Tell Me Where To Find Shelter
I can honestly say, without much hesitation, that the decision to come to camp to direct activities with Tiffany is one of the best I've made in a long time. Not everything has gone perfectly, but this has been such an incredible experience in the short time that I've been here. I have so much to complain about right now, as I'm tired, my allergies are driving me crazy, I still have a headache (we're going on three days straight now), my back is hurting worse than it has ever hurt (which is pretty darn badly), and my feet hurt worse than they've ever hurt (also pretty darn badly). Seriously though, my feet and back are in constant pain. Right now, my feet hurt so badly that I'd almost rather just chop them off. I'm pretty sure it would hurt less, but then I'd be less useful and stuff, so I'll just keep 'em. Anyways, all that to complain about but I'm honestly not too worried about any of those things. God has done some incredible things for the kids at this camp, and through those incredible things with the kids, has done incredible things for me.
What I'm about to say is going to possibly make some people feel uncomfortable, but I'm not too worried about that at the moment. There is some serious spiritual stuff going on here. Some (including myself) call it Spiritual Warfare. I truly believe that the pain that is running rampant throughout my body right now is an attack from the enemy (yes, I'm talking about Satan, the Devil, Lucifer, whatever you want to call him). I believe that right now he's making me dizzy because he doesn't want me to write about my experiences at camp and wants me to go to bed where he can get me more there. But it's not just me that this is happening to. Marty, who is doing speaking duties at this camp, has been struggling with a throat problem all week. And that's just two of us. You wouldn't believe some of the stuff that these kids are going through. I haven't talked to any of them about it, but there's just something that tells me that they're going through so much more than just pain or a sore throat. These kids are here for a reason, plain and simple, and that is for healing. Again, not just physical healing (which is possible in some cases), but mostly spiritual healing.
When Marty gave his testimony last night, he mentioned that at one point he was being abused sexually. That first night he called people to the altar who have something that's holding them back from their relationship with God, whether it be physical, sexual, verbal abuse, or whatever else. Well, a lot of focus was put on the abuse part of that, and something incredible happened today. The campers have what are called "Breakout Sessions," which is basically kind of like Sunday School. Well, we had guest speakers today, and there are two classes. The first class, Senior High, had Pastor Walker from our church, CLF. The second class had a lady whose name I cannot remember at the moment. Max, the Camp Director, came in to the board room where Tiffany and I were working on some of the activities, and other counselors were in there, and said that it's really amazing, but Pastor Walker and ________ (whatever her name was, I think it started with an E) were preaching about the same exact thing: Abuse.
Now, Marty did not tell either one of the Breakout Sessions speakers that he was going to be talking about that a lot in his testimony the first night. They both came to these sessions with their own lesson in mind, and both of them had to do with abuse. How incredible is that? I look at that and I see that it's undeniable that God is going to be delivering some of these people. I prayed really hard for a lot of people at tonight's service (which I'll get into in a moment) just that they could have the strength to break through the chains that were holding them down from God and be free from that.
The service tonight was great. Marty talked about stepping out of your comfort zone and ministering to other people and things like that. It was definitely a good message. I am definitely guilty of not ministering and not witnessing and being way too comfortable in Christianity (as opposed to being uncomfortable and sharing it with others). However, I thought it was funny that he was preaching that to the kids considering it is incredibly uncomfortable for me to be writing about my faith and all of that in my blog, especially when I know that at least a couple people who read my blog aren't Christians or, if they are, it's just something that we don't talk about a whole lot. And honestly, if I hadn't been charged to write a blog in detail about camp while I was gone by Christian, I would probably still be sitting in my "E-Z Chair" and sitting comfy.
It was just such an incredible day, and an incredible night. I'm talking about all of this and I haven't even talked about what Tiffany and I did all day. We ran around like chickens with our collective head cut off making sure everything was ready. Also, with me again stepping out of my comfort zone, I had to stand up on stage and direct almost 100 people and make it fun for them and everything. Not exactly the most comfortable I've ever been in my entire life. Anyways, I'm not going to write too much more as it's almost 1 :00 am and I'm completely exhausted and have yet another big day going on tomorrow.
Thank you all so much for reading (those of you who made it this far). Comment, and I'm sure I'll see you soon. God bless.
*My name is Ryan J. Schwimmer, not Ryan Jay Schwimmer, and I approve this holy-rolling blog.*
What I'm about to say is going to possibly make some people feel uncomfortable, but I'm not too worried about that at the moment. There is some serious spiritual stuff going on here. Some (including myself) call it Spiritual Warfare. I truly believe that the pain that is running rampant throughout my body right now is an attack from the enemy (yes, I'm talking about Satan, the Devil, Lucifer, whatever you want to call him). I believe that right now he's making me dizzy because he doesn't want me to write about my experiences at camp and wants me to go to bed where he can get me more there. But it's not just me that this is happening to. Marty, who is doing speaking duties at this camp, has been struggling with a throat problem all week. And that's just two of us. You wouldn't believe some of the stuff that these kids are going through. I haven't talked to any of them about it, but there's just something that tells me that they're going through so much more than just pain or a sore throat. These kids are here for a reason, plain and simple, and that is for healing. Again, not just physical healing (which is possible in some cases), but mostly spiritual healing.
When Marty gave his testimony last night, he mentioned that at one point he was being abused sexually. That first night he called people to the altar who have something that's holding them back from their relationship with God, whether it be physical, sexual, verbal abuse, or whatever else. Well, a lot of focus was put on the abuse part of that, and something incredible happened today. The campers have what are called "Breakout Sessions," which is basically kind of like Sunday School. Well, we had guest speakers today, and there are two classes. The first class, Senior High, had Pastor Walker from our church, CLF. The second class had a lady whose name I cannot remember at the moment. Max, the Camp Director, came in to the board room where Tiffany and I were working on some of the activities, and other counselors were in there, and said that it's really amazing, but Pastor Walker and ________ (whatever her name was, I think it started with an E) were preaching about the same exact thing: Abuse.
Now, Marty did not tell either one of the Breakout Sessions speakers that he was going to be talking about that a lot in his testimony the first night. They both came to these sessions with their own lesson in mind, and both of them had to do with abuse. How incredible is that? I look at that and I see that it's undeniable that God is going to be delivering some of these people. I prayed really hard for a lot of people at tonight's service (which I'll get into in a moment) just that they could have the strength to break through the chains that were holding them down from God and be free from that.
The service tonight was great. Marty talked about stepping out of your comfort zone and ministering to other people and things like that. It was definitely a good message. I am definitely guilty of not ministering and not witnessing and being way too comfortable in Christianity (as opposed to being uncomfortable and sharing it with others). However, I thought it was funny that he was preaching that to the kids considering it is incredibly uncomfortable for me to be writing about my faith and all of that in my blog, especially when I know that at least a couple people who read my blog aren't Christians or, if they are, it's just something that we don't talk about a whole lot. And honestly, if I hadn't been charged to write a blog in detail about camp while I was gone by Christian, I would probably still be sitting in my "E-Z Chair" and sitting comfy.
It was just such an incredible day, and an incredible night. I'm talking about all of this and I haven't even talked about what Tiffany and I did all day. We ran around like chickens with our collective head cut off making sure everything was ready. Also, with me again stepping out of my comfort zone, I had to stand up on stage and direct almost 100 people and make it fun for them and everything. Not exactly the most comfortable I've ever been in my entire life. Anyways, I'm not going to write too much more as it's almost 1 :00 am and I'm completely exhausted and have yet another big day going on tomorrow.
Thank you all so much for reading (those of you who made it this far). Comment, and I'm sure I'll see you soon. God bless.
*My name is Ryan J. Schwimmer, not Ryan Jay Schwimmer, and I approve this holy-rolling blog.*
In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN
I love you son, I wish I was there to make you feel better. I am so VERY proud of you. I can see God's work in everything you write. Send me an e-mail or call if you get a chance.
Mom