About four months ago, I thought it would be a good idea to look into my summer plans. I knew I would have to work in Missouri (for residency reasons), and I knew that a camp was my first choice. So naturally I turned to the internet. I googled “Christian camps Missouri”, and I clicked on the first result: Kanakuk. After looking into the camp, I got really excited about working there. Their summer staff includes over 2,000 college students. That’s quite different from the 65 at the camp I work at now.

I browsed through their positions and was really excited to see the words ‘Adventure Kamp’ (Kanakuk spells anything with camp with a K). Now this isn’t just any kamp. This adventure camp includes three parts: scuba, aviation, and survival. This means scuba diving in Florida, learning how to fly planes, and surviving out in the wilderness. I knew that was the job I wanted. After a promising first general interview, I got a call from the head of the Adventure Kamp series and got the news: you have to be 21 to work adventure staff.

When I heard those words over the phone, I started crying and I realized how much I wanted that job. It felt right. I was super disappointed, but I had hopes of working adventure staff later on. The phone call ended with assurance that I would get a regular counselor position and the final word would be in February. I got over my disappointment, deciding to trust God’s timing and plan. Normally, not knowing what I would be doing over the summer would stress me out a lot, but I really felt that God would work everything out for the best. Meantime, I focused on growing closer to God and relying on him for strength in school as I went through the motions of everyday life.

A week ago, I was feeling really discouraged on my drive to school. Usually I pray for different people on my drive, but that particular day, I prayed “God, I’m really discouraged. You’re a big God and I need something big to encourage me today.” I felt a bit sheepish at praying such a bold prayer. Little did I realize how big of a God I serve. That afternoon I got another call from Kanakuk. Seeing the name of the Adventure staff director pop up on my phone, I froze not wanting to get my hopes up. I answered the phone. “Hello Samantha, I was wondering if you were still interested in being a counselor for adventure camp?” I explained that I wasn’t 21, and so I wasn’t able to be a counselor. That’s when I heard the news, “We still have one female staff position that we need to fill, and it’s yours if you want it.” WHAT??? I could barely contain my excitement, still hardly believing it.

But in order to accept this offer, God still had to work one more miracle. I was enrolled in 17 credits, but needed 20 to graduate. I needed 3 more credits somehow. Frantically I considered my options: I could CLEP a course or take an 8 week class. In order to sign up for another class, I needed to get the college’s permission. So I made my appointment, met with an adviser, filled out the paperwork and waited. I wrote in my journal, “everything about this job is so impossible that if it works out, the whole thing was God.” Well, it all worked out.

I AM GOING ON ADVENTURE CAMP

How faithful is God? Seriously. He proves his goodness over and over again. Don’t think your plans are too big for God. He is so so much bigger than my deepest hopes. Who would think that I would ever learn how to fly a plane or scuba dive? Or get to go on adventures for Christ? Or get to teach kids about Jesus for a job?

Psalm 37:4

Delight yourself in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Jeremiah 29:11-14

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you,”