This is my final post for the summer. It’s hard to believe it has already come to an end. Once again I have so many reasons to be thankful and praise God.

It’s been good to have some time to reflect and I think what stands out to me most about this summer more than what I’m taking away is what I feel like I was able to give. I might not have learned specific lessons from God and grown in any way that I can clearly identify, but I think I did move closer to discovering what drudgery is in a job and how it is a necessary part of every task of eternal purpose. So although I would often find myself lamenting staring at a computer screen for hours in the basement, I also discovered this less-than-enjoyable aspect of creating a DVD to be well…the only way to create a DVD! And through this DVD I was able to give the campers something valuable. I was the only staff member who had a job that could be shared with campers and oh what joy it was to be able to share. By giving the campers the opportunity and tools to film their experiences and record their counselors sharing things that count, and then preserving this all on a DVD that they could take home, I was able to give them the means to take a positive “snapshot” or piece away from camp. It gave them the power to capture both the fun and the life-impacting stories and truths that had changed them, giving them perhaps multiple snapshots to retain a very live memory of what for many is a fleeting mountaintop experience. I hope by having invested themselves in the video process that took to create the DVD and having earnestly desired to instill camp on camera, that in re-watching the work of their own hands again and again these campers (as well as the ones who didn’t film)  can be reminded of what God taught them that week and of the staff that they were surrounded with that inspired them to live a life following Jesus, and that they can find a way forward from this experience.

In this clip the staff talk about how BBC facilitates this intimacy with God. (note: this is unedited footage that I quickly pulled together, but still wanted to share). I hope these words, expressed by perhaps the most genuine, God-fearing staff that I have ever had the privilege to work with, will direct others to this community where barriers are torn down and love overcomes.

until next year!

~Pepper

This summer I learned the about the power of stories or testimonies as in a profession of how God has been experienced in someone’s life. Just looking at the bible, it is clear the power stories have had in testifying to who God is and by reading other people’s experiences with God our own conception of God can be expanded as we begin to see that face of God for ourselves.  I’ve been realizing more and more how everyone has come from a broken place and have seen God make himself known in the darkness. Yet so often we neglect to ask “where are you and where have you been?.” It’s so easy to ask “how are you” with meaningless intention that is so often reciprocated by an empty “good,” but I find we rarely take the time to share what counts. So the last week here at BBC I decided to ask the teens about when they first began to follow Jesus, any stories along that journey and how camp had been a part of it. Each interview went in a slightly different direction and it was exciting to hear campers share not just where God had showed up in their life, but how they were currently striving for a relationship with him. The best part was hearing how camp had been the influence in their life to facilitate this desire to know God.

I like to think of my story with God like a thread. At a certain moment I can only see that thread and sometimes as it’s being woven throughout my life it’s a concealed stitch holding me together when I’m despairing and I can’t see anything. Other times I see it up close so that every fiber is visible to my now believing eyes. Yet it’s not until I stop and look back and become honest with myself and others that I’m able to see the beautiful fabric that thread is sewing. I think that masterpiece in progress is worth making known and praising God for. Even when things seem hopeless I think there is hope at least that God is not finished.

Teen week ran a little differently as there was no interest groups or any time I could teach campers or intentionally involve them in  the video process. However, there was still a lot of interest in helping me film. I had a t least 5 different guys and girls assit me throughout the week. Two of them proved to have a lot of knowledge and talent and I feel assured there will be someone to take my job and carry on this program next year. I often found myself camera-less and a bit idle because the campers were so motivated and competent to take over my filming duties.

This segment is just a summary of a little bit of everything that campers took part in the first half of the week before the trips on Wednesday.

I am continually encouraged by the ways the campers are learning about Jesus and everything that is spoken through this verse,”You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.” -Matthew 5:8

We’ve been playing some pretty awesome group games this summer up on the ball field. Here are a few favorites that were played during Voyager. The last one you will see in this clip is Iron Man tag– a completely original BBC game invented by our very own Sparkles and Cha Cha. The best part is seeing staff dress up in the mad scientist outfit and then ride the bike around the circle in a ridiculous fashion!

I took some time this week to thoroughly interviews my assistants about why they were excited to be in the video interest group and what they hoped to share with their viewers. I think the consensus was that they don’t get a lot of opportunities to use a video camera so this was a unique chance for a new experience and for those who had filmed before it built on a known passion. They recognized that having the campers help create the DVD adds a more interactive element as it includes more people in the process as well as how it can be used to spread the good news about this place – “until the whole world comes to BBC.” “That would be awesome,” they said, until they realized camp would be a little crowded!

So many campers this week were excited to help video. Unfortunately, so many that I couldn’t take all of them! Here are the six that joined me in my interest group (Grace, Elizabeth, Kearrah, Anna, Maggie and Maria):

This last week provided some thorough coverage of some of the activities I haven’t been focused on this summer, such as group games, Mission Impossible, and the Polar Bear Swim. Notice the multitude of footage from the GOPRO camera. So many campers asked to wear it for any and every activity. It’s always exciting to see the resulting video as it provides a beautiful HD image from the perpective of the participant so that it’s almost like you as the viewer are right there with them!

90% camper filmed! Here is a segment highlighting all of the interest groups that took place this week!

This week we were blessed with Turkey, as he came to be called, as our shepherd. As I began to interview campers about what they had been learning about Jesus that is inside out, it became clear that his teaching was penetrating. Not only could they recite some of the Beatitudes, they could put in their own words what they meant. They understood how Jesus was living in opposition to the ways of the world and how following Him in this could mean life to the fullest, it could produce understanding, peace, restored friendships, joy… That apparently negative things could mean inheriting the Kingdom and being called sons of God.