I am going to camp with the youth from our church this week. This is my second year going as a chaperon for the full week. I went last year, not to check up on Nathan, but because several girls asked me to go. I am so glad they did because even though I did not keep tabs on Nathan, I was able to see what awesome things he was learning. And he was nice enough to spend some time with me during the week.
I always loved camp growing up, and last year was no different. If you get over the fact that you have to wear flip flops in the shower and balance on one leg to shave the other (thank goodness for balance drills at the gym!), it is wonderful. I was able to have a week away from work and media and electronics and just focus on the kids and God. I was able to make great memories with the girls in my cabin and all the youth I met. And hopefully I was able to connect with them in some way that helped them want to know Christ more and be more like Him.
But the reason I am going back and the reason I want to always find a way to send Nathan is what they were taught. The topic was Sex, Love, and Marriage. What better things to talk about with hormone ruled teenagers :) And there was lots of talk about sex...both in chapel and in the cabin! But the ultimate focus was not just on sex, but on being a man or woman of God. Although I only heard what the girls learned, I was able to understand what the guys were learning also and it thoroughly impressed me. It is hard to get in words, but if you could have seen the end of the week scene of girls walking under upraised swords made by the boys of the camp, you would be in tears. The boys grew up that week in a big way. They were taught that real men will take care of and defend women. They were allowed to take their shirts off and put war paint on, and run up the hill yelling like Braveheart. They were allowed to be boys/men! And then they wrote letters to the girls stating that they would protect them and not harm them. They were taught that real men won't have sex before marriage and won't try to seduce a high school girl into bed. By the end of the week, they were almost fighting to see who could take a girl's tray after dinner; and would always let the girls go first and hold the door for them. At the last night ceremony, after the girls had done their own thing, we walked to where the boys/young men were waiting on us. This is where they had their swords drawn. I had to fight back tears as I walked through the line of boys that I have seen grow up with Nathan and see in their eyes that they wanted to be a real man. No smiles or laughter at this point, because they were very serious about their intentions. And then they served us dessert and gave us the letters that wrote. Not to specific girls, but to any girl. They had been taught to be the defender of any girl/women. It was a very moving experience.
Later that evening in the cabin, I could tell the girls felt the same way. They cherished the letters they received and kept talking about who served them and what they ate. Of course after the serious part, there was a fun party!
So I am going back. I did see a change in Nathan when he returned home. Yes, it wained after a bit, but not all of the change faded. I am looking forward to what we will learn this week. And I pray that our youth will have their hearts prepared for a heart changing week!
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