Writing this post scares me. Mostly because it has a sense of finality about it.
Last week I went as a sponsor with our youth group to Falls Creek.
For those of you who don't know what Falls Creek is, let me explain. Falls Creek is a baptist youth camp in Davis, OK. It holds about 7,000 youth every week for 7 weeks during the summer. One of the biggest camps in the country. It is a blessed place. A place where God does big things, he changes hearts, and calls many to his arms.
Falls Creek holds an extra special place in my heart. It has a piece of my heart. I have gone to Falls Creek twice a summer every summer since I was in the 7th grade. During those weeks God whispered softly, spoke powerfully, changed everything, and drew me back to him time and time again. You get a certain spiritual high when you are there, for some it fades, for some it is so deep in your soul you could never shake it out. I think I'm the latter.
During those years I:
- felt called to ministry
- saw my peers come to Christ
- became best friends with a girl named Kellory (who I still love dearly).
- had many crushes
- felt the presence of God some of the strongest I ever have.
If that wasn't enough to win a piece of my heart, 2 summers ago I worked there. I was blessed to be a part of a team that became family. It was the best summer of my life. During those 3 months I:
-learned what discipleship truly is
- got a taste of love
- made life long friends
- sizzled and star gazed
- became a member of Cruise Club (cruise fo life!)
- grew in my faith leaps and bounds
- was stretched WAY out of my comfort zone
- became passionate about missions
- walked with a dear friend through dark and heartbreaking times
- opened up parts of me I had never let others see before
- had my heart broken
- learned about unexplainable peace
.....
I could go ON and ON. I don't think I can put into words how dear this place is to me, how much of my heart it has and will always have.
Since I am moving to Nashville in about 2 weeks this last week was quite possibly the last time I would go to Falls Creek. My heart broke, it ached as soon as we pulled up. That first night as I looked around during the evening service at the 7,000+ students and adults gathered together worshiping our Savior together I lost it. I couldn't help it, it was beautiful. Oh how I will miss those evenings.
All week my heart felt heavy. I knew that it was time to move on, not to forget, but to let go. So that's what I did. I cried several more times and on Saturday I said goodbye to this place that had become like home to me.
Thank you Lord for allowing me to be a part of something like that. Thank you.
