Road Trip: Lake Champion Edition

I recently returned from a whirlwind trip to NY to visit family and to visit some of my favorite people at Lake Champion. I wish I could adequately describe my love for these dear friends of mine and a place that will always feel like coming home. I spent 3 summers as a waterfront intern managing lifeguard summer staff and driving boats. I lived in a house with 16 or 17 other people and built community like nothing I have experienced since. To say these summers were challenging would be an understatement, but some strong pillars in my faith were established during my time at Champion. I try to return each year to visit friends and enjoy some sweet time with Jesus while sitting on the lake. I'm so thankful I was able to return this year and spend some quality time with friends. My favorite part is that it feels as though I see these folks everyday. The depth of conversation, the level of trust and honesty, and the encouragement I receive is something completely inexplicable to me. Maybe that is exactly why I love this place so much - it's holy ground. The Spirit is moving in this place and my friends there have some of the most awe-inspiring faith. They aren't perfect. Life there isn't perfect. But they've figured out how to support each other through the hard times and rejoice with one another in the good times. And they are running hard after Christ and encouraging each other to run down that same road.