Camp memories

This is Darius. He is the kid who I refer to in this post and my memory of how I noticed God move in his life.

I think a few weeks leading up to the camp I was a little apprehensive and not so excited about the prospect of putting all my energy and expertise into the work ahead. The reason for my apprehension was probably closely linked to the fact that I had no energy and no expertise!! I guess I didn't feel like I was in a place to give and serve as I had been discouraged and disheartened. My prayer life was struggling before the camp and I had made the classic mistakes of using biblical verses to support my own desires. Verses like Phil 4:6 where it says by prayer and supplication make your requests known to God. I just wanted to pray that God would grant me my own desires, and when He didn't I began to wonder whether prayers were really answered, or if that was something us Christians liked to think. I guess I had chosen to overlook verses like Col 3:1 which tells us to seek things that are above or Matt 6..... seek first the kingdom of God. Anyway there is a reason for this long-winded opening to my camp memories and Ill try get there in the next few lines. I didn't really believe in the power of prayer, purely because of my own circumstances and I wasn't praying in accordance with the spirit. I wasn't seeking Gods will in my prayer life. Well on this trip I saw God work very powerfully through prayer and not just answer our prayers but multiply and increase the blessings.

A few days into the camp we felt that there was a spiritual warfare going on and that we were under attack from the evil one. We had just had probably the most difficult day that we had ever experienced on an Samaritans Purse trip. It seemed like we had lost all control and were being governed by the kids, who were running riot, making our work quite difficult with no regard for discipline or authority.

We sat down in the evening and prayed and in particular we prayed for Darius who seemed to be the ringleader in all the madness.

The very next morning, we instantly noticed a change in attitude and particularly in Darius who actually won person of the day that very next evening. He was well behaved, more helpful than most the other kids and started to show how much of a good example he could be. Also the team members felt refreshed and strengthened that day. It was a complete turn around.

At one stage, toward the end of the camp, Nicola and I were talking and she said how she didn't expect the camp to impact her as much as it did. Well I have to agree with her, as doing an SP trip can often make you think like you are just an instrument used in this great work, serving the children and that we aren't there to learn or receive anything. Well I learned a very important thing this week. Prayer is incredibly powerful and we can overcome and avoid any arrows the enemy throws our way because God does answer prayer.