Aldersgate Camp is truly my favorite place in the world. Set in the mountains of eastern Kentucky, it is like coming home every time I pull into that driveway. I spent my first week of camp there the summer before 8th grade, and went back every year after, and was a cook on staff there in the summer of 98. It is truly a special, holy place, and I have such amazing memories of my time there. I asked Jesus into my heart that first year, and rededicated my life to Him with each passing summer. I made friends there who are still my friends today. I fell in love with more boys from camp than I can count on one hand, hahaha! :) I learned songs I sing to Caleb each night..."Blessed Be", "Ain't no rock," "Sanctuary," "Love Him in the morning"...and, someday, "Pharaoh Pharaoh," LOL! I will never, ever forget the summer of '94, during Leisure Ministries week, how we acted out the book of Revelation throughout the week...having my name called out of the Book of Life, going to "Heaven", hearing "well done, my good and faithful servant", rescuing people from "Hell" aka the sewer pits, singing "One Name" under the most beautiful night sky I've ever seen in my life, complete with shooting stars. I remember my summer on staff there as a cook, getting up at 5:30 to start breakfast, being so dog-tired at the end of the day, the houseboat on staff weekends, the silly pranks and belly laughter, begging to go into town and to Applebee's on taco night because we were just SO sick of tacos...the smell, the mess, the clean-up, the romances between staff members that led to future marriages and babies, the staff Bible studies each week...the list could go on and on. I remember church retreats and also retreats with the Wesley Foundation in college, all of which have special memories of refocusing on what is TRULY important in life, and getting away from the "real world," even if only for a weekend.
I've been wanting to take Bryan there for a long time, but wasn't sure we could just go up and walk around. I found out we could, and I was so glad to get to do it. I would love for Caleb to get to experience Aldersgate like I did, but not being a part of a Methodist church anymore, I will have to be proactive about that! Families can rent out a room in the (air-conditioned/heated) cabins for the weekend-I think that would be a lot of fun to do, and we plan on it!
It is hard to put into words my feelings about Aldersgate...it truly helped shape me into who I am today, it gave me a foundation for my faith, it helped me get out of my introverted self as a young teen, it showed me the importance of a community of fellow believers, and showed me what true faith and what loving God really looked like. So many times we would be at camp and ask ourselves, "Why isn't it like this back home, in our churches? Nobody seems "into" their faith--it seems more like a weekly chore, something to check off the to-do list...the sermons aren't that relevant, the singing isn't heartfelt...etc etc etc." We knew what we had at camp was special. I am glad to have found a church now that IS on fire, excited, and putting their money where their mouths are, so to speak...I am beyond grateful for that. But Aldersgate will always hold such a special place in my heart.
