Let Faith Arise: Things I Got From Church Camp: Amended

Five minutes after my first campout post, my life forever changed for the better...

There have been a few days in my lifetime that I would say have been monumental, life-changing days.

July 9, 2000: The day I asked for & was baptized in The Church of Jesus Christ
October 13, 2007: The day Keal proposed to me
June 27, 2009: The day I got married
May 19, 2013: The day we found out our prayers had been answered and you were on your way!

Today, I add July 18, 2013 to that list.

Preface:

In the beginning of our journey, I asked God why this was happening and why our road was more challenging than others. Along the way, I have felt like I was given many answers, but one of my biggest feelings was that our journey to you all would lead to Keal's conversion and baptism. So when we found out we were pregnant, I began hopefully waiting for Keal to make his commitment. I had really been pouring my heart out to God the past few weeks leading up to campout, begging Him to help Keal feel His touch and power at campout.

Flash forward to this week at campout...

Things I was hoping for: intense seminars that would shake Keal, powerful sermons to stir his soul, and him to open up and ask for his baptism.

The first three days of seminars were not what I was expecting and I was somewhat disappointed. Here we were, Keal's first campout, and I feared he was not enjoying it. However, the first three night meetings were filled with powerful sermons. I tried not to look at Keal during these meetings; I didn't want him to feel me watching him or him to feel any pressure. But as I listened to these sermons, I thought, Surely this is it. He is going to ask tonight.

Nothing.

Then, Wednesday night we headed to the river for one of Oldham County's own to be baptized. It was a beautiful night, watching this not-so-little-girl anymore, who I knew when she was just a baby, walk into the waters to be baptized. (Side note: she is SO excited to meet and babysit both of you, just like your momma babysat her!) After she got baptized, her little sister (who I knew before she was even born!) also asked to be baptized. It was beautiful.

During this moment, Keal was standing behind me. He had one hand on my shoulder, holding my hand, and the other hand on my belly, holding you two. With our heads bowed, standing at the river, we listened to the prayers of the confirmations being given. As the ministers prayed, I too offered my own silent prayer, hoping Keal would too join my sweet girls in the water.

As the prayers ended, we began walking away from the shore to find another young boy contemplating baptism. Keal quietly made the comment to me, "Come on. Either you know if you want to get baptized or not. What's to think about?" With that statement I knew he would not be asking that night. I didn't lose hope; I knew one day he would be baptized, but I did think that perhaps this just wasn't going to be his year. My prayers began to shift, I was now praying that Keal at least enjoyed himself enough to come back next year.

Thursday morning, the last day, we headed to a different seminar for our final wrap-up. It was a fabulous morning at our "Proclamation Party!" We played ridiculous games and ice breakers and did some singing, all followed by some small break out discussions - proclaiming what Christ had done in our lives and in our week at campout. I watched as Keal seemed to be having a nice chat with one of my oldest and closest friend's husband. I so badly wanted to listen in, thinking this is it, this is his last chance! But still, nothing. It had been such a blessing to me and a wonderful seminar, but still Keal didn't seem to be budging.

Later that night, we had our final night meeting. Each year, Thursday's night meeting is less preachy and more of a weekly wrap-up. The choirs sing, the kids perform, testimonies are given, and camp is brought to a close. It's never a really spiritual meeting. I had no expectations for this meeting. Afterwards, we'd be going back to the river for more baptisms. I had already decided that I wasn't going. My pregnant body was sore and tired. I didn't think I was up for the long, hot walk again.

During the meeting, a friend texted me about how long and boring the meeting seemed to be going on. At that moment, Keal got up to leave. I thought he must have agreed with my friend! My mom tried to get my attention and whispered, "You need to follow him. I think he's going to ask for his baptism!"

I was so confused, "Didn't he just go to the bathroom?"

She just repeated herself, "You need to follow him...he took Dad with him." At that moment I realized my dad was gone too. I stood up and leaned over the balcony. There, standing in the hallway, was my dad and Keal in a tight embrace, tears streaming down their faces.

You'd think I'd learn by now that God always has the perfect plan already figured out. Here I was praying for a great sermon or seminar to shake Keal's soul. Here I was doubting God's power, thinking it couldn't happen because the big / powerful meetings were over. Here I was thinking I had it all figured. God must get such a chuckle out of me.

It wasn't any great sermon. It wasn't any great seminar. It wasn't any man's words. It was all God! It was God's spirit pounding in Keal's chest, calling Him to a new walk. It was pure perfection!

What an incredible week we had at campout! I am so excited to add July 18, 2013 to my list of life-changing dates. I am so blessed and thankful that Keal has decided to live a life for Christ. We have always had a special and wonderful marriage, but I am so excited to see where it will go now that we are both so fully committed to Christ. I am so grateful that we will bring you, our sweet miracles, into a home centered completely on Christ.

2013 may just be the best year of our lives!