Camp Machaceh

The Solution to the Recession Micah 6:8

2010-05-03T11:36:00.006-05:00

Economists have labeled this period in history we live in as “The Great Recession”. Everyone has been directly affected including all involved with Camp Machaceh and all those we serve.The million dollar question: What is the solution to this recession?

The prophet Micah brought a curse against Israel:

“14 You will eat but never have enough. Your hunger pangs and emptiness will still remain. And though you try to save your money, it will come to nothing in the end. You will save a little, but I will give it to those who conquer you. 15 You will plant crops but not harvest them. You will press your olives but not get enough oil to anoint yourselves. You will trample the grapes but get no juice to make your wine. 16…You will be treated with contempt, mocked by all who see you.” (Micah 6:14-16)

The Israelites’ worship was hollow and ritualistic. God brought the charge against them of not being just and not being faithful to Him. For these reasons they were cursed. I was haunted by this passage when I read it with regard to what our society is facing.

Our society has many idols and is full of injustice. We definitely are surrounded by a people who are never satisfied with what they have, who have all of the things but no reserves, and who toil only to receive no reward. This societal pattern is greatly reflected even in our church.

The root of the “Great Recession” will be debated by economists for generations. However, Micah was very clear that the root of the problem is the depravity of the heart. It is sin that led to a culture that can not be content, that overlooked the needs of our neighbor, and was filled with nominal church members. God required his followers to “act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). The only reasonable way this is accomplished is through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jesus lived life with the outcasts of society. He touched lepers, empowered women, praised children, and healed gentiles. But Jesus did not stop there. All of these actions were great, but they were signs. Signs that the Kingdom of God had arrived and all who believed could freely participate. Jesus challenged hollow religion, redefined it, and liberated us; Jesus is the liberating king. The disciples understood the truth of Jesus’ liberation at Pentecost. They then burst out in the crowd and proclaimed the good news.

How excited do we get about our liberating king? We are faced with a society shaped by the broken and wounded. Do we choose to live according to this corrupted pattern? No. As followers of Jesus we must break free and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We must live justly, with mercy, and walk with God. For it is in the freedom of Christ that we can truly find contentment and the solution to the “Great Recession”.

An Interview with Harold: Camp Machaceh Volunteer

2009-02-25T14:28:00.003-06:00

Last summer, Harold joined our team as a volunteer for all three weeks of camp. Without his help, camp would have been much more stressful. Recently, we asked him a few questions about his experience.

Camp Machaceh (CM): How has your life been impacted by Camp Machaceh in general?
Harold: I know more about inner tubes than I expected. Participation in the camp activities, daily rallies, daily worship, prayer activities, and working with the kids reinforced the importance of my daily quite time and provided a renewed emphasis on helping others.

CM: What made you decide to volunteer with Camp Machaceh in 2008?
Harold: I had been praying for opportunities to serve and help others. I have fond memories of camps and wanted to participate in making the camping experience available for kids who otherwise would not be able to attend a camp. It just took someone asking me to help.

CM: In your own words what was your role at Camp Machaceh for Summer 2008?
Harold: I was the camp roadie, in charge of water balloon filling, inflation and deflation of inner tubes, setting up equipment for games, running errands, and occasionally throwing water balloons. I tried to help the directors and counselors prepare for the games and have equipment and supplies ready for their breakout sessions.

CM: Please describe your favorite experience from the summer.
Harold: I enjoyed interacting with the campers, counselors, and camp staff. I helped make s'mores for kids who had never eaten s'mores in their lives.

CM: What was the funniest thing that happened last summer?

(This is a picture of the practical joke the rest of the staff played on Harold one weekend when he was away.)

CM: How are you continuing your involvement with Camp Machaceh?
Harold: Recently, I became a Board Member and plan on participating in the camp this summer.

CM: Why should someone volunteer for Camp Machaceh this summer?
Harold: Aside from helping groups of campers experience a camp of a lifetime, the experience will bring back memories of your own camp days and build new memories. The experience will give you an opportunity to make a difference in someone else’s life, providing memories and happiness to kids who have had their share of challenges.

CM: Is volunteering with Camp Machaceh difficult?
Harold: The weather may be hot, the trails dusty, or the camp director may be stressed, but the work is satisfying and fosters great memories.

CM: What is the most important thing to know about volunteering with Camp Machaceh?
Harold: The camp is a true blessing to both the volunteer and the kids who attend. You will see the kids grow, enjoy the music, and you will feel God’s presence at the camp,

Harold, Aaron, & Stephanie

This summer, we are running our camp with only a volunteer staff. We have positions ranging from camp counselor and rec team to van driver. If you enjoy working with youth and volunteering at Camp Machaceh sounds like fun to you, head on over to our website www.campmachaceh.org for more information. Camp Machaceh Camp Edition is July 5-10, 2009 at Forest Glen Springs Christian Camp near Waco, TX. We hope to see you there!

CCCA Convention

2009-01-09T10:51:00.004-06:00

Every year, the Christian Camp and Conference Association (CCCA) has a national gathering. Aaron and I went back in 2005 when Camp Machaceh was in the planning stages, and we decided it was time to go again. So we packed up and headed to Disney World. (Did I mention that was the location for this year?)

The conference was awesome! We heard from some amazing speakers and met some amazing people from camps all over the world. It's awesome to hear how God is using camps in other countries to reach people for Christ. The theme for the conference was Reimagine, and we were challenged to do just that. We learned a lot and were challenged by the speakers. Our favorites were Leonard Sweet, McNair Wilson, and Bart Tarman. We came home refreshed, energized, and excited about Summer 2009 and beyond!

The CCCA is a great organization! We are glad that Camp Machaceh is a part of it.

Speaking of Summer 2009, registration starts on February 2. That's in about three weeks! We have much to do before that day, so please keep us in your prayers!

Having never been to Disney World, Aaron and I decided to go a few days early as a 4th Anniversary present to each other. Enjoy these pictures of our trip!

At Cinderella's Castle

We met Mickey and Minnie!

The fireworks show at Epcot is awesome!

Got Armor?

2008-12-03T00:45:00.007-06:00

Enjoy these pictures of Summer 2008!

What happens when we don't have internet access...

2008-07-14T14:52:00.004-05:00

I have much to share with you. So much has happened since my last post: we went on our Leadership Trek with our staff, we had our first week of camp, and we started our second week of camp. I will do my best to fill you in on our current happenings, but it might take a few posts...

Leadership Trek (a.k.a. staff canoe trip):

We had so much fun canoeing down the Buffalo National River. By the end of our trip we had paddled 50 miles. Here are a few things I learned:

A phrase you never want to hear when you are on a canoe trip: "I was using my canoe paddle as a spear to kill spiders, and when I looked up we were in a tree."

Raccoons can open 5-gallon buckets if they try hard enough, and apparently they really like Laffy Taffy.

Hiking 6 miles round trip for trash bags is not worth it unless you eat ice cream and bring back Dr. Pepper for the group.

Overall, we had an awesome 9 days. Our staff is united in a very special way because of that trip.

Enjoy these pictures of our trip!

Aaron and me paddling away!

Our group (minus Aaron) prior to setting out.

Beautiful scenery!

Goofy Girls!

Our group paddling down the river!

And We're Off...

2008-06-23T00:31:00.005-05:00

I don't have long, but I wanted to write a quick update before we set out on our Leadership Trek bright and early tomorrow morning...

Our counselors arrived yesterday, and we love them! Yea! We are having a blast getting to know everyone. We spent most of today [Sunday] preparing for our 8 day canoe trip to the Buffalo National River in Arkansas. But now the van is mostly packed, our kayak is saran wrapped--don't ask, and now all Aaron and I have to do is get to bed!!

Thank you so much to all of you who are praying for us! We appreciate it more than you know! Please pray for safety as we travel to the River and while we are canoeing and hiking this next week.

I will leave you with some pictures of our preparation and our armor. We have a suit of Roman armor--real metal armor, not the fake plastic costume stuff. We got it this past week, and if you know Aaron at all, you know the first thing he did was put it on--all of it! Enjoy!

Me with most of our food for our Trek...

My sweet parents helped us out a bunch this past week.

And now for the armor...

Check back July 1 or 2 for an update about the Trek...

Camp Machaceh Workday

2008-06-16T15:27:00.009-05:00

Time has definitely gotten away from me. I am behind on updating this thing! Our counselors arrive this coming Saturday! Camp is almost here! The journey is beginning, or I guess I should say continuing! Please pray for Aaron and me in these final days of preparation.

We want to thank everyone who participated in the Camp Machaceh Workday on Saturday, June 7! We couldn't have finished everything without you! Thank you Open Door and our small group!

We built everything from stage decks to initiative supplies, and we made camp rocks for our campers. Here are a few pictures from the day:

Gideon's Army

2008-05-28T10:58:00.007-05:00

Lately, Aaron has been calling our summer staff Gideon's Army and for good reason. Back in the fall when we started planning for this summer, we thought we needed at least 10 counselors. "We can't possibly run our program with less," we thought. But here we are three and a half weeks until staff training starts, and we have half the number we thought we needed.

I can just imagine Gideon's face when God told him "you have too many men for me to deliver Midian into [your] hands" (Judges 7:2). I imagine him thinking something along these lines: "Are you sure God? Have you seen the Midianite army? You want to reduce my army of thousands down to 300?!" (Find the whole story of Gideon in Judges 6-8.)

But God in His infinite love and wisdom had a plan for those 300 men. In Judges 7:2, God goes on to explain why He wants to reduce the army: "in order that Israel may not boast against Me that her own strength has saved her."

Put another way: "Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man's power ends." --George Muller

If God wants to use 5 counselors and Aaron and me to show His love to campers this summer, who am I to question Him? After all, He often uses a very small number of people to do very big things. (Gideon isn't the only example. Read Judges. And the rest of the Bible for that matter.) While I still hope and pray that God will provide at least one more counselor, I can rest in the knowledge that His plan is perfect. I have faith that He will provide the staff we need to run three weeks of camp. And in the end, God gets all the glory because the only explanation for Camp Machaceh's success is His provision.

In the mean time, we are ecstatic about the summer! We cannot wait to meet our campers! Please pray with us as the summer draws near. Pray for our staff, our campers, and Aaron and Stephanie as we finish up last minute details.

Thanks for joining us on this journey!

Exhausted But Energized

2008-05-19T09:54:00.004-05:00

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." ~Isaiah 40:28-31 (NIV)

I [Stephanie] love this passage! I often feel weary and exhausted when I think about all I have left to do before June 21 when our counselors arrive. But when I take the time to stop and meditate on God's Word, I am truly renewed, refreshed, and reenergized. That's the way it's supposed to be. Many times I think we forget that doing God's work IS exhausting--that it's ok, even normal to be tired and worn down. However, we must remember to go back to Him for our strength and renewal. Perhaps Oswald Chambers put it best:

"You have no right to say-'O Lord, I am so exhausted.' He saved and sanctified you in order to exhaust you. Be exhausted for God, but remember that your supply comes from Him." ~Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

In what area of your life is God using you to the point of exhaustion? Are you turning to Him for your strength? It's definitely worth it!

Camp News

Staff: Praise God for providing another staff member! Yea Hunter! It's awesome to see how God is bringing this summer together. Aaron and I have been praying hard about the whole staff thing, so this is truly an answer to prayer! God's timing is always perfect!

A quick note on Kroger Share Cards: Kroger has recently changed its program. The Share Cards you have no longer work, as I'm sure you've already figured out. The new program will connect Camp Machaceh with your KrogerPlus Card. We will let you know when we have more details on this new program. We also have programs with Albertson's and Tom Thumb/Randalls. You can find out more information at www.campmachaceh.org/donations-store%20cards.shtml

Thanks for you prayers and support as we continue on this exciting journey!

5.5 Weeks and Counting

2008-05-13T18:13:00.009-05:00

This morning I [Stephanie] realized that we only have five and half weeks until our counselors arrive to begin training. Five and half weeks left to finish a million and a half details. (Ok. So it's not really that many, but sometimes it feels that way!) Despite the lack of time and long to do list, I still find myself awaiting the start of Summer 2008 much like a child waiting for Christmas morning. I simply cannot wait to see our campers this summer! I can't wait to see how our campers from last year have grown and changed, and I can't wait to meet our new campers. On July 6, all the hard work and complete craziness will be forgotten, replaced by pure joy as I watch each camper experience all that God has for them in five jam-packed days at camp.

Please join me in praying for each camper. Pray that they will be ready to hear what God has to say to them during camp and in the weeks following. Pray that they will meet with God in a powerful way. Pray for their health and safety. Pray that God will do more than we can ask or imagine this summer.

Thanks for your prayers. It's amazing what can happen in a camper's life in just five days. I can't wait to share with you stories and pictures of Summer 2008! Check the countdown over to the right--July is closer than you think!

I'll leave you with some of my favorite pictures from last summer:

A Taste of Camp Machaceh 2008

2008-04-30T09:35:00.003-05:00

On Friday, April 25 we held our first annual "A Taste of Camp Machaceh" in Houston. It was a great success. We had about 30 people for lunch at the Bells & Whistles Cafe. (Sidenote: If you are ever in Houston in the vicinity of Minute Maid Park, the Bells & Whistles Cafe is definitely a great lunch choice!)

Guests were treated to delicious food and a "taste" of what campers will experience this summer. Thanks to all of you who came and helped make the first "A Taste of Camp Machaceh" a huge success! Also, special thanks to our family and friends who helped us prepare and who pray for us!

Enjoy these pictures of a fun afternoon!

A Special Peace

2007-07-17T00:12:00.000-05:00

I want to share a story with you. This week we are doing a day camp for Samaritan Inn in McKinney. Today was our first day, and it got off to a rough start. Not only did we almost have several wrecks on our way, but when we arrived, unbeknownst to us, the two ladies who are coordinating the entire day camp were off work today. No one else knew anything about us. Aaron and I were standing in the lobby wondering if we would even be having a day camp this week.

Finally, we found two kids who wanted to come to our day camp, a three year old and a four year old. So we set off to our location. Now I don’t know how often you entertain 3&4 year olds, but they definitely don’t have long attention spans. Those two kids had the best time, though. I think they were elated to have the attention of 10 people whose sole purpose was to play with them.

The highlight of the day for me was watching the mother of the little boy take a long overdue nap while we entertained him. She told me she never gets a chance to take a break. (I believe it after chasing her little boy around the gym! He has a ton of energy.) I always thought about Camp Machaceh impacting the campers not the adults. But I will never forget the look of peace and utter relief on her face as we talked.

God works in amazing ways. I am so pumped about what He’s going to do the rest of the summer!

The Power of a Name

2007-07-17T00:09:00.000-05:00

I (Aaron) wrote this last week, but I'm just now getting around to posting it...

I always love reading in the Old Testament the different times when the patriarchs are born. Their families were so specific in naming their children. Sometimes the child would be named out of spite or anger. Often a parent would name their child after what they hoped for the child. Many times in the Bible God steps in with a name for a child. Names are so important that God changes names. Abram became Abraham, Jacob to Israel, Simon to Peter, and Saul to Paul as a few suggestions.

When Stephanie and I began searching God’s will for this ministry He laid on our hearts the idea of refuge. Many times the English language doesn’t have the ability to capture a whole thought in a single word. However, in Hebrew we found that there were several which could mean refuge. One of the ones David chose so often was Machaceh. Which has the meaning of hope, trust, and a place of shelter. All the aspects of a complete refuge. We struggled through finding a name for a while and as we discovered this word we realized God had breathed the first breath into a new organization.

Fast forward to this summer and God has not stood idle. He has stood by the promise that Camp Machaceh means. I talked to a parent who sent three youth to camp after their week. She told me that for three days before camp a man had been driving by their apartment complex and a nearby playground firing random shots at the kids who were out playing including hers. She looked at me with the most thankful eyes I have ever seen. The man was arrested while the kids were at camp. That week of camp may have saved her kids’ lives.

Today, the promise of Machaceh was driven even deeper into my heart. A young girl was not feeling very well after a hot day of camp. When her youth leader asked her if she wanted to go home, she said no because “this is the only place she has felt like a kid in a really long time.” Afterwards, she began talking with her youth leader, and I stepped out of the room for privacy. Later he came and told me that he has never heard her open up about God like she did today. At camp this week she found a safe haven where she could let her guard down. A place to find hope and trust. Machaceh is such a powerful promise for this ministry. We can’t wait to see how God continues to shape this ministry.

Port Arthur and other fun things....

2007-06-26T22:23:00.000-05:00

We’re in Port Arthur (near Beaumont) this week doing construction for Rita Recovery. Hurricane Rita hit two years ago and thousands of people still live in homes that cannot even stand up to a normal rain shower. Alan, our construction director, told us that the reason there are still so many damaged homes is not due to a lack of volunteers, but due to the vast damages. Over 21,000 of the 50,000 people here had damaged homes.

Why are we here? Well, our day camp for this week fell through, but we still wanted to serve. So here we are.

Last week went very well. We had 14 campers!! Our 4 campers from the week before came back, and the new group wants to come back in July! I guess they are having fun or something. Actually, it was a very powerful week. Three campers accepted Christ for the first time! It’s crazy. You work so hard to bring something together, and you see God move even when things don’t go exactly according to plan.

My favorite moment from last week was watching one of our precious little boys from inner city Waco roll on the ground in laughter during a goofy song. That one moment, watching that rough ten year old with a mouth and a half forget everything and act like a kid is what we’re all about at Camp Machaceh.

We’ll be back home this weekend for a mission trip in the Dallas area. See you Sunday Honeymooners!! Then it’s back to camp in Waco.

The Adventure Begins

2007-06-14T01:00:00.000-05:00

So a Copperhead snake fell out of a tree this morning and landed about ten feet from me. It was about 2 ½-3 feet long. Aaron and the guy with the weed eater killed it. Aaron came into the house we’re staying in and proudly informed me that he cut its head off with his knife. Apparently the body kept moving. I’m definitely glad I was inside by that point.

Right now, we are in Rosebud, TX (about 40 minutes SE of Waco) at the beautiful Forest Glen Springs Christian Camp. We are finally in the middle of our first week of camp. Boy what a ride it has been thus far!

Let me fill you in on the events of the last 2 ½ weeks…The adventure started before we even got out of Dallas. On the way to staff training, our trailer had a blowout requiring us to replace not one, but all four tires. Needless to say, we were late to staff training.

Staff Training…here are a few highlights of these two weeks: Aaron and one of our counselors got very sick during the first weekend—I think it was heat related. We had to walk between a quarter of a mile and a half mile one way to get from our cabins to the dining hall. We didn’t find the shortcut trail until the third to last day at that camp. Overall, though, staff training went really well. There were a few rough spots with our staff learning our leadership style and education model, but God is continuing to unite our staff into a tight-knit community of believers. I’m excited about getting to know each person better, and I am filled with joy when I see how God is working in their lives.

This brings me to the present. Like I said, this is our first week of camp. We have four campers this week. We were supposed to have more, but something happened and they couldn’t come. We went knocking on doors at an apartment complex in Waco on Sunday, and these four kids were the result of that. They are having a blast. I don’t think they even notice that there is not anyone else here.
One of our counselors told us that one of the campers said that being here at camp is better than being at home because he hears gunshots on a regular basis at home. That’s what Camp Machaceh is all about. That’s why we do this, and these kids are what keep me going everyday. We serve an awesome God, and I cannot wait to see what else He has in store for the summer!