Every summer at Camp Bighorn we have the amazing priviledge of partnering with families, churches and other organizations to use Adventure (unknown outcomes) to spiritually transform lives. We train our staff to teach through the outdoors and facilitate the work of the Holy Spirit as He ultimately brings about change in His children.
Through ten weeks of adventures we saw God move powerfully and we give him the praise for what He accomplished through our efforts. At the end of the summer it is hard to encapsulate everything that happened because so much of the change is happening on the inside of people, touching their souls and changing their mindsets. The stories ultimately reside in the lives of every individual. But here is a small taste of what we saw here at Camp Bighorn this summer.
A family works on the riverside in the heat of the day building a raft out of boards, webbing and barrels left for them by our staff. Their family dynamics clash and at times you do not know if they are going to walk away or finish the job. They continue and finish. Father and son, mother and daughter working together and gaining deeper understanding of each other. They float all the way back to Camp on the raft their hands have made.
The river again but this time with kayaks. A young individual hangs back from the rest, hestitant and fearful to trust. He is afraid to go down the river because there is too much uncertainty that he cannot control. It is a feeling we all feel at some point in our life. Our staff talk with him and help him choose trust over fear. He continues down the river not fully assured but yielding to something bigger then Himself.
A young individual in a wheelchair rolls onto our property. He too is uncertain. What will this week hold? Will I be accepted? Immediately he is shown love from everyone around him and his excitement grows. Throughout the week he makes crafts, plays games, and takes part in some of the adventure activities that he never would have dreamed possible. Our staff make a zip line harness that will work specifically for him. He flies down the line with laughter. Later our staff assist him to take part in our low static course. With God, all things are possible.
An at-risk group takes to the mountains for a wilderness adventure. They spend their days and nights beneath the Big Sky of Montana. Growing up in the city it is an experience that most of them have never experienced. They are constantly around man-made machines and they have grown deaf to the voice of God through creation. Throughout the trip they are forced to work together and make choices that will positively affect their situation. They are gaining leadership and experience that will help them in the future. But most importantly, they are surrounded by the loving presence of Christ-followers. They are being taught about being a disciple of Christ and they are encountering the Christ that made the world and everything in it.
These are just some of the tales that this summer held. We want to thank everyone who came out this summer for your involvement. Your willingness to step into adventure is a large part of the reason why these and many other stories came to be.
We look forward to seeing you back next year!
