God is going to do something this summer.

I mean, how can He not? He's made it so that my family is absolutely hitting rock bottom with this money situation. Oh, did I tell ya'll about that? See, my family is really bad in the money thing right now. See, we've been bad before, but now it's really bad. My dad doesn't know how to manage the money, and he won't go to a finance counselor, and he won't give my MOM the information so SHE can go to the finances counselor. And our cars are falling apart around us. Well, not really. My brother's truck is doing better, and God performed that healing on my dad's car. See, my dad's car was smoking all the time and the mechanic guy said it needed a new engine. Well, there was just no way, so my dad was praying about it, and God answered. He said that my dad needs to repent for not being a good steward of all the Lord has given him. My dad did, and the next day his car didn't smoke anymore. We are believing it's a miracle. And my mom's car is just so old the mechanic told us not to even bother getting it fixed. So, since we have no money to get a new car right now, we are believing that God will give my mom a new car. God told her to have faith that she will get a new car. And not a hand-me-down car from my dad, but HER car. She is going to get a new car. We actually know 2 people who have gotten new cars. One is my mom's best friend, whose boyfriend had just taken her car and house, and so she had no money for a new car. So, one day her work was raffling off this blue mercedes convertible, and she fell in love with it. God told her to ask specifically for it, and she did, and she got the car. Then this other guy at church was in the same spot we are in, and this lady came up to him one day and handed him her car keys. So now we're just waiting for my mom's new car. I wish it would just be in the driveway with all of my mom's stuff in it, and I would wake up and Caleb and I would go outside to go to school or something and there it would be. That would be so awesome.

But where was I when I got off on all this? Oh, yeah. We are in this really bad money spot right now, and what's more, I'm not doing swim team or youth camp this year! I can't do swim team because I wouldn't have a ride to meets, and youth camp because it's the second week in August and that's the most important week for Marching Band and Colorguard. But Pastor C is starting to try to guilt trip everyone who is not going. Not going to work, Pastor C! Here's what he said:

Youth Camp is the climax, the apex of our year. I want to start seeing an attitude in our young people that says I will be at camp no matter the cost or what I have to do...not counting the S's...that is special.

S's, we'll miss you guys but you'll have a blast. God bless your trip.

We need to continue to reach out to Caleb and any other youth that is busy and doesn't come to GN for whateve reasons. They are important to our mission and success. We all need youth camp to sling shot us into the next school year. God rocks!

And my mom and I wrote him an email:

Hi Pastor C. This is Emily and Caleb's mom, Debbie. I just read the posts
regarding this year's youth camp.

As a family, we had set aside the first week in August for youth camp. As is,
Caleb misses the first week of band camp by attending, but that's ok as the
first week is light. However, since the dates have had to be changed to the
second week, as marching leader, he cannot miss band camp. The other
development is that Emily has made color guard, and needs to be at the second
week, as that is when they learn most of the moves for the program.

I know how important youth camp is. Especially HOP's youth camp. I was there
for a couple of days last year after bringing Caleb down to Myrtle after swim
team champs. It was an incredible atmosphere and I was really impressed at the
focus that's put on the Lord. I am thrilled that both of my kids loved it so
much they have talked about it all year, and were very excited to be nearing
this year's camp. That really says a lot about kids in this day and time...that
they love the Lord so much that they gear their entire summer towards camp.
Awesome!

So that says a lot about camp and how much they love it. Now it's my turn.
Both of my kids are feeling very badly that they can't attend this year due to
the date being changed. I understand that dates change. The problem I have is
they are both feeling guilty that they have other committments. Guilty. I'm
sensing a red flag here. All I ask is that you are careful to choose words that
do not put guilt on the kids that can't go. I agree that youth camp is the
climax of the year. It takes committment and motivation to pull it off, and my
hat is off to you and your staff. Just please be mindful that there are kids
involved in public school programs that have activites planned year after year
after year on the same weeks. It's not my kid's fault that youth camp's dates
had to change.

I hope that this isn't coming across harsh. I just had to speak up as I'm
trying to deal with both of my kid's feeling badly. They feel that since they
have other committments, they are bad, and are not putting God first in their
lives. They have both sacrificed this summer. They are not doing anything they
want to do due to time and schedule conflicts. Please don't rub it in, ok?

Thanks for listening.

Debbie

ps-Hey Pastor C, this is Emily. I just wanted to say that everything my mom
said was true. I do feel manipulated and guilty about not being able to go to
youth camp, and I think that is wrong. First of all, I think that everyone is
making youth camp into something more than it is. I feel like you are saying
that we can't have a God-filled, successful year without going to youth camp.
That's not true. Also, the way you worded your last post made it sound, to me,
that it was almost an idol. I know no one else will feel that way, and I know
that was not your intent, but it made me feel that way. Also, I don't
understand why you will bless the Silva's for their "special" circumstances, and
you won't bless anyone else. It could be that there may be a reason that God
has for making it so we can't go to youth camp.

I jsut thought I would put out the thoughts I've had concerning youth camp.
Sorry if it sounds harsh. I do love youth camp, and I think it's an awesome
time to commune with God, but I just don't appreciate some of the comments some
people have made. Thanks.

~Emily

So yeah. And I meant every word of it. Especially about the idol stuff.

Well, I gots to go. I'm burning the soundtrack of Star Wars, Ep 3 for my friend Stacey. Until!

Love in Christ,
All His own,
(:Emily:)