Hume Lake

Sitting here typing this, tired and sore, I am reminded of where my aches and weariness came from.

Every two years Hume Lake Christian camp comes to Chiang Mai all the way from California and holds a three day camp for both middle schoolers and high schoolers respectively. The high school camp was held from last Saturday afternoon until Tuesday morning this week, and both Eric and myself attended.

The camp consists of team games, worship times, seminars, and chapel times. This year’s speaker was a man named Chris, who was struck by a nerve and muscle disability when he was in eighth grade. He taught us to persevere, and to be everything that we could be, among other things. He was a huge inspiration to us all, and I was very impacted by his teachings.

Each Hume Lake camp also comes with a video, with segments watched at the beginning of each chapel time. Last year’s theme was ‘We Like Sheep’, and taught about the parable of the lost sheep and the shepherd who went out to search for it. This year’s movie was ‘Many Returns of Honorable Grasshopper Fighting’. It discussed the parable of the talents, with each talent representing a martial arts technique in the movie. They are always very entertaining, while teaching valuable biblical lessons.

While team games contributed to most of the points that would decide who went home with the championship t-shirts, they were not the only ways to score for your team. Memorizing Matthew 25 verses 14 to 30 would earn over a hundred points for your team, and these points are what decided this year’s champions.

Enthusiasm was also required to avoid ending up in last place. Team spirit was evaluated by the counselors in charge of the games, and at the end of each one a few minutes were given to each teams to come up with their own unique cheers. This coupled with the intensity of the games played ensured that all participating ended their days with sore bodies and voices.

Hume Lake was an experience I will sincerely regret missing in my upcoming years. It showed the love and care felt for us hundred of thousands of miles away, with the counselors flying over and bringing with them their games and videos and commitment. I thank God for the experience that was given to both Eric and me, and for his blessings on those who sacrificed to come overseas for our sakes.