Youth Camp Newbie

I’m not new to event planning. I’ve led at thousands of worship services, retreats, conferences, meetings…but I’ve never led a youth camp.

Until last week.

I was so nervous. I also procrastinated the planning. Which made me way more nervous. God used the experience of leading the camp to teach me two things:

1. Dave, your leadership ability and influence will explode if you learn to plan in advance.

2. Doing new things should be a bit hard, but I Am able to show My strength in your weakness, Dave.

I’m also learning little by little that most of these precious young people that we are leading have such different backgrounds, home experiences, and schooling experiences. On one hand, our loving, stable family is a shelter for them. On the other hand, we feel like it's hard to fit in, hard to communicate, and we don’t “get” them the way we’d like to.

But still, we press on in His strength and courage.

We found it worth chronicling the timeline over the last year since we started leading these youth:

1. Yes, we’ll consider leading the youth.

2. Oh. We’re pregnant with our seventh child... after a seven-year break.

3. Huge disappointment, hopes and dreams dashed, we need to find a new place to live. That stinks!

4. The great Redeemer continues teaching us and healing our hearts AND praise Him, so we found a good spot, but it's an hour from church.

5. WELCOME Baby!! Wow, caring for a newborn is a little different at 53 and 45.

6. Did our youngest two develop a persistent cough that woke us every night and lasted a full two months right after we brought Felicity home? Uh-huh.

7. A wonderful, new place opens up only eight minutes from church. Yes, we believe it's God's provision... let's move... again... 2nd time in 8 months.

8. Phew…do we even have anything to give?

But God! (John 3:27)

The focus of the camp was Encounter. We wanted to give the youth an experience of encountering God through six major ways we grow our relationship with God:

1. The Word (I taught about different ways to have quiet times, and we watched episode 1 of The Chosen)

2. Worship (my friend Vincent led and taught this)

3. Prayer (my friend Allen shared about this)

4. Nature (my son Aspen taught this one)

5. Serving (we moved a massive pile of brush off the property where the camp was held)

6. Relationship with other believers (we had a good time playing and sharing about who we are, what we dream about, and stories of our names)

Our pastor, Elmer, taught an important session about dating and about reaching out for help when we are going through hard times.

Rachel was also one of the leaders and helped with the games. Doña Nena, Floribeth, and Marta cooked for us.

Heather prayed and held down the fort with the three youngest.

We saw God’s provision and faithfulness. This camp deeply impacted these youth, our 4 included, and we can only say that it was by the grace and mercy of the Lord!

Now, this weekend, three of our teens and one of the youth from church are attending a worship camp called Cautivados (Captivated). I get to share and help lead worship.

It’s such a thrill to walk alongside these young people and help them grow in their relationship with God.

We’re looking to expand our financial support base. And we are specifically seeking to build a team of people who:

1. Love to worship the Lord deeply

2. Have a passion to disciple young people

Might that be you? If so, let us know!

Love,

Dave, Heather, Aspen, Clementine, Louis, Juliana, Huxley, Caspian, and Felicity Helmuth

If you like to support us financially, there are several options to give:

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• Send a check to 679 Hilldale Road, Holtwood, PA 17532

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