Three-Day Wilderness Adventure Camp is a great blessing to me. It has been my regret for years that none of my friends have ever invited me to do any wilderness activities. I never asked them if I could join since I didn’t want to be a burden. Nevertheless, in the bottom of my heart I knew I wanted to try the various activities they were involved in.

Rock-climbing was a great challenge to me. One voice said, “You can’t do it. Don’t try. What if you faint again?” Instead of responding to this self-talk, I went forward and put on the equipment meticulously. Although I had to stop several times to gasp and tell my legs that I trusted them, I finally touched the loop. I shouted, “I made it!” That moment I was in seventh heaven. When I came down, it was exactly as smooth as I imaged.

The process of caving meant a lot to me. I was stuck there for a while, and I told Dave, “I can’t” over and over again. Neither Dave nor my supporter gave up on me. At that moment, I felt as if I was being held by God’s hand, and He was telling me, “My child, I would never give you up.” Their perseverance was the only reason I made it. I was touched by their perseverance so deeply that I promised God that no matter how despairing people around me are about themselves, I will never give up on them.

Rappelling was the activity I looked forward to since Liz, one of my good friends, told me, “Rappelling is SO fun!” In the beginning, I leaned aside which was something I did not expect at all, but it happened. At that moment, Dr. Jill said, “It is okay. I will hold you.” But if it weren’t for God holding us, we would have fallen. It took us a lot of time to arrive at the top, but it only took a couple of minutes to rappel down. This reminded me that it is not easy to build a relationship, a reputation, a team, or a ministry, but it could be effortlessly crushed in a minute.

My first camping experience became an unforgettable memory. The first night the upper sleeping bed was wet, and the blanket I borrowed from Dr. Jill was stuck to the tent canvas by ice. I couldn’t image what would have happened to me if I had not been offered two sleeping bags, or if Dr. Jill had not lent me her blanket. I gave thanks to God for He is sufficient for all my needs.

I couldn’t sleep because I had to bend my body all night long for fear of kicking Beth. From the sound of Amy and Beth’s breathing, I could sense they were going in and out of sleep. Then I started to pray for their sleep.

The second night was so windy that I was sleepless. As the tent whipped back and forth, some sand blew inside, and then some branches. It was like a typhoon. I kept asking God to stop the wind, but He did not. At midnight, I opened my eyes and thought, “Wow! How beautiful the moon is!” I looked for my camera and took a picture immediately. I lifted my head and looked at the deep blue sky, and then some verses came to my heart: “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8:3-4). Then I started worshipping and adoring God.

Later, one question came to my mind, “If I am in a tent now, why is it that I can see the moon and the sky?” Suddenly, I realized that the upper layer of the tent had blown away. I tried to fix it, but it blew away again. This happened three times during the night. While walking around and looking for the tool kit, I prayed that no other tent would blow away like mine. I asked God why He didn’t stop the wind and let me sleep for a little while. He told me that stopping the wind was my will, not His will. He also reminded me that no one saw how beautiful the moon was that night except me; being alert and enjoying every moment was His will for me.

Solo-time was always the time I cherished most. My heart was full of gratitude by reviewing the overall course. Because I completed all the challenges, I was able to fulfill my wish to participate in these adventurous activities. I told myself I wouldn’t let my past limit me any longer; I made the decision to forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead” (Philippians 3:13b).

During solo-time, God asked me to think of the life of Ezekiel. To be His servant is never easy. All parts of your life, such as how you sleep, what you eat, how your have your hair cut, and what you do, need to be surrendered to God. Sometimes this really looks strange and illogical; nevertheless, He wants me to obey his will.

Finding a rock as an altar, I gave all my desires up and re-offered myself to God. I prayed that His will would be done in me as it is in Heaven so that I would be a great blessing wherever I am and wherever I go.