I went to my first Vida Joven (Young Life) Camp this weekend. I want to share this memory with you.

 

Saturday night was the Surrender Walk. After hours of worship, the campers were led blindfolded through obstacles; each obstacle representing a different stronghold from Satan in our lives. Even though Vida Joven leaders held their hand, talking them through it, the decision was theirs - to hold on, or let go of all control and fall into the arms of the Father. After the obstacles, they were given a rope to guide themselves. They did not walk alone- demons yelled lies that hit home: your father hates you, you are not beautiful, you will never amount to anything but a street kid. Then the voice of Jesus stepped in to guide them home.

 

The director asked my teammates and I to go to the auditorium, the place where the kids would pray and reflect on their experiences afterwords, and bathe it in prayer. Just be open to the Spirit, he said. We prayed for what seemed like hours. Then they started trickling in. There were tears, many tears.

 

I felt the weight of a generation on my shoulders. I felt the burden. Nicaragua was bleeding before my eyes.

 

Romy, a girl from our group, held her head in her hands and I went over to rub her back. I had no idea what she was going through, but I lifted her up to the Lord. Then something happened I can't explain.

 

I was overcome. I felt so much Love for her, I was drowning in it. I felt God for her. I felt God's love for her. She laid in my lap and wept. Her whole body was shaking in my arms. I can't explain what I felt in those moments. I wept. I know they were His tears for her, I just know it.