For the last couple of months I have been working in North Carolina as a camp counselor at Camp Ridgecrest. It has been an amazing couple of months. The camp has tested me in ways I never knew I needed. Being only 19 and having just finished my first year of college at Florida State, I have not had any major responsibility like a child to take care of or many bills to pay. Now I have 10 teenagers that I have complete responsibility over. At first I did not know what that entailed and was afraid that I would mess up or not be enough. But through that fear I was still calm and joyful. The only explanation is God. I know that He created the universe; He died on the cross for my sins. He is powerful enough and loves me to where I should not be afraid and can rest on Him and in Him.

Then the kids arrived and I realized how selfish and impatient I was and still am. As a person I am more reserved than most and enjoy my alone time. As a counselor you do not get to be reserved or get alone time. Being around the kids 24 hours a day for almost 7 days a week, I noticed myself having a shorter temper with the kids in my cabin. I knew from that there was a problem with my heart in that area. The Bible says to be slow to anger and it was obvious that I was not. While I was reading Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis at camp, Lewis talks how to act you must think about the action first. Therefore as Christians we need to place our thoughts on Love, our God. This made me up my dosage of prayer and His Word and be completely surrounded by Him. The results have been inexpressible really. The fruits of the spirit have been more visible in my life and joy has overcome me.

One last thing I have been taught so far this summer is that I can do nothing without God. With the long hours I am tired, with the campers I do get annoyed, and with the other awesome people in the staff I am just another face in crowd. But through Him I am renewed, I am slow(er) to anger, and I have my identity in Him. If it was not for God I would not be able to make it through this job so because of this job I have to rely on Him more than I have ever before and I love it.

(Andrew Hartsfield was born and raised in Tallahassee. He's a student at FSU and just finished his first year. Andrew has been going to City Church since 2008 and serves on the First Impressions team.)