Camp EX|\LTED

Dear Surrey Two,

Talk about needing to walk the talk. The hope I wanted you to have in my "New Love" post was exactly what I needed to find in myself during camp.

When it comes to talking to the chapter, I've never had problems. I've always been so eager and excited to converse with you and to interact with you, so to get to know you better. But it seems as though the evil one decided to take what I find enjoyable and turn it into something nerve-wracking. My spiritual warfare for the weekend became an inability to love. I busied myself with service as an excuse to hide away from interacting during the first hour and games of camp. During free time, I found myself walking towards new members with determination, only to divert elsewhere when I got close enough. A few of the service team saw me do this and encouraged me to just do it, but I couldn't. And it was ridiculous.

So I picked myself up. I walked over to the Church and prayed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, lifting it up for all 72 new faces. I didn't want to be so ridiculously distant from the newest blessings of my life. With newfound strength in the Lord, I was able to finally move forth and introduce myself to others.

Reflecting on it all now, I know that I was uncomfortable with the fear of discomfort. This past year since Camp True Vine has been so beautiful. As a chapter, we were unified and strengthened. The absence of an accustomed Autumn camp provided us the opportunity to focus on building up one another on a deeper level because we were comfortable with each other. There were no unfamiliar faces to meet, only familiar faces to get to know better. And so we spent the year doing just that.

Now I'm not saying that having a camp is even slightly bad. The youth camp has to be one of the most beautiful -- if not THE most beautiful -- events in the community because it is the entry point into CFC-Youth. If it were not for this crucial event, we would not be together like this. We would be strangers passing by, unaware of the glory the Lord has to reveal to us through each other.

Wow. Think about the magnitude behind that possibility. In our chapter, who has influenced you positively? Who has inspired you to open your eyes to Him? Motivated you to change for the better? Who has made you feel loved?

This past year and camp have brought me to conclude that my answer is you. Scrolling through the database, I cannot find a single person out of 220 who has not affected me in one way or another. And if that isn't a testimony of God's love and His (crazy) plan for me in this chapter, then I don't know what is.

I have been humbled by the love you have given me first. Thank you for starting conversations, for your unexpected affirmations. Thank you for sharing your stories and inviting me to join you. Thank you for looking for me and for looking out for me. Thank you for your prayers and the endless joy you have placed within my heart. I praise my God for all 220 of you everyday.

So whether you're new, old, active, or inactive, I welcome you to His beloved chapter of Surrey 2. May your hearts be blessed with more love and joy than I have in mine.