LOCKPORT ALLIANCE CHURCH

 In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. - Romans 12:5

REACH Reflections

 

REACHWindsor, Maine was bustling last month with eager workcampers as Reach Workcamps brought in 332 youth and chaperones, including 20 youth/young adults and 6 chaperones from LAC, to work on around 40 homes in the Windsor area.  The team arrived Sunday, July 11 in the afternoon and settled in for a week of hard work, fun, and self-examination. 

The theme that week was “The Crossing.”  Using the visual of building a bridge to symbolize crossing over to God, the campers learned that  God is the master-builder.  Also, to be close to the Lord we must throw things that hold us back over the bridge as we cross.

At the end of the week, all the campers were asked to reflect on their week, their experiences and observations. 

When asked who they grew closer to over the week some replies included:  God, the youth group and adults leaders.  Many had the opportunity to get to know the “Blue Shirts” (REACH staff) and were blessed by all the work that they do.

The campers were asked what they wanted to be sure to remember about the week.  Some of the answers were: 

·          “God comes first before anything else”

·          “The privilege of serving Christ”

·          “New relationships with both Christ and new friends”

·          “That sometime I need to do something out of my comfort zone, because Jesus is there to hold me up and see it through”

·          “I want to remember what I threw over the bridge and remember a giving heart”

·          “The new friendships , but mostly the changes God called me to make in my life”

·          “My belonging, my new understanding and relationship with God, the impact this week had on me”

 

This year the team noticed many of the other campers didn’t seem to have a close relationship with God when they arrived  It was both a challenge and a blessing to see how God worked throughout the week on the hearts of those campers and our youth.  The Lord stretched them and showed them that He would give them what they needed even in difficult situations. 

 

One of the questions was to reflect on where they felt God move in, through or around you.  The responses were:

·          “The worship last night, God moved and I felt it”

·          “Thursday night he called me apply for summer staff”

·          “Every second of every day”

·          “This guy Charles didn’t want to work at first but by the end of the week he was working really hard”

·          “When a girl in my crew was confessing and needed help with her faith”

·          “Willingness of strangers to pray with me”

·          “God challenged me this week to trust Him and let Him speak through me.  I gave Him control and He took me on a ride I will never forget”

·          “When I was discouraged so I read my Bible and God showed me the most relevant verse ever and I knew God was with me then”

·          “I saw Him through a crew member who wasn’t so close to God”

·          “Friday - 7 crews, one site, lots of work”

·          “God definitely moved in on Thursday.  I was able to serve as a mentor to 2 others at the program.  God worked through us in our neighbor’s life - she gave so much throughout her life - it was our turn to help her”

·          “During worship and the thankful tears from my neighbor.  The prayers during out Thursday groups were definitely God moving around me.”