A Note About Education
Kelli’s Summer Education Notes
Last week I had the privilege to attend church camp with seven of our Stowe Mission After-School Program students. We enjoyed four days and three nights at Wilderness Ridge, Grow Kids Camp in Camden, Ohio.
We had a wonderful time meeting new friends, strengthening friendships, trying new activities, and, most importantly, hearing from God. Our students played volleyball, swam, went rock climbing, explored the woods, played life-size angry birds, ziplined, kayaked, played glow games, and ate a lot of food! It was a B-LAST! (that’s a BLAST that LASTS, as we said at camp). On the last night, the kids even asked that I get in the dunk tank! That was a new one for me and quite exhilarating! Mrs. Sarah was the first to dunk me (I think she enjoyed it a little too much).
In addition to many fun outdoor activities, we spent hours singing worship songs and hearing beautiful messages from the preachers. This year’s theme was “Knowing Him,” based on Philippians 3:10. During the morning, we worshipped outdoors in the Amphitheater among the trees. This experience was one of my favorite moments as the kids sang to the Lord as we enjoyed His creation. I can’t imagine anything more beautiful than 200 kids singing praises to our King! In the evenings, we worshipped inside and heard more of God’s word. In total, 25 campers asked the Lord to have a personal relationship with them. Several of our sweet seven students made decisions to follow the Lord. Friends, it just doesn’t get much better than this!
As we were driving home from camp, one of the boys surprised us by looking up a song we had sung throughout the week, ‘Lord, I Need You’. Several others joined and sang this song as we drove down the highway. I will never forget this sweet moment.
We are so grateful to those who helped fund this life-changing experience. Because of faithful donors like you, Stowe Mission paid 100% of the camp fees for each student. Thank you for investing in the spiritual lives of our youth.
In Christ’s Love,
Kelli