Joy

I recently read a quote by Mark Twain that said, "Grief can take care of itself, but to get the full value of a joy you must have somebody to divide it with." The second half of the statement stayed with me, and I soon realized that I witness this sharing of joy daily here at Kivu.

Joy is evident in this place, and it seems to be contagious. It spreads through the camp with each smile and fit of laughter, and it is such a divine pleasure to watch campers and staff live out and share their joy with one another. It multiplies throughout the course of the term, too, which further supports Mr. Twain's claim (or Mr. Clemens for my fellow literature nerds).

And what is the source of this joy? It's more than loving the outdoor activities or dancing our hearts out at parties. We have joy because of Jesus! His love, His hope, His calling... they produce a joy that surpasses circumstances. And then He blesses us with our beautiful camp community for 2 weeks, and the joy just bubbles over. We're joyful for the good things He's given us, and we're joyful for the work that He has done and is doing. 

Psalm 16:11 says, "You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever." The Lord is working here and in His presence we're experiencing joy. We hope you'll come and let us share it with you.