We hosted the largest camp in Creekside's 15 year history....for 3 days.
We welcomed Gig Harbor, Camas/Washougal, Bothell/Woodinville and more.
The week started off wonderfully. Prayerfully. And smokily.
For the welcome, the final 3 Gig Harbor busses got stopped in the town of Shaniko, being told the roads were closed. A phone to some local county officials led to the busses being let through, and our full camp ready to rock, with the schedule adjusted ahead 1 hour to accommodate our late group of 180 campers.
y with less than 12 hours notice. That was all I worked on from 8-11pm, other that starring in the 'fly in the library' skit.
At 11pm, the final bus company responded that they can arrive at 9am, covering the final group that needed a short-notice ride home. This was no simple feat on a Friday night around 8pm to pull this off. I give kudos to God for His part in the exit plan (God has a history of successful exit stories of His people out of tough places!) And incredible bus companies who work with Young Life like Alpha Omega and Blue Star, who rallied in the 11th hour.
Kids and leaders were able to have a full, amazing day 2 without the plan of the early exit hanging over their heads. In the morning, we moved the leader meeting to 7:15am and let leaders know the plan. They were sad, yet resolved to pivot. We let kids know at breakfast that busses were en route. They were sad yet the response what not what I expected. I watched from the side as our camp manager and directors, Tex and Tanya, shared from the dining hall stage. Kids were stunned; mostly silent other than a few groans.
Safety is our priority, they got that. We agreed together to trust Philippians 1:6, that what God started, God will finish. And 1Thess 2:8 that as Young Life leaders, we are delighted to share not only the gospel but also our lives as well because these kids are so dear to us. Camp is a great tool for leaders, but Jesus is what creates the transformation in kids lives. We are put to the test with our faith and our methods when the camp property is subtracted from the equation. And our leaders are passing the test.
As the leaders loaded up busses in the morning at Creekside, and at Canyon. left, yet the beautiful thing about Young Life is that it’s Leader-centered. Following first and foremost the incarnate, life-on-life model of Jesus. The leaders are going home with kids, and our leaders are so committed to these kids that they are all making plans.
Shawn Carnes from Chelan Valley is taking his mostly latino boys to Sisters, OR for the night, A rare chance to visit In-n-Out burgers in Salem, and the Oregon coast because they’ve never seen the ocean. Great spot to further sharing the messages and enjoying cabin time.
Gallo invited Brea Diaz / Royal city as well as Moses Lk. to come to Sunnyside to put on a special dinner, pool party, and club with a message by Gallo at a YL supporters' big house offered to them.
Gig Harbor did an overnight camp out, a huge YL club and dinner party with food trucks for all 180 campers. They watched videos of Canyon's
camp speaker, Tanita.
Silverton Oregon did follow up clubs and showed videos from our Creekside camp speaker Irene.
North Idaho is going straight to Suncadia and is using multiple huge Airbnb‘s and doing their own last few days of camp together, with some river rafting adventure afterwards.
Next door at WFR Canyon, 500+ campers also had to be evacuated at the same time and had a similar story of needing God to come through, but a little sadder since they were only on the morning of day 2.
I am pleased to share that areas and leaders absolutely RALLIED, in beautiful, resilient, servant hearted, creative, epic and otherwise Jesus centered ways. I asked leaders who were evacuated both from Canyon and Creekside to share what they did. This video summarizes the beautiful, resilient, selfless, adventurous and Jesus-focused plans that leaders and supportive admin, churches and friends of Young Life pulled off!
Feel free to see this VIDEO! or share it: https://youtu.be/Zxhfz1L0MAU
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