I am now 16 years old and a junior in High School. Time does fly when you’re working and doing great things for the Lord. This summer I´ve been mostly at the Church of God Youth Camp over in Mauldin, SC. For three weeks straight I had the chance to seek God and help others to find Jesus by praying and talking with others. But overall it was such a great experience and I would like to share my encounters with you all through this article and also explain what I would like to see in the next school year.

So the first week was Senior week, filled to the max with 15 to 18-year-old students happy to be out of the house. And let me tell you, it was so fun and exciting because after 2-3 years without youth camp, because of the virus, you just can’t wait for all of the energy of fellowship and fun. I highly recommend anyone to come to youth camp because it is such a blast and you experience God in ways unimaginable. 

The first week, when service started, everyone ran to the front of the stage when the countdown trickled down for worship to begin. At this youth camp, worship is so interactive and exciting because you are dancing and worshiping to songs that you would listen to on K-LOVE Radio. Everyone was so pumped up and after that, we just spent time outside playing games and chilling out.

The second week of camp was Junior week and I worked as a recreational worker.  The position was a kinda behind-the-scenes job yet it showed me how the camp keeps moving forward to allow people to have a great time playing outside and even in service. In service, we were called to pray for others and to be compassionate because it's hard when you have to listen to other people’s struggles but it is rewarding when you are able to tell them who can fix it, heal it, or renew it and that is Jesus our Lord and Savior. 

Lastly, the third week was pretty much the same thing but I went with our children’s pastor and it was cool to hang out with him with my friends who came along to help. I like the feeling of helping other people. I’m reminded of how Jesus helps me in such amazing ways so I get to do the same for others. As teens, we get to experience the joy and goodness of Jesus in the midst of our friends and close relationships. It does get tiring but I like how he gives us the strength to keep on going. 

I just can’t wait to share this great experience with people at my high school. This year, I want to surround myself with like-minded people that know that love will always conquer hate and that you just got to treat others how you want to be treated.