My husband and I visited Dry Gulch USA in Oklahoma several years ago. Our church blessed us with a training week there along with other Children and Youth Pastors from around North America. My husband uses the Willie George curriculum from Kids On The Move.
We were so impressed with the church and the camp, that we both felt that if any of our children could have an opportunity to go there we would make sure that it could happen.
The end of January, 2008. Our living room. My husband was on his laptop looking at the Dry Gulch USA website. He was looking at different events that they have available. Our daughter Sarah and I sat beside him and noticing what he was looking at, casually took over the computer.
I was showing Sarah the camp when she noticed that they had posted job opportunities. She wondered if we would consider letting her go there for the summer. Mark & I both thought that it would be a wonderful experience for her.
Our daughter is in college taking a Child & Youth Counselor course. She wants to work with children. She is really great with kids. She also has a heart for ministry.
Sarah completed the camp counselor application process, which was fairly extensive. And then we waited.
I was so torn with whether or not I wanted her to be accepted. Great opportunity, beautiful place, wonderful Christian values vs missing my daughter and not having the summer with her. I prayed to God that she would only be accepted if it was His will for her. I had to hand it over to Him. She is getting older and I only have so many summers left with her at home.
Three days ago the letter arrived in the mail. She has been accepted to fulfill a Head Counselor position!
I didn't know if I was going to cry or get excited for her. Sarah is staying at home while she attends college and I have not had to go through the experience of having a child move away.
This is a dream-come-true for Sarah. Dry Gulch USA is probably the best camp in North America. The entire camp is set in the 1880's. Along with horses (my daughter LOVES horses), go-karts, bumper cars, pool with waterslide, indoor basketball court, boats, canoes, tubing and really great food.
If I hadn't been to Dry Gulch myself I probably wouldn't be able to consider having her go so far away. The Lord has given us peace about her decision. I just have to not be selfish and know that she is a princess of the Almighty King and she belongs to Him.
God anointed, appointed and commissioned Mark & I to protect our daughter and to provide for her physically, emotionally and spiritually. We have authority over her that is given by the Lord. Through that authority and through praying for her, the Lord will give us peace when helping her make decisions like this.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Dry Gulch USA
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
16 comments:
What an incredible opportunity! My kids used to watch the Dry Gulch TV show when they were little. I love how God allowed you and Mark to experience Dry Gulch so that you would be prepared to allow your daughter to go there. He has a way with details, doesn't He?
That is so awesome!!! Sarah will love it!!
I left home for the Summer when I was 14 to work at a Christian Camp.
I worked there when I was 15 and 16 and 17 and 18, too!!!! Yep, five Summers in a row! ;o) That is where I 1st met Jen P. AND my HUSBAND (OOooops....now you are really scared, aren't ya)!!?? lol
That is exciting and scary all at the same time. This will be life changing for her. We can comfort each other as our daughter's leave the nest.
I have been to Oneighty in Tulsa, which is part of Church on the Move. (The youth ministry I work in is a Oneighty). I am so happy for you, but I have gone through the whole rigamaroll of letting go of the oldest child (and now the middle child, too) and it is NOT easy; I don't care what anybody says! But--mothers always want the best for their children. We don't want them in literal OR emotional/spiritual diapers forever. This is her season--she's beginning to find out why she was created and what God can do through her! I rejoice with you; I grieve with you--I get it!
So happy for Sarah...as hard as this is on us parents.....it will be life changing for her.
My camp years literally changed my entire future and even the lives of my kids...God taught so much to me in those years...and who would have thought Shaun and Holly and I would all reconnect many years later in little old Belleville?
I will pray for you and Mark as you lead her in this process and allow her to spread her wings and fly for the summer...she will have a blast, and learn so much.
Blessings on you all.
What an amazing opportunity for Sarah! That's awesome that she was accepted for a Head Counselor position
It's just like you said in your last post....you can choose to be joyful about her growth. I know you will and that she will be grow in ways we can't even imagine while she is away.
I will be praying for her as she makes her journey, as for you as you await her return.
Xandra
Congratulations
You and Mark must be so proud.
God is amazing!Preparing things for your daughter through her parents way in advance.
Wow!
When does she have to be there?
I am so happy for Sarah as this will be a life changing experience covered with the Blessings of God and her wonderful parents.
That is so exciting! I have never heard of the camp, I'm going to check it out!
She will do wonderful and you will too! We have some family in OK and they love it!
Jen
Sounds like a huge adventure. I have great memories of camp.
How fantastic! Sending congrats and blessings.
When God is in it, it won't be as hard. Having Alyssa gone for 1 year to internship was long, but knowing God was in it, gave me tremendous peace.
This will be a life changing time for her.
Get an icam for you both, this will help you to be able to see her still and chat lots for free.
Sending blessings!
Congratulations to Sarah...that is so exciting. Both Cliff and I worked for many years at summer camp as teens and young adults.....we even worked at camp for the summer right after we were married. Cliff and I both agree that we learned so much there, skills that we have used in ministry, parenting, work (in education), leadership etc,
What a great opportunity for Sarah. Be prepared though... your household won't be the same with one of your babies gone! We'll lend you Amanda for an afternoon if you need a college girl fix!
God Bless you and Mark for your faithfulness and submission!
Dry Gulch sounds wonderful! And congratulations to Sarah on the position!
After turning her over to the Lord, you can rest assured that that is where she is supposed to be and that He will be with her. Think of how many lives she will be able to touch this summer! AWESOME!
WOW! I have never heard of this camp but I will definitely look it up. Also, I will pray for Sarah, and you too, as she goes on this adventure! How wonderful that she is committing her summer (and her life) to such a worthwile opportunity! You must be very proud...
BTW~ I have tagged you at my blog so if you get a chance come by and check it out.
Love,
Kelley
What a great thing for Sarah. I too have a son who was dropped off to work the summer there on Monday. I already long for those sounds on my phone that says I have a message from him. Ian is only 15 and will be working in the kitchen. He went to Dry Gulch all through his elementary years and knew he wanted to go back and work there. God knows our children's desires! He is an awesome God and the camp is an awesome camp. None of our children will come back the same as they were when they left. How can they, when they will experience God in ways through service, that they never dreamed off. It is exciting as a parent to see our children growing in God's ways, to see them take risks, regardless of what the world tells them they can and can't do. God will bless them and us as parents for encouraging and standing by them in this time of becoming those Mighty Men of Valor and Women of Integrity. I will be praying for you and your family this summer!
As a leader in children's ministry for several years and having been part of a group that has taken hundreds of kids up to Camp Dry Gulch, I can tell you personally, that it is THE best place for your daughter's summer job! She'll be a positive influence on the children and they will leave their mark on her. I strongly suspect that it'll be one of the best times in her life and in years to come she'll look back on it and treasure the time she spent there.
Shalom, :)
Kimberly
Post a Comment