Michelle Wegner

Special

Whitney found a four leaf clover at camp.  I could not believe it.  She told me she was going out to look for one and I said something very mother-like such as "ok, have fun."  knowing it would keep her busy for a few minutes, but also knowing there was no way on earth she would ever find one.  Five minutes later she came back with a four-leaf clover.  I did not think they actually existed...until Whitney found one.

Looking at this picture, I can not help but think that the four leaf clover is so symbolic of my Whitney.  She is so special, so unique. It is hard to find another like her.

This was the first year at camp that all 3 girls actually had the attention span to sit through all of the morning worship session without having to leave.  I used to stick it out with them till they were too fidgety or noisy and then we would leave.  I was so excited to be able to sit through the entire sessions with them.  One of the goals all of the speakers gave the campers was to share Jesus with 2 of their friends when they got home.  They challenged them to imagine the impact of Jesus on their friends' lives.  Both Maddie and Whitney wrote down 2 friends names right away. 

We got home from camp Saturday.  The phone was ringing when I walked in the door.  It was Whitney's friend...one of the two that Whitney had written down.

Whitney played at her house all day.  Whitney invited the friend to church.  While we were in the car, Whitney said, "Mom!  She has been reading the Bible we gave her, and today I asked her if she wanted to pray to Jesus and give her life to him, and she said YES!  We prayed right there in her room!"

I am so proud of Whitney.  The uniqueness God has blessed her with is drawing so many to Jesus already, and she is only 8 years old.  I am amazed.

Rob Wegner T-Shirts Now Available

J Aquilla is the founding member of the Rob Wegner fan club.  As far as I know, he is the only member, with the only t-shirt, but it's still flattering.  J cracks me up. 

Seriously Worth It

By Thursday night at camp, I was seriously wiped out.  For whatever reason, I could not sleep more than 2 or 3 hours in a row, so I was sleep deprived, not feeling well, and emotionally spent. Even despite all of that, I knew God's purpose was for us to be there as a family.  Proof of that came Saturday morning.  One of the counselors handed me and Rob a note.  Here's what it said:

Thank you for everything you have done for me.  Not only have  you provided me great wisdom and knowledge about Christ, a strong woman model who serves Christ passionately, but also you provided me an amazing model of a healthy marriage.  Growing up in a broken home, I don't really know what healthy is, and you give me a picture of it every time I see you.  Thanks for your passion.  Know I will continue to pray for you both in your faith journey and passion you both have to keep changing people's lives.  I love you both and am here if you ever need anything whatsoever.  I love you...

I will treasure those words for a long time to come.  It makes sleeping with bugs and having to go outside to use the bathroom in the middle of the night seriously worth it.

For The Glory of It All

We just had our final morning worship session with the entire camp.  The presence of God came in a unique and powerful way.  What middle-schoolers do you know that want more and more worship time?   They get it.  They know what the presence of God feels like, and they want more.  My hope and prayer for them is that their entire lives, they remember what it was like to sit in the presence of God for a week.  My prayer is that they will never settle for anything less than living every day alive in His presence. 

I have seen campers and counselors for 16 years "re-enter" their regular lives.  Many have made commitments to God here that have "stuck."  They are the ones who are changing their worlds for Jesus. They are missionaries, pastors, doctors, moms and dads.... I have also seen campers and counselors make tragic mistakes.  Not all at once, but little by little, take steps away from Jesus until they end up in places they never imagined they would be.  I can think of two who are in jail.  I am remembering two girls who had babies just at the end of their 8th grade years.  So many stories.

As we sang together this morning, I could not help but weeping.  So much is riding on the decisions these kids make.  I just prayed and prayed for them that they would continue to make their next right decision.

I think Isabelle caught on to the moment and felt the presence of God as well.  She looked at me and said, "Mommy, do you think we can go back to Disney World?"  I said, "I don't know.  We have to ask Jesus."  She closed her eyes and folded her hands.  Then she said, MOM!  He said YES!"  Funny girl. 

Jack '78

I was laying in my bed praying for the kids who are right now listening to Mark Beeson teach them about what it means to give your whole life to Jesus.  As I was writing in my journal and praying, My eye caught an etching in the wood which said, "Jack '78".  I couldn't help but wonder what Camp Adventure was like for Jack in '78.  I was 5 years old then.  He was a middle-schooler.  He came here to hear about Jesus too.  Just like these kids are tonight and all this week.  I wonder if Jack of '78 is still following Jesus. 

As I stood in morning worship this morning watching the kids praise Jesus with their whole hearts, I could not help but think that for the rest of their lives they would compare their worship experiences to camp.  I think that about my own kids now.  God meets my kids here in this place every year in a unique way.  For whatever reason, God shows up at this place.  I think that for years and years people have come here to meet with God, and it is one of the few places on the earth that is sacred ground.  I feel it when I walk into this place.  God meets people here.

I wonder if Jack of '78 is thinking about his summer at Camp Adventure when he goes to church.  I wonder if he is trying to help his own kids find places of true community and authentic worship.  I wonder...

Commitment Night

I am always amazed at what happens by Wednsday night a camp. This is the third day the campers have been in a positive, loving, super-supportive environment. They have been talking about Jesus for 3 whole days. Tonight is commitment night. The campers will have the opportunity to give their lives to Jesus. They are surrounded by an atmosphere of love and acceptance. So many kids will choose to follow Jesus tonight. Pray with me that many will make that decision. It is going to be an awesome night. I am so glad I get to be a part of it!

The Muddle

No, this photo is not of the lake here at camp. It is a lovely photo of what I see when I open my cabin door.   Belle affectionately refers to it as "the Muddle."  We seriously cannot leave our cabin right now without wading through a foot of water. I had the funniest thought this morning when I was waiting in line with 6 middle schoolers for a shower.
I thought to myself, "I have eaten lunch with a former President and first lady. I have been to the Taj Mahal. All of that is pretty cool, but serving Jesus at Camp Adventure tops them all. The rewards for this kind of service are eternal. I can handle a mud puddle...for now at least!

Michelle Wegner

Family

So, You might be wondering why in the world we choose to do this every year as a family.  Why would we spend 3 days packing, sleep with bugs in our bed, give up our cozy couch and tv for a week?  Well,  for us, it's all about family.  It's about letting the middle school kids at Camp  Adventure see from afar how a family can work.  So many of them have only seen the broken kind of families.  Theirs hasn't worked out so well, so for many of them, they just start giving up on the idea of family at about this age.  Our hope is that they will see the light of Jesus in us-His light shining through our cracks and flaws.  I hope we can give them hope for what family really can be.

The Rope Bridge

This is serious fun unless you fall in the swamp and get leeches.

Michelle Wegner

The Best Part of Camp

The girls' favorite part of camp is the golf cart. Maddie asked me, Mom, now that I am 9 can I drive the golf cart?" My answer: "Um,no."

Our Home

This is the wonderful cabin called "Spring Beauty." This is where the Wegner's will be staying this week. Yahoo!