Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Hume Lake: 2015!

Ice Skating with other kids from my youth group.
The weekend of January 30-February 1, I went to a Christian camp in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range near Hume Lake. Thank you to all who were praying for this trip—there was no real snow but there was some artificial snow for the tube and snowboard runs but still the trip was wonderful. In last year's post about this camp, I discussed the different activities that Hume has so this time I will focus on the Boxsled Blitz, (See Winter Camp.) Broom Hockey, ice skating and chapel time. Here is a quick excerpt from Winter Camp that explains the Boxsled Blitz:

The “Boxsled Blitz” is a competition between the churches that go up there. The rules are that you have to make a sled out of ONLY cardboard and duct tape. Then, when the tube run is iced over at about ten at night, two to ten people get in the sled and go down the hill and over a jump directly in front of the judges.

Me and the director of the camp. Selfie!
For the first year EVER that our church has participated in this event, we won! We created the coolest looking space shuttle! Even other campers from other churches went out of their way to compliment us. We were able to fit ten of the eleven kids that were on this trip in the sled (including me!). When it was our turn, we literally flew by the judges at 27 mph—just 2 mph below the camp's record! We scored four perfect tens and must have maxed out creativity points! After we took the jump, we barely began to slow; we just kept going and going until the very end of the run! It was super!


Broom Hockey is similar to regular hockey except that you wear tennis shoes, have only four minute rounds, and use a broom instead of a puck. Both our boys' and girls' teams advanced by one round which happened to be the semi-finals since it was a small camp. That too was fun to participate in but I got much more time on the ice when I actually ice skated later on. Also, I was blessed in that more people wanted to go with me this time! This year, I helped 3 people to ice skate and sometimes there were six from our group on the ice at the same time so I had a really fun time doing that especially since ice skating is one of my favorite activities there! (I only fell once!)


Me and two other girls from my group with the speaker.
Chapel.
This year the theme was “Everyday Things” and the theme verse was Proverbs 3:5-6. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understandings. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” The band was a group of three guys called The Advance. (They have six of their songs on I-tunes for six dollars and I would recommend at least getting their song: “Give Us Faith.”) I really enjoyed their style of music as well as the touching lyrics to the songs. The speaker, Eric, is a youth pastor from Pomona. Each chapel session he explained another part of the theme verse. He talked about how not to get caught up in the everyday things in our life that can pull us away from God but rather to let God become a part of those everyday things. He also discussed how difficult it is to truly trust God and not to rely on what you think is best for your life. When addressing, “In all your ways acknowledge Him. . .” Eric informed the students how to do this by letting their light shine. In the last chapel session, he summed everything up with what it means to have God direct your paths. As I listened to this discussion of a passage that is so familiar to me, I felt very challenged and almost a little discouraged. I really struggle with trusting in God with all my heart. I am so afraid that He will send me somewhere where I will be martyred or face other serious hardships. It was a challenge to me to let go of my fear and trust that He knows what is best for my life.


Have you taken a journey to trusting in God? I would love for you to share it and maybe it will help me to trust God. You can note it in the “comments” section it if you are willing to have it where everyone can read it or, if you have my email you can send it to me.


I would truly value your prayers for me to be encouraged and strengthened and also that I might completely give myself to God and His plan for my life. Also you could be praying for the three kids from our group who surrendered their lives to Christ at the camp and for the others who recommitted themselves to Him. Well, I hope that you enjoyed reading about my time at camp! Thanks for your prayers and for reading! I'm glad that I can share these experiences with you! Enjoy your week!

21 comments:

  1. Jeremiah 29:11
    11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare[a] and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

    God knows the plans of YOUR life and they will turn out well!!!!

    I really loved hearing about your camp experience!!

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    1. Thank you very much! This verse is always one to keep in mind! Glad that you enjoyed reading!

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  2. Great post, Bethany. Your camp experience sounded wonderful. Congratulations on the sledding adventure. Don't ever fear what the Lord has in store for you. He will always challenge us, but he'll never give us more than we can handle. When we are truly challenged is when we see our faith grow! xxx ooo

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    1. That is so true! Thank you for your words of encouragement, Carla!

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  3. My whole Christian life has been a journey in learning to trust in the Lord with all my heart. I could tell you about my first mission trip. And about God telling me DO NOT GO to Albania. And about taking three little kids for 30 days. And about having to move from my "Dumpy Trailer" in Fort Collins, CO with only 30 days notice from the new owners. And about God telling me to move to Michigan from Estes Park, CO -- a place I loved living. And about ... well, you get the idea, right?

    I think the Lord knows that we are not able to trust Him with our whole hearts without going through some things that will test and prove and grow that trust. He looks at your heart and sees that you desire to trust Him. Then He takes you through specific circumstances tailor-made for you that will result in your trusting Him more. That is how it has been in my 22 years with Him, for sure.

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    1. Thank you for sharing, Amy. God is really working through you. You are such a blessing to me. Thanks!

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  4. I'll probably email you my experience with trusting God, Bethany, but as you know, I've had several of those instances in my life. Take Bodie, for an example. :) That's a good example!
    Don't get discouraged. Oh, God does not want to discourage you. That's not his purpose at all! God convicts, He does not condemn. When you feel that little prick that tells you you need to work on something, don't feel guilty or bad that you haven't done it before that. Put your head up, confess your fears, accept God's forgiveness (yes, I did say "accept". Sometimes we get so caught up in the fear and guilt of our sins that we don't think God forgives us. He SAID he forgave us in his word!) and strive for this new step in your life. Don't get discouraged. :)
    Great blog post. It's nice to catch up on your life. :)

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    1. I look forward to reading your journey! Thanks for reading and I'm very glad to have you share on my blog as a regular. You have such good advice, etc. Thank you very much!

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  5. Sometimes when things don't go our way it can be hard for us to love God with all our heart soul mind and strength, and it can be hard to trust Him, but we have to remember that God loved us before we first loved Him and that whatever we do God will still love us.
    Proverbs 5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
    Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

    Those are some verses remember that the hardships/trials in life are for our good even if it doesn't seem like it.
    I'll be praying for you!


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    1. Thank you very much—both for the verses and prayers! Proverbs 3:5-6 is often quoted but Proverbs 16:9 should be quoted more. Thanks!

      You commented as anonymous, would you mind telling me who you are? (You don't need to, I just like to know who is reading my blog)

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  6. I would prefer not too since this was a more personal comment ( as in sorta applying to me) I hope you understand. :)

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    1. Of course! Thank you for being honest...Anonymous. :-)

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  7. But if you want I will tell you just don't post the comment, I don't care if you know.

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    1. I would appreciate that, thanks. I won't publish it. :-)

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    2. I got your comment but as you can tell, did not publish it. Thank you very much and yes, I will pray. If you want to comment your email I won't publish it and then maybe we can connect. :-) Also if you would like to give me your age I would appreciate it. Thanks!

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    3. The only way that I can text is if you have an I-device. Apple.

      If you don't then email, calling (my house phone), or just commenting would be best.

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  8. I will see if I can email you!

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    1. So you don't have an apple device? How will you email me? I haven't given you my email.

      If you want to comment your email, I won't publish it.

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  9. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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Thanks for reading and commenting on my blog! I really appreciate feedback—your thoughts are what keep me blogging! I always reply to comments, so be sure to check back!

Please be considerate of others and please keep all comments God-honoring. Your comment will be visible after I approve it. Thank you!

Blessings,
Bethany R.