PDA

View Full Version : I survived boot camp!



kat
07-09-2001, 01:29 PM
I made it home from Green Valley Bible Boot Camp about 1:30 Saturday afternoon. What an experience that was. The theme for this year's camp was Boot Camp . We were issued dog tags with I Cor. 6:20 on them and went with the whole military time and lingo.

The camp is in the hills of NW Ark. A tranquil little valley. Up the hill on the left were the girls' barracks and on the hill to the right the boys' barracks. I got to stay in a new cabin (barrack) with real windows and curtains. The other cabins had wooden flaps that had to be raised from outside in the event of rain. My cabin was the one farthest up the hill, however. About a quarter of a mile up a steep rocky grade. Every day my cabin of girls, all 13 year olds, would trek down the hill to the valley for daily devortionals at the ampatheatre then to breakfast, then hike back up to shower, down again to the valley and to the far end of the camp to a pavillion where we had bible class, then back up to the cabin where I lead a cabin devotional, back down to the valley's main pavillion for singing class (which was so glorious). After singing class was free time in the valley, then chow , hiking back up to the cabin for a nap. At 1:30 we would go the 1/4 mile down the hill to the valley, cross over to the boys' side and hike about 1/2 a mile up to the hilltop softball field where everyone played softball. Then all the way back down to the valley where the girl's had tournament games of free throws, 2 on 2 basketball, ping pong, archery, BB guns, etc. while the boys went to the pool. Then we hiked back up to the cabin to change so the girls could go swimming, back down to the pool once the boys had cleared out. After swimming it was back up to the cabin to get ready for chow , back down to eat, then back up again for an hour of rest. Then we made our last trek down for the day to another bible class in the far pavillion, then to the main pavillion for worship, canteen break and then special evening activities, and another devotional in the ampatheatre. Finally, one last hike back to the cabin for a nightly devotional with the girls and lights out.

Sunday and Monday I quite literally thought I was going to die. By Wed. the hills weren't so bad, the heat was still unbearable though. It was a very physically challenging week for me, and while my muscles ached, and I was always hot and sweaty (and forget makeup) the highs that I got from the fellowship with those young people, the intense study of God's word, and the out of this world singing was so much better than any of the lows.
If you have never spent a week with young people at a bible camp, I highly recommend it. What an inspirational week!

AnnW
07-09-2001, 01:49 PM
It sounds incredible!! What a priviledge!!!

btw..how much weight did you lose? :)

kat
07-09-2001, 02:11 PM
Wish I knew exactly. Looks like about 2 pounds, but my ankles started swelling on Wed. I still have alot of water in my feet and ankles. I still cant see my ankle bones. From all the sweating I did I swore I lost 5. :lol:

KarlaB
07-09-2001, 03:43 PM
Makes me miss my church camp days growing up. What a neat experience for all of you!! :)

Jezmom
07-09-2001, 09:07 PM
Would the camp you are talking about be in Siloam Springs(sp)? It sounds just like the church camp I went to years ago. I still remember, and get chill bumps, when I think about how great it was to be there. I always had such supportive adults that made it fun and helped me walk closer to the Lord. WOW!!!!

kat
07-10-2001, 07:59 AM
2 Jezmom

Yes it is. In Rogers actually. I'm not sure how close Siloam is, but I had a girl in my cabin from there. I went to a different camp (much more flat and we swam in a lake) when I was growing up. I remember those days fondly too, but this trip as a counselor was so great because of my more mature faith. Like I told my girls this middle aged overweight woman didn't take a week out of her life to hike those hills as many times as I did to tell them a fairy tale.

Leigh
07-10-2001, 12:01 PM
Sounds like you had a great time. I am glad that you got to enjoy such a wonderful experience. Our church never had any camps or things. It sounds like I missed out on a lot.