Camper Devotional

This is a special post just for the campers!

Dear Camp Guth Campers,

     Can you believe camp starts tomorrow?! I sure can't! I have been planning ALL year, and it seems crazy that the big week is finally here! As you may have guessed, I love history! I am really looking forward to dressing up with all of you, and traveling back in time this week. I am also SUPER excited to see God work in each of your hearts. We are going to spend a lot of time getting to know Him together!

     I sent all of your counselors a devotional to study on Thursday, and I don't want to leave you out! I would be so pleased if you read this devotional I wrote just for you. Try to remember what it is about, because you may have a chance to share about it tomorrow night.

     I love you all, and I am looking forward to spending time with you this week! You are in my prayers. Enjoy the devotional!

Kindly,

Kesslyn Fleck

Camp GUTH Director

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Devotional:

How does the Oregon Trail relate to our life today?

      This week we are traveling back in time to 1843 as we follow the Oregon Trail. It will be fun to dress up, eat old fashioned food, try a variety of activities, and make new friends, but is there something even more important you can learn this week? The answer to that question is YES! We will be studying the answer to that very important question throughout the week, but I want to give you a little sneak peak. :)

     Do you know what a pioneer was in the 1800s? A pioneer was a person who left everything they knew, their home and family, and traveled West to find a better place to live. Pioneers were willing to leave EVERYTHING, because they BELIEVED they would one day make it to a beautiful, plentiful land in the Oregon Teritory.

     Life as a pioneer was NOT easy! The journey West took many months, and they faced a ton of trials along the way. They had to cross raging rivers, dusty plains, and about one-third of the pioneers got cholera, a fetal sickness. On top of that, your whole family, often consisting of seven or more kids, would have to sleep in a teeny-tiny wagon! Does that sound exciting to you? Well, believe me, after about a week, you would be EXHAUSTED! 

     Isaiah 41:10 says "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." If you were a pioneer you may have read this verse in your family Bible, and been encouraged by it. Here God says we do not have to be afraid because He will help us. In John 16:33 God comforts us again. It says "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” 

     Have you ever had to do something that was extremely hard? I have! Maybe you didn't think you could do it at first. The pioneers of the 1800s did a lot of hard things on their journey West. I think that they especially liked Philippians 4:13, which reads "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  

     God loves you. Did you know that? His Son, Jesus, came and died just for you! Because of His death we have the option to go to heaven, and spend forever with Him in a beautiful paradise! The pioneers of the 1800s had a final destination they wanted to make it to, and so do we. The pioneers of the 1800s left everything behind, and we can leave the things of the world behind us to follow Jesus. So, I guess that makes us pioneers as well! 

     What do you say, do you want to be a pioneer and travel God's path to heaven? If you do, you can learn how this week at Camp GUTH!

• If you come to camp with a 60 second skit about how your pioneer journey today relates to that of the pioneers of the Oregon Trail, there may be a reward!