to each other, even though true relationship where we grow and learn from each other are not easy. Making memories that comfort us throughout the year, until we get to see our friend again next year at Camp.
Like remember the time when Eddy strongly and firmly believed that plants were not alive.
If you seriously read all of that, you are a new form of human with a unbelievable amount of patience.
You really a real one fam.
Mucho Amor :)
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