3 is Better Than 1

Worship. We grow up hearing church called that, believing that worship is something that can only happen in a church or some kind of spiritual area. We differ. For us, worship is best when we’re outside, under God’s own creations, feeling the cool night air and the scent of nature flowing through us. Fireflies blink in front of us and the stars and moon light the way of the Lord. From this place— our very own Mountain T.O.P. –we’ve learned that worship can be practiced outside of a church. It can be practiced in anything and everything we do, and anywhere and everywhere we are.

Monday night, we worshiped in a pavilion. Tuesday it was a parking lot. It can be in the most random of places, doing anything from taking a shower to playing music. Worship has come to life for us, instead of it just being spoken of. We’ve felt God around us, moving through us as we praise his name and lift up our prayers. We’ve made close friendships and fellowships that have helped us worship and praise our God, growing closer to him every day.

Mountain T.O.P. is so much more than a church camp. It’s so different from the norm that I (Grace) don’t even like calling it a church camp. I prefer to call it a mission, because that’s what it is. When you go on a mission, you’re called to it. Sometimes you stumble on it, but for us, there was a calling, an inner voice that niggled at us saying, “Go. Go, you’re needed.” And this calling wasn’t something easily ignored. If I hadn’t come here to Mountain T.O.P., I know my summer would not have been the same. I never would have met the amazing people I came into contact with here, never would have learned the valuable messages I did, never would have touched the lives I touched here on the mountain, closer to God than I ever have been before. And that’s the point of Mountain T.O.P.—to change the lives of both the campers and the people out in the county.

This has been my first year at Mountain T.O.P. (Jamey), and let me tell you, it’s changed my life. I thought it was just going to be a normal week of hanging with friends, working for some people. It was completely different. We worked for people who had almost nothing, to people who had decent homes. The thing is, the people with less seemed to be happier. I had a great week with all the new friends I made, and it was definitely a life changing experience. I will definitely come back soon.

Written by Mary Kate, Grace, and Jamey.

Ask, Seek and Knock.

Ask, Seek and Knock.  
Music by Allen and Frankie; Chorus by Allen; Verses by Frankie of the YRG: Everybody Snickers.     

Every day  I look to the sky and what do I see.
I see the light of Heaven shining upon me.
I’m a child of God and there’s just one way to walk.
Ask, seek and knock.  

Ask, seek and knock
(To receive your Father’s will).
Ask, seek and knock
(He is sure to answer just be still).
Ask, seek and knock
(He’s there to guide you every day).
Ask, seek and knock
(He is the truth, the light, the way).

Sometimes I lose my way and what do I do.
I ask for help and comfort and guidance from you.
You are a child of God and there is just one way to walk.
Ask, seek and knock.

Ask, seek and knock
(To receive your Father’s will).
Ask, seek and knock
(He is sure to answer just be still).
Ask, seek and knock
(He’s there to guide you everyday).
Ask, seek and knock
(He is the truth, the light, the way).

I feel the merciful light shining from above.
It is the light of God, the Father of love.
We are all children of God and there is just one way to walk.
Ask, seek and knock.

                Are you hurting?  Are you searching?
                Just look to Jesus, He is your rock.  
                All you have to do is ask, seek and knock.

                Ask, seek and knock
                Ask, seek and knock
                Ask, seek and knock.

Mountain TOP 2008 Summer Theme:  Ask and it will be given. Seek and you will find.   Knock and the door shall be opened.   Mattew 7:7. 

Glimpses of Campfire.

The spirit of the Lord is like living water,

                The spirit of our God is the living flame,

                And the Holy Spirit is our bond.

                You should feel no shame.

                We are one mighty spirit.

                We serve the Almighty One.

                We are one in the Spirit,

                And we know that Grace has come.

                We are one Living Body;

                Reach out to EVERYONE.

 

                                ~Erika Tyring (Speedway, Indiana).

How far is Heaven?

Hey everybody! So far, Mtn. T.O.P. 2008 is just as awesome as every other year, if not better. It is such a wonderful feeling to be with friends and to serve people through God. Talking and working with all these great people really makes me realize how lucky and how fortunate I am. The families and children we help out here are seriously the most humble people ever. Their gratitude is too deep to fathom, and the sacrifices they have had to make throughout their lives really causes me to appreciate everything that makes my life so great. It’s the best feeling in the world after you’ve just completed a project for a needy family and they don’t stop talking about how great it looks, or how they break down into tears of thanks. Sometimes it isn’t even the physical project that they are in most need of, but it’s the social aspect of it. All of the families enjoy talking to us, and it’s really interesting to find out about their lives. Yeah so other people will be blogging for the rest of this week, so you will be updated again soon!

                                                                                                                                                Katie Roth

Chemical Reactions

Chemical Reactions
A few years ago Sally said when you come to mountain top you are becoming face to face with god….
So this year we finally realized what it means to come face to face with god. Our YRG’s activity today was to clean out a pile of wood, and while we were moving a piece of wood underneath it came rolling out an open container of oven cleaner spewing in all directions. Luckily we got out of the way before it could cause serious damage. Trevor got small chemical burns on his lower arms as well as on his cheek and a small bit on his right eye. Thomas received similar wounds on his lower arm in addition to another YRG member. Mom don’t worry I’m fine. After washing the chemicals out of my eye we went to the clinic. The doctor said it would be fine and it was just irritated. Finally after a tube of hydrocortisone we returned to the work site and collected our tools and are safe and sound.
So if that is not coming face to face with God I don’t know what is!

By: Trevor Hyssong
Thomas Broussard

Community

Community. It’s what life is about.
That’s kind of become the unofficial motto for us at Mountain T.O.P. And on this first night of “beastly servicing,” it deemed appropriate to have a trio blog about Mountain T.O.P. life this far. We (Charly, Katherine, and Alyssa [from another church, I might add!]) now bring you this featured presentation. Er, blog.

So here it goes. We arrive here, somewhat dazed, at 9 to find we had come in second place in the Arrival time category. We quickly and eagerly perked up in the mountain air to check in and find our cabin assignments and distribute our things. As people pulled in, we started mingling a bit and tried to drift and socialize, but fact is first thing when you get here you really just want to hang with everyone in your church and enjoy being there until the ball really gets rolling. We had the usual “here’s how the show goes down at Mountain T.O.P.” talk, going through rules, our day, staff introductions and the like. We then had some time to try to socialize again before lunch. Chicken tenders, fries, and mac-n-cheese make some pretty happy people.

After some “chillaxin’” after lunch, we had a worship service to get us in the serving mindset—that serving itself can be worshiping God. Our theme is Ask.Seek.Knock. And not only are the people we’re servicing running through the actions, but we really are, too. We asked for a way to serve. And here it is.
Then we had some mixers to break down the barriers, and from there broke into our major groups. The three of us are all together in day camp and together experienced the eventful adventure of forming the YRGs, which are also our fish schools for the kiddies at camp. And after some more bonding mixers and games, we had dinner. Followed by more mixers. We then had a rousing show of The Mountain T.O.P. song, and broke off into free time.

Which is where we are right now. We’ve played on swings, we’ve (attempted, for some) played Nine Square, and raided the Canteen. Which forms our trio. Charly informed Alyssa of the wonderful world of Cream Soda after discovering it was being sold at the canteen. Katherine proceeded to join us in our venture to initiate more members into the Loverly Land of Creamy Goodness. Or just make them cream soda fans… And what took place was a holy circle of communal cream soda.
Communion. Community. They come from the same word. And we know that more and more through the week, this will become even more so worth it.
So in the words of our trio…”BEAST!”

Off and Running

Well, we have all arrived safely upon the Mountain! Our bunks are staked out. Our tools are checked in. The adults have huddled, and shortly we will be scraping and consolidating for our first meal on the Mountain.

There is certainly something special about this place. We are all a little weary from the early trip up, but the expressions of joy, and the community building has already begun…that is clearly evident from the game of 9 square going on right now. Our spirits are high, and we are all wearing smiles. We are all looking forward to the journey that this community will take together this week!
You are all in our hearts as we journey. And we appreciate your prayers and support.
Grace and Peace!
David