After our last Baptist Student Ministry campout was canceled due to rain and weather problems, we decided to reschedule. I was still worried about attending my first campout, but I felt more prepared this time around.
Kim LilleyMany complications later, we finally booked a campsite at Lake Brownwood—practically in Howard Payne University’s backyard. Several of our students were late to sign up, but by Friday, we had students rushing in asking if they still had time to sign up. At the end of it all, we had 30 students ready to go, and we were looking for extra tents.
As we registered at the park and headed to our campsite, the reality of a real campout was beginning to sink in. I knew I wasn’t going to like it at all. At this point, I fully made up my mind just to simply survive the trip. As we set up our tents I was still a little negative about the idea. We were sleeping cramped tents on the ground, and I wasn’t too excited.
Looking at God’s creation
Several students decided to go on a hike and convinced me to go along with them. As I climbed big rocks, trying not to fall the whole time, I began to look at the view around me. It was breathtaking. We could see all across the lake.
The clouds over the lake were beautiful, and it was incredible to think that God created this. As I stood there, I saw beauty in our small town that I had never seen. The miracles God creates are all around us, but we must first take the time to look. I was completely out of my element on this trip, and I did hate the bugs and the weird thorny branch that I tripped on to get up the rocks.
But there was beauty I had to find and appreciate. There are good and bad things in every day, but we have to make the decision to see and pick out the beauty of it all.
We spent the rest of the night around a campfire singing, playing games and eating too many smores. It was nice to get away with our students and just enjoy our time. While we still had deep conversations, the main focus was to relax and get to know people better.
Out of our comfort zones
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I continued to be amazed at how God breaks us out of our comfort zones to do things for his good. It was a good night, and I got to know students better whom I haven’t had the opportunity to talk to as much. At the end of it all, I can now say I have done things like hike and sleep in a tent under the stars. I still can’t say that it is my favorite activity ever, but I definitely enjoyed the trip more than I expected.
Kim Lilley is serving with Go Now Missions as a campus ministry intern at Howard Payne University.
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