Camp ExperienceWhen life is perfect, there is this feeling of overwhelming smiles. Like I want to scream or scream just because my life is so incredibly perfect. I felt this way during the summer of 2002 at Lutherdale Bible Camp. But the weird thing is, I don't know what makes it so perfect. What is the real difference between here and there? There, I have this feeling of being incredibly close to everything. Instead of being in the real world, hearing and seeing what's really happening. When I was at camp, I felt like I was really special. Like people want me to be there and they want to know me and they just want to be with me. Of course, I have a lot of friends and family back home, but the people there are somewhat different. They make me feel important. When I open my eyes and see the bottom of the top bunk, I say to myself, “first day of week five.” At 7:00 a.m. the alarm goes off and I hear the groans of eight middle school girls as they slowly begin to get out of bed, half awake. “Arise and shine and give God the glory.” As my typical morning song continues, I receive eight sets of looks from my campers. For some reason this makes me smile. “I wish I had my hair dryer.” “I really want my makeup.” The usual teenage comment I hear on my first day. “Five minutes to finish getting ready before Alpha!” I shout, “I’ll meet everyone outside the cabin!” » I found myself outside the Mount Horeb cabin, sitting on the picnic table, smiling to myself for no particular reason. During our short walk up the hill toward the lake toward “God Is There,” my campers were chatting and laughing. “What God is here?” » asked Megan. "It's a place just at the end of a path overlooking the lake. There is a huge wooden cross behind a place for a campfire. The phrase "God is here" is printed evenly in yellow paint. It is where four people prayed for Lutherdale to exist." We joined the more than 75 campers on the ten-foot 2x4s. During the Alpha, it's time to motivate all the campers for the day and introduce the theme.