Camp Oasis

This year’s Camp Oasis theme was about Keepin’ It Real. It was based on the scripture passage from Colossians 2:17 “what is real is found in Christ.”



Amanda May, myself, Hillary, and Andre spelling out REAL in the sunrise at the camp's lake



       Camp Oasis is a spring break camp for all the different Branches sites as well as some other after-school programs. All of the programs get together for one week of learning about Christ and what it means to be a follower of Christ. This year, South Miami Branches (my site) took five of our middle schoolers. They were able to spend time in small groups, topics classes and skills classes. At night we were able to convene as a group and discuss what they had learned that day or where they saw God throughout the day.

I was able to teach the topics class called “Real Friends.” In this class we watched a video clip from Mean Girls as well as role-playing scenes where the class had to decide which friends were real, and which ones were not. I enjoyed teaching this class because it felt so natural. I felt like I was doing what God has been calling me to do; to teach kids about Jesus in a way that relates to them.

Although I felt comfortable teaching the class, I have to admit that as a whole, I did not feel comfortable at the camp. I was certainly a minority (which has been a reality of mine since I’ve been in Miami). But I felt that the way I ministered to these youth was not very effective. I didn’t go into camp thinking that I would bring anyone to Christ. I just thought that maybe I would be more comfortable than I actually was. Who I am to tell some of these young people that God really does exist? Most of the kids at camp come from broken homes, where their parents tell them everyday that they wish they did not exist. They come from homes where they are abused. They come from homes where their parents cannot even pay for food, much less clothing. So what can I, as a middle class white female from a great family, tell them that will be encouraging? How can I be effective?

After being a leader at Camp Oasis, there were many things that I learned. I learned that I am not meant to work with middle or high schoolers. I knew that before, but it was certainly confirmed while I was there. I also learned that maybe my ministry is not meant for urban settings. If it is meant for an urban setting, maybe it should be in another setting other than the one where I’m currently working. I learned a lot of things about myself and about my ministry while I was there. And although it was hard to learn these things, it was REAL. And that is what Christ calls us to be, no matter how hard that is.

A Day of Service...



As part of honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his legacy, South Florida Urban Ministries held a day of service in nearby Homestead, FL. This day allowed the whole organization to provide services to others in the community. Many people painted houses, while others, like myself, assisted with projects around Branches Florida City. I helped in organizing and cleaning some of the rooms where the children in the after-school program receive help with their homework. I did this for the first part of the day. The second part of the day, I spent in the pouring down rain cleaning paint brushes. When I say pouring down rain, I mean pouring down rain. It was absolutely horrible. When I finished that day, I was soaked through and through. I had two shirts on, and both of those had been completely drenched. I could wring out my hair like a towel, and my socks and shoes had that irritating squishy sound and feel.

            Even though I was completely miserable and complaining, I enjoyed being in the rain. I enjoyed feeling it hit my face and my back. And it was a great reminder of how messy our lives can be. It was an even better reminder of how messy service and ministry can be. I just kept thinking as I was getting soaked that even though I was miserable, this was exactly what I needed to be doing. Ministry is not easy. Sometimes it leaves us feeling absolutely miserable. But how can we say that we have really done ministry if we are not able or willing to get our hands dirty?

            Getting up at 5:00 am on a day that we were supposed to have off was extremely difficult. Not only was it hard because I’m not a morning person, it was hard because it was a full day of work after waking up so early. And of course I wanted to complain. But I had to remind myself that this year is a year of service. This is what I was called to do for this year. This is what Jesus calls us to do every day; to be in service to one another, and to be in service to better God’s Kingdom. Matthew 20:28 says “for even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” If Jesus, God’s Son, the Messiah, the Holy One, came to serve others, then surely I can give up a day’s time to serve my community.



            My question then, is more of a challenge to those who are reading this blog. What have you done lately as an act of service, or an act of kindness? Have you volunteered somewhere? Do you volunteer somewhere regularly? As Christians we are called to serve. So where will you go? What will you do?

From left to right: Selen Turner (works for SFLUM), myself and Amanda May Moore, one of the other YAVs this year in Miami.