HPU: Finding Plan B

The notion terrified me—a Baptist Student Ministry campout.

I have been involved with BSM two years and conveniently have found reasons why I couldn’t go on a campout whenever one was scheduled. Honestly, I really was scared to go, but this year I was determined to face my fears. Kim LilleyI spent all week coming to terms with the things that I wouldn’t be able to do—charge my phone, bring my hair dryer or straightener or have electricity in general. But I knew this was a weekend many students look forward to as an annual event, and I was ready to make the best of it. I borrowed a tent and got my sleeping bag ready.

By Thursday, I was over the initial shock of things I would not have, and my attitude began to improve. I was going to do this and prove to everyone this girly-girl could hack it. However, when I arrived at the BSM office after lunch, I received some shocking news. Due to the high chance of rain and decreasing temperature, we needed to cancel.

Believe it or not, I actually was slightly disappointed. I wanted the chance to get to know the students who had signed up. Many students were upset that we had to cancel, and we had to decide what to do with all the students who had made plans.

I had a long and stressful week. I honestly wanted just to take the night off to do nothing. We decided to host a movie and game night in the BSM. We scrambled Friday in the midst of chaos to get movies rented, games gathered and pizzas ordered. A great group of students showed up. I got to hang out with them and talk. We just spent the night getting to know new students, laughing over games and movies. It was such a relaxing time and awesome fellowship.

I learned sometimes it is worth it to take the extra time to spend with people. We easily could have canceled everything after the rain and just taken the night off, but that’s not what needed to happen. Sometimes we have to look for Plan B when circumstances change and not get discouraged.

Even though our event wasn’t as exciting as camping out in tents, it still was fun. Sometimes, we don’t need to do something big. We just need to use what is around us. It was a simple event, but everyone enjoyed it. He had fun and just chilled out together. BSM campout would have been a big and awesome event, but BSM camp-in was just as awesome and exciting.

Kim Lilley is serving with Go Now Missions as a campus ministry intern at Howard Payne University.