From beginning to end
The last time you will have read anything from me would have been midway through my Canadian adventures. The rest of the time went amazingly and I was given plenty opportunities to see God work in incredible ways.
From the beginning of my time there, I knew that (of course) it would come to an end. Therefore, and in particular, I knew I would eventually have to leave the incredible Christian community I had been welcomed in to and since grown to be a part of.
Prayers over it all
With this natural understanding, I prayed over the fact and made a conscious effort to process my time accordingly. I prayed over the idea that this is where I was meant to be and that (importantly, while unfortunately) I was eventually meant to leave.
For the time I was there, I would pray for moments to meet with Him and I would pray for Him to reveal Himself, not only to me but to the kids and everyone else who came through. And of course He did, in ways I had never seen nor thought possible before.
Beyond the lake
Yet, while this was the summer narrative, I would continue to pray for the epilogue. In addition to prayer for His revelation at camp, I prayed for his revelation outside of it. I prayed for Him to meet with and reveal Himself to everyone once they left at camp’s conclusion.
I for one certainly wasn’t going to be living in the cabin beyond the summer, and I knew the staff were eventually headed back to work or college and the kids were going back to family and friends. I knew that while camp was a majestic example of the kingdom of God - it was only for a time. And I prayed over that.
The high and the crash
Mistakenly, my initial prayers would request He be with us afterwards in a way we pray for the sun to greet us in the morning. Swiftly, my prayers sought reminders. Reminders that He is with us always - like the mere existence of the sun regardless of the state of the sky.
I would pray that He would carry those leaving the ‘high’ of camp and away from the following ‘crash’. And He met me in these prayers with reminders that there is no need for the crash nor the pre-ceeding high and showed me that the mere camp environment did not amplify God but camp, but merely subtracted the distractions that tend to turn Him down a few decibels.
Answered prayers
And now, I write from a house boat in Amsterdam with gratitude. Gratitude for answered prayers and gratitude for His reminders. Reminders that while I no longer wake up in a cabin by the lake; nor run bible studies for young teenagers; nor have designated time for reading the Bible or worshipping with Christian community - He is with me. As I wake up, as I go on flights and as I navigate what life looks like halfway across the world, He is with me.
Wherever you go
He has been with me in the places I’ve been, the places I am and will always remain ahead of me in the places I am yet to go. He’s with the staff-turned-friends whom I left back in Canada and with all the young boys who came through for a week at a time. He came with them, left with them and goes with them wherever they go.
I pray that He reminds us this always. I pray that He reminds us of His existence, His comfort, His love and His guidance. I pray for reminders of His creation and His work in people and in you - not simply in the place you are, but in all. And I pray He reminds you in particular that He’s with you right now - wherever you go.
Harrison is a 24-year old, raised in a non-Christian family and came to faith at 18. Having worked as a Marketing & Communications Assistant for two years after getting his Bachelor of Communications in 2019, He has swapped his home of New Zealand for Europe after a few months working at a summer Christian camp in Canada. He has a passionate personality which is illustrated in many facets of his life, from writing, to sports, food, friends, family and God. Harrison enjoys exploring and grasping different parts of life and discussing them with others. Chat with Harrison further at: harrisonbellve@gmail.com