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Pull up a chair and listen to the story Amie, one of Star Rock Ministries’ partnership directors, tells of the creative and life-changing trip she took in the wake of summer 2020 camp cancellations.
"Quarantine last spring was beyond hard- especially on youth. When camp, like many things for our teens, was canceled, we were all disappointed. I knew I needed to do something! The idea of our trip was not for it to be an escape from everything going on but a way for us to encounter more. Like Star Rock Ministries' XLR8 camp, it was meant to accelerate growth; growth in our relationships with God and others. So we piled in my SUV and hit the road!
12 days, 6 states, 2,753 miles, 5 National Parks! We went through a 10 day devotional on Proverbs 31 discussing what it means to be women who love God and can laugh at the days to come (oh, do we need that). We dove into being women who are strong and brave and use their gifts to bring life to those around them. We got to sleep in a tent under the stars, go on hikes, share meals, see some of the most beautiful views, have meaningful conversations and of course, enjoy road trip perks like sing a longs in the car, tons of snacks and spontaneous stops!
My favorite part of the trip was our last night camping before heading home. We sat around the campfire after spending the day taking in the views at the Grand Canyon. We took time that night to pray and speak encouragement over each other. We asked the question “If Jesus sat down with us, what would he want to say to us?" Then we took time to pray for each girl. The girls shared the hope, peace and love of God over each other.
The effects of COVID-19 have hurt and challenged our teens in profound ways. During the trip, God was teaching us to carry both joy and sorrow simultaneously. He invited us to show up to each day with whatever we were carrying - to bring the anxiety, the uncertainty, the grief to Him. We could hike through Zion, take in so much beauty while also listening to our friends who are struggling. We learned not to ignore or escape the problems back home but to trust that God is working all things for good and most importantly that he is always with us."
We can't wait for Star Rock Ministries to be able to open up camping experiences this summer for those like Amie, her packed suburban and so many other deserving youth!
Amie and a few of her students from Garden Church in Long Beach, CA.
