Our camp leadership and staff have been devastated upon receiving the news from Texas this week. Learning of the tragedies unfolding at Camp Mystic, Camp Stewart, Vista Camps, Camp Heart O’ the Hills, and other camps in the hill country, we wept like so many of you have. Amidst the many beautiful things happening here in our valleys, we feel as it our hearts are split – wrestling with these unthinkable circumstances. This has been present in the thoughts and conversations of our leadership staff. And so we pray, and pray we have.
Everyone working in our CKC community has been invited to pray and fast for the families in the path of this flood. The news was shared by our directors in our staff meeting. No campers were present. Once shared, a period of prayer as a community began. The very next morning, on Saturday, July 5, many of our camp community awoke at 4 am and hiked to over 6000 ft for a sunrise service. Socked in thick clouds at first, the sun broke through while the Gospel was read, revealing light-soaked valleys below. Prayers and intentions were offered in intercession for the families and summer camps impacted by loss of life.
Our campers have not been informed directly, although some of our camp families have notified their children via letter or outreach through our staff. It seemed providential our Chapel Committee chose this song for our Sunday service. God is still sovereign and good. And, yet, we hold our heads and struggle to understand. How can he be these things in the presence of such suffering? “When you don’t give me answers as I cry out to you, I will trust you”.
Despite our sadness, in solidarity and in faith, we turn our eyes to the Lord and ask him to comfort the afflicted. Please join us in interceding for the campers, staff, and families who are steeped in grief.
It delights us to inform you that our joint 4th of July festivities were a magnificent hit on Friday, and we savored the opportunity to plant seeds of appreciation and love for our homeland through songs and celebrations. We are grateful for the many blessings our campers are experiencing!
After a few days of skills training in camp, we are elated to send out our first wilderness adventure trips tomorrow. Our campers could not be more excited. As I write, I can here the squeels of delight in camp as our trip leaders take sign-ups for the many excursions out into our beautiful mountains in the coming days. This will be a special week!
Concerning our camper experience, I would say the energy is exceptionally high 🙂 Tonight, Chosatonga is out in the forest for their first Friendship Council, and Kahdalea will have our first full Campfire – complete with activity rewards and recognitions! After these estimable events, both camps will offer praise and worship in our chapel at Kahdalea. This event of prayer is totally optional for our campers but is none-the-less heavily attended by campers both young and old.
Of course, while we count our blessings and praise in worship, we will not neglect to remember our brothers and sisters in the Texas hill country. Join us in prayer tonight.
