Oh Summer Where Have Thou Gone?!

6 weeks of camp food – $0
Sleeping in a tent - $0
Enjoying the outdoors - $0
Sharing Christ with almost 500 campers, and
Baptizing 4 teens into the Lord – PRICELESS!

As evidenced by my earlier blog, I have spent six weeks of my summer speaking at youth Christian camps. Let me tell you, running around behind those energetic teenagers has not only given me a great tan, but an opportunity to teach kids about Christ. In a non-school environment, away from the distractions of technology, I am able to get to know these young people in an intimate way, and really open up.

There is nothing that I love more than speaking at camps during the summer!
I have made many new friends and established incredible relationships with new youth ministers and churches. It only makes me love what I do more than ever.

I thank Christ Jesus, who has given me strength, that He considered me faithful,
appointing me to His service.

1Tim. 1:12

To top all of that off, I seem to have made quite the impression on at least one camper:

“FFLLEEDDGGEE!!!! I miss you friend!! I haven't been able to stop talking about the things that you have said! You really made an impact this week! All the things you are doing in the lives of young people is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! Hope you are enjoying time with your family!!! Looking forward to seeing you in the fall!!”
Katie Sparks-Woodland Christian Camp

I have to pay tribute to my amazing wife, Julie. Since I have been away at camp, she has been caring for our two children, Brody and Keaton. Every Friday I would come home for the weekend and on one of those visits she requested to go see a movie with a friend. “Sure “I said. Three hours later, upon her return, I ran up to her, kissed her all over her face and asked her why she in the world did she go off and leave the kids with me! I now have a wonderful perspective of what it takes to take care of two kids.The remarkable thing is she did it for six weeks all by herself!

Sweet Summertime

With summertime in full swing, its time for Son Safaris to go to camp! In fact, I’ve been at camp for about four weeks now, from the second I got off the plane from New York City. The camp I’m currently speaking at is North Georgia Christian Camp. As the motivational speaker I have to opportunity to interact with middle and high school students, about 60-100 during any given week. The week starts Sunday evening and goes until Friday morning, and I give presentations and speak in general about experiences on safari. My absolute favorite way to talk to these kids, however, is a night, around the camp fire. It is more one-on-one and intimate and the atmosphere provides for some of the greatest conversations and revelations. I can talk to them about my own journey to and through Christ, and give them advice or a shoulder to lean on in their own individual journey. Being able to be around wonderful young people who want to know Christ and are willing to come to a camp during a week of summer in order to be around others who want to know Him is special in and of itself, and I am incredibly grateful everyday to have been chosen as the guest speaker for these camps. Now, I am a little sleep deprived and I missed my family, however, the summer went swimmingly, and I’m happy to be home!