Volume 133: Rest in Meaningful

The Caddo finisher jumped over the wall with ease and ran into a group hug, surrounded by his camp family cheering for him and jumping with joy. Caddo had won 2nd session! 2 down, only 1 more to go! 

At this exact moment, my eyes were full of tears...

I realized people around me were pointing at me, laughing, and saying "Morgan!!!" 

Yet, as much as I love the Caddo tribe, my tears were not caused by my jubilant emotion of another victory. 

Truth be told, I hadn't even been paying attention to our finisher running the obstacle course...

I was focused in on my conversation with Megan about the beautiful moment of Anna Scott slapping the mat. 

The way she was immediately swarmed by all of her friends.

The way her family stood on the outskirts, watching, with the biggest smiles on their face.

The way Tucker brought his young campers down to give his sister a high five. 

The reminder that Camp Ozark truly means so much to campers like Anna Scott, as she has spent her whole life here. It's so much more than just a summer camp.

I came across this photo and had to include and state that I hope my daughter is like the girl on the left.

Later that day, I sat in the back corner of the BOP, watching the Session Video, and goosebumps covered my body. Session 2 was a doozy... but in viewing that video, you never would have known that we had sent so many sick campers home or that it had rained every day...

Instead, it was all clips full of smiles, activities, and campers having FUN. 

The reminder that Camp Ozark truly means a lot to these campers. A place that puts them first in every decision in order for them to have fun and be a kid! 

To be able to play wiffle ball in the pouring down rain with friends. 

To be able to make bracelets in the Crafts Center with friends. 

To be able to compete in bombardment with friends. 

The next morning, I stood at the entrance of the Field House, looking down at the BOP. From my zoomed out perspective, I witnessed the moment when Will announced Eddy as Caddo chief for 3rd session and the internationals all screamed with excitement and sprinted to celebrate him. 

A moment he'll never forget. A place that has come to mean so much to him - a second home literally across the world. 

The reminder that Camp Ozark means a lot to our staff, whether it's their first year at camp or they had been lifelong campers. A place that stretches them and grows them while in a safe environment surrounded by an amazing community.

Am I becoming numb to the impact that camp has on the campers and staff? Has it become just part of my job? 

For me, I personally don't experience these moments for myself as much - everything I do these days is is pretty routine/administrative/not part of the program. 

But I still do get to witness moments of...

A 14 year camper running the oldest girls obstacle course. 
A 25 minute video recapping a difficult session yet showing no signs of such.
An international staff member becoming chief.

All moments that reminded me to take a step back and consider the meaningful impact that this place has on people. 

May I never lose sight of what God is doing at Camp Ozark and the lives that are being changed. 

How amazing that I get to be a part of it! 

A place that means a lot to our staff and campers.
Where they can be themselves.
Where they can have fun.
Where they can learn about God and deepen relationships with Him.

And while at this point, it's harder to point specifically to the small moments where my life is being changed, I looked back at my reflection after my second summer at camp and saw for myself....

In my four page reflection in 2017, I ended with "Well, Camp Ozark, to get to the point: THANK YOU FOR CHANGING MY LIFE. Two years ago when I got a call from Chris Miller saying that I got a job at Camp Ozark, I never would have imagined a summer camp to have this big of a place in my heart. But the Lord is sovereign and boy, is He faithful at Camp Ozark. Kid’s keep coming back, year after year, and bringing their friends because there is something that draws them: and that. Is. Christ."

The reminder that Camp Ozark means a lot to ME! That it has been changing my life for the past ten summers and developing my character, leadership skills, faith, and overall person that I am. I can't even attempt to begin to list the ways this place has changed my life.

Hello, Wesley and I were matching.