Wrap Up

Woa! These past five weeks have certainly flown by. Sorry I haven't been able to post about the daily happening at Life Teen Camp Tepeyac.

If you want to see what actually happens at summer camp check this out: http://lifeteen.com/media/video/camp-tepeyac-2012-week-10-edge/

I took all the photos and video and put it all together.


What has God done in my heart over the past five weeks? 

That's a loaded question. He hasn't stopped asking me to dive deeper into his love. God is moving mountains in my heart. He's asking me to do big and wonderful things to follow him.

I had the opportunity to come before the Lord every morning and often multiple times a day to praise and adore him. During that time I was praying about two verses in particular. The first from Mark chapter 8 verses 34 and 35. " Whoever wished to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it" There were many things I was denying myself of this summer by coming to camp. Air conditioner, cable TV, fast internet service, my own bed..just to name a few material things. But God kept placing this verse on my heart when I began to prepare my heart for the mission he has me on next year. I know that next year is going to be challenging but I don't know exactly how. Other missionaries tell me it's a year of denying my own wants for the betterment of the community. Keeping this verse in mind, God is beginning to prepare my heart for that.

This also became a part of my prayer when God placed Haiti on my heart. Life Teen Missions is opening a base in Haiti. Anyone that knows me knows how deep my desire to go to Haiti is. It started back when the Earthquake hit, and I was trying every possible way to get to Haiti. Multiple things weren't working out and I wasn't able to go each time a trip was going. But God still had this desire on my heart. When I found out about Life Teen opening a base I thought maybe, just maybe I could serve there. I must go through a year of formation first and then continue to pray if that is where God is calling me in the future. Denying that desire of my heart or rather, putting it on hold and trusting the Lord has been a huge part of my prayer.

The other verse that I continued to pray through this summer was Proverbs 31:25. "She is clothed with strength and dignity and she laughs at the days to come". Being honest I'm nervous about next year. There is a lot of unknown things that are about to happen. A lot of questions yet to be answered. Like, how am I supposed to raise $5500? Or, can I really share a room with another person? And, will I really be able to be silent for eight entire days? Oh and, what happens next year? But this verse began to calm my heart when it got crazy. I don't need to answer those questions because God already has the answers..DUH. But I also used this verse in the Women's Session that I was blessed to lead. That experience was so beautiful!

Clearly a lot has happened in the past five weeks, and I can't wait to see what God continues to do with me. I know that he knows the depths of my heart, and that each of those desires will be answered when he sees fit. But for now I will continue to live out the life he is calling me to.

Praying for you.
<3 Amanda

Tepeyac Week 1

Week one of the mission is already over and God is moving mountains in my heart as well as in the hearts of the other Summer Missionaries. We have finished different work projects in preparation for the campers to come. We worked on the water slide, an Art Barn, preparing the Paintball field, low ropes course and cleaning cabins. It has been a physically intensive week, but all of our work has begun and ended in prayer. Each morning we gather in front of the blessed sacrament and beg the Lord to fill us, and give us what we need to get through the day. We also begin the day and end the day doing the Liturgy of the Hours together as a community. Even though our days begin early, and end late God is filling our hearts to the brim and letting HIS love flow through us. 

I ask you to continue to pray for all things summer camp. For the priests, hosts, musicians, Youth Ministers, Core Members, Teens and especially the Summer Missionaries as we get ready for the official start of summer camp.

Thank you for your YES!