After we left Pinecroft, we headed back to western Washington to our next camp, Five Mile Lake. When we left the camp, we found out that it wasn't a good weekend for us to stay with Kaylyn Brown again, so we had to find a place to stay. But God is so cool! It was during this week that I started talking with Jessica Brooks, a classmate from Ecola. It turned out that her dad was the speaker scheduled to speak at Five Mile that week! So we asked her if we could stay at her house. Her and her dad said yes, and we made our way to Silverdale, WA and we stayed two nights there. On Saturday, (after I felt sick for the first and only time on the entire summer trip) we met up with the other SMT group, which was AMAZING and just what we all needed. We then spent the afternoon at the Tacoma Mall almost dying, shopping, and just enjoying each other's company. The previous 2 1/2 weeks had solidified our friendships and "sibling-ship" like it had never been before. So to be able to just hang out with Katie, Lisa, Rhianna, and Matt was a blast! :) That evening we went and did laundry. That was good, but it was what happened afterwards that was so incredible! We went out to the van with our laundry, where we saw a girl on the phone, yelling and swearing at someone (whom we later deducted to be her girlfriend). We prayed for her and got in the van. We sat there for a second, everyone knowing we needed to do something. The girls got out and asked her if she needed a ride or help or something, while Matt and I prayed. Next thing we know, she had said yes, and we were driving her home. We talked about who she was and who we were and told her about God. It also turned out that she knew Jessica Brooks! So we dropped her off at her house and found out that she worked at Dairy Queen, so we made a plan to visit her the next day.
The next day was Sunday, so we went to the Brook's church, where a sermon wasn't given, but a Q and A time, which was so amazing! After church, we got our stuff and headed to Dairy Queen, where we ate lunch and gave our new friend (who's name escapes me... I have it written down, but it's in my luggage.) I also got a call from my grandpa, which was great to hear from him :)
So we made our way to Five Mile Lake camp in Federal Way. I'll never forget driving up and Rhianna screaming, "This was the camp I went to as a kid!!" Great moment :) Anyways, we settled in and started to get to know the other counselors. We immediately realized that the staff there were less than... grown in the Word, which would make the rest of the week tough for all of us. The campers showed up on Monday morning. I had 4 campers, Andrew, Darien, Garret, and Eli, and a CIT. The camp was run by two guys who had gone to Ecola in 1999 and 2000, which was cool. But the rest of the camp was a huge struggle for me. I was so tired, but I had to give my all, so I did. I had tons of fun playing night games and ultimate frisbee, and putting together the air band mock thingy we did for the final night. Chapel was good too. I enjoyed listening to Jessica's dad speak.
The final night was the biggest struggle for me. What usually is the call to the kids to fall in love with Jesus turned into a crying/emotion fest. Should I be saying things like this? Well, I'm just calling it as I saw it. BUT, I'm not putting God in a box. I'm completely sure that God used that night in many kids' lives, and have grown closer to God because of it.
After the week ended, we took off towards central Oregon to our next camp!
This was the week that I realized a solid truth: God chooses to use us. He doesn't have to. It is within His power to share the Gospel with the world all by Himself, but He wants us to participate in His will, so He uses us in powerful ways. That week, I felt that I wouldn't have an effect, let alone all the rest of the staff. But we did! We all did! I don't understand why. I don't. All I can say it is that God works so powerfully as He pleases, and I thank Him for that!
I hate that I remember more specifics from the weekends than I do from the actual camps. But I'm doing the best I can. If you have the desire for me to get deeper into my experiences, come to me personally. :)
It's good for me to think back on the events of this summer... It reminds me where I've been, and where I should be aiming to go. I desire to fall more and more in love with Jesus everyday, so please remember me in your prayers, that I would seek His face at all times and desire to do His will.
This is John Friend, signing off. God Bless!
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