"...with actions & in truth."

If I could give you a fantastic example of seeing love in action, it would be CPC Family Camp 2009. Hands down.

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. —1 John 3:18 (NIV)

I honestly wish I took more pictures; I honestly thought I would. I even brought my camera charger in case of overusage. I honestly thought that I would be going around taking more pictures of the nature around us than the people themselves. I honestly thought I wouldn’t be spending so much time with family. I honestly thought it would be quite difficult to make friends and to bond even further with closer ones.

“Thought.” But did it happen? Certainly not.

If I started over, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Had I taken more pictures, I would’ve been sacrificing energy to eventually appreciate my surroundings. Had I taken more pictures with others, I would’ve been sacrificing time to get to know them. Had I spent less time with family, I would’ve been sacrificing an opportunity to remind them that I loved them. Had I stuck around with routine friends, I would’ve been sacrificing the chance to leave as a better person, friend, & Christian.

Everywhere you turned, you saw Love in Action. Everyone treating each other as family— even new faces. Helping each other out, showing others around, offering their seats, accepting others to join the games, treating each other’s wounds, sharing Bibles and testimonies. It was such a humbling experience.

God really is good. All the time.

I’ve come home with the desire to show more love to others. God’s love. To show kindness, happiness, compassion to others. I am ecstatic to see others grow in Him and experience it for themselves. It’s a wonderful & almost unfathomable knowledge. A truly awesome feeling to be loved unconditionally.

I sat up on my bed after a 4-hour nap & asked myself, “What did I learn this weekend?” This is what I came up with. I hope your weekend was fantastic. I, however, though extremely blessed, is also extremely sore from paintballing. Though I wish I played Civil War, it was in my best interest to stay out of that round, for my arms are killing me. Now, I’m back from the mountaintop, back to reality, & alas, I must study for tomorrow’s quiz. Au revoir.

P.S. To my lovely CPYF babies: thanks for mini jam sessions! Quite the shame that we didn’t have time for a full session, but we still have Sundays!

P.P.S. Man, I’m still curious as to which of my teammates decided to shoot me. Ironically, that bruise hurts the most.

P.P.P.S. Samantha— Deer in headlights!? WHEAT THICKS. Don’t bite me! Hannah— really low table pictures! Uke sessions! Last minute volleyball! Jainah— “Uh.. ‘I love you. & I mean it.’ Yeaaaah..” I embarrass you.

:)