HAPPY BIRTHDAY WARRIOR CAMP: 8 YEARS TODAY!

Date: September 8, 2015 AD
From: Nampa, Idaho

Hello Warrior Nation!

I hope you're doing well and that you had a great Labor Day Weekend!

I wanted to reach out and share that on this special day, September 8, 2015, WARRIOR CAMP celebrates it's 8th Birthday!  It's been a crazy, fun, God-soaked ride, and, God willing, we'll continue every year to launch the most epic games we can dream up, and more importantly, boldly point boys and youth to the Ultimate Warrior, Jesus Christ, who defeated sin and death and rose victorious from the grave, for you and me, and who calls and shepherds us to be men after His own heart.

Thank you so much for all your prayers, donations, support, and encouragement over these last several years.  You are Warrior Nation, and thank you so much for praying for us!  It's an honor and joy to be a part of what God is up to in this generation of boys and youth now, just as it was when God opened up a surprise-door and ignited our 1st Warrior Camp on that crazy, amazing day in the Fall of 2007.

For this special 8th Birthday of Warrior Camp, we're mixing it up!  First, we're announcing the 2016 Warrior T-Shirt Contest.  Whoever designs the coolest 2016 Warrior Camp T-shirt will get a custom, new Warrior Camp Weapon and New Ammo, born in the fires of the "Official Warrior Camp Laboratory of Epic-ness", and sent to them free of charge.  Don't wait!  Email me your design @ warriorcamp1@yahoo.com or text me a pic @ 208-866-0743.  Contest starts now!  :)

2nd, I have asked our 2014-2015-> Warrior Camp Rally (i.e. Chapel) Speaker Sam Antosh to share his heart in this special Anniversary update to you of Warrior Nation.  Sam is the man, and I'm thrilled to encourage you to check out what he shares below!  (And below this, I've included some cool links.  Check it all out :)

Thank you again for all your prayers and encouragement!  God is on the move, and is opening some new, exciting doors we haven't even shared yet, but we will keep you posted!  And so, without further delay, I'll pass the mike and we'll talk more soon.  Here is our 2015 Warrior Camp Rally Speaker, Sam Antosh...(thunderous applause!)  :)

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Warrior Camp Reflection

From Sam Antosh to Warrior Nation

September 2015

In the Fall of 2013, when Derek first contacted me about becoming the discipleship speaker for Warrior Camp, I had no idea what Warrior Camp was, or what sort of team I was becoming a part of. Two years later, I feel incredibly blessed to be a part of something so incredible and impacting as Warrior Camp. Having finished my second season on the team, I can truly say this camp has left an indelible impact on my life, and changed the way I look at Christian masculinity.

Warrior Camp is all about capturing a vision. A vision of what young boys can become as Christian men. A vision of a life of adventure, rugged service to the gospel, and good old fashioned manly fun.  I think now more than ever we need something like warrior camp. Something that encourages guys to be guys, to have fun, to break things, to experience intense physical activity, and to see the warrior heart of God through His Word. Exodus 15 tells us the Lord is a “warrior.” Amazing, isn’t it? The God of the universe identifies himself as a masculine warrior. In a world that encourages boys (and even many adults I know) to be lazy, self-centered, and passive, Warrior Camp points to the Word of God which teaches boys to be active, selfless, and courageous. 

I truly believe God has blessed Warrior Camp and marked it for His Kingdom. This year, we were able to go through the story of David and Goliath and encourage the boys to defy the culture in God’s name, to stand up for His honor, and to be men of the cross and warriors of the kingdom. There are times when I feel humbled to be a part of God’s business, and Warrior Camp is one of those times. Looking at the boys making commitments to become warriors of God’s Kingdom, and watching in particular a young man named “Jay” who had some pretty big physical limitations, participate in everything, reminds me that it doesn’t matter where we are in life, what age, what sort of physical limitations we have, what background we come from, or even where we are right now in our life journey. It only matters where we go from here. It matters if we let God make us into something for His Kingdom, if we let the Lion get His claws in our lives and change us. It doesn’t matter where we’ve been, but where we let God take us. Warrior Camp is taking boys into some powerful places for His Kingdom. I am so blessed to be along for the ride…

In His Service,

Sam

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Thank you for sharing your heart Sam, and for letting God use you to impact this generation of boys for Jesus Christ!  We're so blessed to have you on the team.


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WARRIOR CAMP 8 Year Anniversary Video and Pictures:

Video from the 1st Warrior Camp: 9-8-2007 @ Lake Lowell Park

Pictures from the 1st Warrior Camp: 9-8-2007 @ Lake Lowell Park

Brand New Pictures from the most recent Warrior Camp: 8-29-2015 @ Bethel Church

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God bless you all, and we'll talk more later!

For Jesus' Fame,

Derek
Joshua 1:9

WARRIOR CAMP 2015...T minus 1 month!

Date: 7-29-15

From: Nampa, Idaho

(Drumroll...) Hello Warrior Nation!

Today is 1 month to the Day until Warrior Camp 2015 in Nampa, Idaho! We're so excited how God is already blessing the "Ramp-Up". We've been developing our brand new Gaming Weapon, (which is classified for 1 more month), we have some epic new games ready to launch, and we're even more excited about the Rally (i.e. "Chapel") Theme that will challenge boys and their dads to be boys/men after God's own heart, and to boldly stand up for Jesus our King, no matter the odds.

Want to get involved? Here are a few ways you can help!

1. Pray for the Warrior Campers, all the Warrior Camp Leadership Team, the Rally Speaker, and all the Dads who will be competing. Can't say this enough. If God doesn't show up and do His thing, we might as well pack it up and go home. So please pray for safety, extreme fun, epic competition, and most importantly, pray for God to powerfully move in each boy and dad, kindling a flame of the manly stuff from God's Word that burns bright into eternity! Pray for boys and dads to get saved, equipped, and inspired in their relationship with Jesus Christ. "The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." - James 5:16b.

2. Spread the Word! The More the Merrier, and if you want to help promote Warrior Camp 2015, that would be amazing. Simply call or text me (Derek) @ 208-866-0743 on how to get started. Flyers and Registration Forms can be picked up at the hosting church, which is Bethel Church of the Nazarene @ 3001 12th Avenue Road. Nampa, Idaho. 83686, Or, I can send you one if you email me at warriorcamp1@yahoo.com. Thank you!

3. If you feel led to help provide a scholarship for a boy/dad to compete @ Warrior Camp this Summer, or if you want to explore other ways to help out or get involved, feel free to let me know. Thank you!

Thank you Warrior Nation! And I encourage us all to be praying over these next 30 days as we lead up to Warrior Camp on August 29, 2015.

Thank you so much for all your prayers and encouragement, and we will definitely stay connected.

For Jesus' Fame,

Derek 

Joshua 1:9

WC UPDATE!

Weapon Workshop 2015: Prepping For Launch!

Check out the pics below :)

Indiana Christian Camp Warriors...Get your game face on!

Huge ShoutOut to Amanda Slater, Trey Rogers, Micah Fyock, Rodney Human, Craig Cook and everyone else who helped with this Project, for all your help and heart!


-Ephesians 6. Look it up today. Powerful stuff!

Grow strong and God bless,

Derek

Approx. 115 Sword Cores: Gluing 115 Pommels = Done!
(Work Phase Completed and Pic Taken on 2-10-15)

Building the Drying Rack: 102 holes! So many, the drill bit finally "bit it" and went to heaven. 
(Work Done and Pic Taken on 2-10-15) ile emotico

Indiana Christian Camp Ministry Partnership!

From: Nampa, Idaho

Date: January 20, 2015

Quick Update: God opens doors that we can't!  We're  humbled and excited to be preparing a customized weapon workshop for a Christian camp in Indiana, and...they want 115 swords! Praise God for opportunities to team up in ministry, and big thanks to everyone who has helped out so far! We're excited about what God is doing in this generation of young campers, and seeing them become Warriors after God's own heart who know how to pray. Check out the Indiana Weapon Workshop Under Construction in the pics below.  Be praying for their Christian Camp Staff, and for God to do his thing this Summer in all their Camper's lives! Joshua 1:9. 

Incoming! New Year's Eve 2014 Update

It's about time! (Check out the pic). What's your guess?  Winner gets a prize!

Word to the Warriors...Um...just be fast in 2015! ... Yeah 

God bless ya'll Warrior Nation! Thank you so much for all your prayer, encouragement and support. It means more than words can do justice to. God blew us away with so many surprises in 2014, including a record # of camps, and camp ministry opportunity in Africa! Praise God! haha! It's way bigger than us, and only He can do that! 

He is doing His thing, and our team (another blessing from Him) is amped up about seeing His fame continue to grow and spread in this generation in 2015 as boys are inspired and equipped to be young men after His own heart! 

I hope you all have a Happy New Year and God bless you and your family!

For Jesus' Fame,

Derek

Joshua 1:9

Isaiah 43:19

CHRISTMAS UPDATE! . 12-26-14

From: Salmon, Idaho.

Hello Warrior Nation!

I hope you had a joy-filled Christmas celebrating Jesus coming to earth! If you didn't get the chance yet, check out all the wonder, awe, and powerful truth packed into Luke 2! I'd love to hear how it impacts you.

Much like Christmas elves, Warrior Camp is at full-throttle, and the proverbial steam is pouring from the chimneys of the Warrior Camp Game Laboratories as we gear up for 2015. 

Here's what's happened this year, and, God willing, what's on the horizon moving forward (and feel free to comment below :)

1. We've partnered with a Christian youth camp in Indiana, and they would like us to equip them with a signature Warrior Camp Weapon Workshop, complete with all the materials, info, tutorials and gear to allow their campers to build 115 gaming swords for July 2015. Were excited about this opportunity, and the prep has already begun!  More later :)

2. New Gaming Weapon Coming Soon! We're in the early phases of researching, developing, and creating a brand new Gaming Weapon for Warrior Camp that has been on the radar, but that we haven't tackled yet. God willing, it will be ready by Summer 2015, and each boy will get to customize their own, use it in the Battle Games, and take it home with them following Warrior Camp. Stay tuned for details!

3. This year for Warrior Camp 2014, after weeks of crazy trial and error, we had the opportunity to aim for creating a new, 2nd Generation Advanced Blow Gun with superior ammo, performance, and accuracy. God blessed our efforts, and in His amazing timing, He opened up a door for us to take this new game gear overseas in February 2014, on a strategic Christian mission trip, and partner with local Christian youth leaders for 2 Warrior Camps in Senegal, Africa.  On a dirt soccer field in a residential area of Dakar Senegal, and in a country that is over 90% muslim, young boys and teens heard the gospel of Jesus Christ in their own language! How do you describe something God does that leaves us speechless? Only God can orchestrate it, and if you have the chance to go on a local, regional, or foreign mission trip of any kind, there's no telling what He'll do. Since our team has returned to America, we've received emailed pictures of Christian ministry workers using the donated blow guns to play games with local Senegalese kids! God is doing His thing around the world, and we're excited about more and more young kids and teens hearing the life-changing good news of Jesus Christ!

Thank you so much for your encouragement, prayer, and support! We're excited about God's vision for this generation of boys and teens to know Jesus Christ personally, and grow as young men after His own heart.  May God bless you and your family as we countdown to 2015!

For His fame,

Derek

Luke 2

WARRIOR CAMP UPDATE! . 10-23-14

From the WARRIOR CAMP Facebook Page, posted on 10-23-14 (and subsequently uploaded to our Blog)

Rapid Update: The leaders of a Christian camp in Indiana "happened" to do a google search and they found Warrior Camp. (No, I didn't even know we came up in google hits either!) And now they want to partner with Warrior Camp for their Christian kids and youth camp next Summer! Their Camp theme for Summer 2015 is ... "Christian Warriors", and to coincide with their spiritual theme, they want our Warrior Camp Weapon Workshop, signature games and ... 115 swords! A humbled, excited and massive shoutout to GOD for what He's doing and raising up young warriors for Him in this new generation! (#Mindblown) (And if if anyone wants to help, I'll be in my garage!  )

"Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert."

- Isaiah 43:19

Sky Dive! . 9-12-14

From the WARRIOR CAMP Facebook Page, posted on 9-12-14 (and subsequently uploaded to our Blog)

Date of Jump: 9-12-14

Below: WAR GAMES 2014 Grand Prize Winner Jeremiah Crow sky diving like a boss! You da man JC!

Congratulations on winning the Grand Prize and congratulations on a fantastic jump! :)

Props to Megan Mitchell for shooting this video :)

(The cost of this sky dive was funded by an anonymous donor who wanted to do this special thing for one lucky winner at the WAR GAMES 2014).

Check out the video below...

For Jesus' Fame,

Derek

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! WARRIOR CAMP TURNS 7!

From the WARRIOR CAMP Facebook Page, Posted on 9-8-14 (and subsequently posted to our Blog)


September 8, 2014...


WARRIOR CAMP turns 7 years old!


Big shoutout to God for everything He's already done, and whatever He has next!


God is opening up some amazing doors this year! It's not over yet, but 2014 has been/will be the year where (thanks to God not us) Warrior Camp has the opportunity to offer a record # of camps and minister to more warriors than ever before, obtain a new Go Pro for the first time (God provides!), unveil a new color-changing WARRIOR t-shirt and 2 new gaming weapons (tons of fun!), expand our leadership team with some more encouraging brothers in Christ, link arms and team up to host 2 Warrior Camp events with indigenous Christian leaders/partners in Senegal, Africa, and challenge boys and teens about the full armor of God, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, growing in your relationship with God, and about being made a new creation through the power of Jesus Christ. Not us. All God. Not sure what else to say but, "Wow. God, you're awesome and on the move!"


Thank you so much to my mom and dad for all your help and encouragement. I love you! And big thanks to everyone in Warrior Nation for all your prayers, encouragement, and support these last exciting 7 years. Big thanks to everyone who is brave (or crazy) enough to invite us to partner with you in ministry...you know who you are :). Big shoutout to all the Warrior Dads who came out this year. And big thanks to all our 2014 WC team. I'm so grateful for each one of you. Thank you so much!


Word to the Warriors: keep being a warrior after God's own heart, and don't forget what He's been doing in your life this summer! If we fall, He's there to pick us up in love and forgiveness. Don't stay down. Keep putting your armor on and let Him make you a new creation. You have what it takes through Jesus Christ! Sin doesn't get the last word. He does. You're a conqueror through Jesus Christ, and that's something to get stoked about!


Have a great week everybody!


Grow strong and God bless,


Derek
Isaiah 43:19
Joshua 1:9

WAR GAMES 2014: Ice Bucket Challenge!

From the WARRIOR CAMP Facebook Page Post on 8-22-14 (and subsequently posted to our Blog)

WHAT: Ice Bucket Challenge @ the WAR GAMES 2014

DATE: 8-22-14

WATER TEMP: COLD!

PARTICIPANTS:

Daniel Hastie > Pastor Jimmy @ CFC Church

Mitchel Paul Bates > Kelia Eldredge

Trey Rogers > Tyler Rogers

Hunter Halsted > Best friend Black Kyle

Joshua Parke > My Dad

Robert Coates > Morgan Freeman

Derek Bartlow > (See below)

If you did this challenge, tag the people you're calling out!

Hey! Derek here. I was called out by Sam Antosh, John Bartlow, and later by Kym Slater. (Thanks guys!) Prior to the challenge, I called out all of the WAR GAMES Competitors, and I now call out all of FireProof Youth Group, Leaders included, and the entire Bethel Church Staff to do the Ice Bucket Challenge...(and I officially add a challenge to Jaden Bartlow, Janessa Bartlow, Natalie Bartlow-Samples, and Jarryd Samples, all the Bartlow cousins, Christopher Pope and the 404 boys, Steven M Darling, the Finn Legends, the Biltmore Angels, Kim Bruns, David Dudley, the newsboys (official) and Gina Carano!) You have 24 hours :)

If you want to donate, consider doing so through a legitimate, moral ALS organization.

And pray for those you might know who have ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, and for any others in your circle of friends who may be living with a disease. Pray for a cure and for God's healing! He's a big God!

And a big shout out to all the Ice Bucket WARRIORS who completed this challenge! — with Joshua Parke and 5 others at WAR GAMES Base Camp

Grandview Warriors Representin'!

From a WARRIOR CAMP Facebook Page Post on 7-17-14 (and subsequently posted to our Blog)

WARRIOR CAMP AFRICA 2014!

Date: March 22, 2014
From: Nampa, Idaho.  USA.
Email: warriorcamp1@yahoo.com

Hello Warrior Nation!

I hope you're doing well!  This is pretty crazy, but 1 month ago today was our 1st International Warrior Camp!  (Still can't believe it).  God opened up an opportunity for Warrior Camp to link up and become part of a mission trip across the ocean to Senegal, Africa, from February 14 - March 1, 2014.  So we did!  There were some unique challenges since we wanted to offer 2 Warrior Camp Events in 2 days, with limited space, budget, and game equipment (that was also durable), and we wanted to offer it completely free for all the boys.  If that wasn't enough, we also wanted to empower local, Christian Senegalese ministry workers to run Warrior Camp itself while we were there, so that if it proved to be an effective ministry in their cultural context, they could repeat it in the future.  So yeah, all of those goals definitely remind me of the verse that says, "With man, this is impossible, but with God all things are possible"!  We knew there were some obvious challenges and obstacles that stood in the way, and we also encountered some less obvious challenges that we didn't anticipate.  But we experienced (again) that God is an amazing Provider, and to His credit, He blessed our efforts and we were able to accomplish all of these goals for His glory, and I can now see how He was leading us up to this moment, even though we were (and still are!) surprised at what He had up His sleeve!

At Warrior Camp (renamed "Camp de Flambeau" in Senegal) we had the opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with a big group of boys/youth in the capital city of Dakar.  Dakar is the gateway to west Africa, and has nearly 4 million people, about 95% of which are reported to be Muslim, meaning there's a very real chance that, after our crazy games and intense blow gun wars, several muslim boys heard the gospel of Jesus Christ.  And with the Christian boys in the remote village of Baad, we had the opportunity to encourage them to never stop growing (much like a big, strong African Baobab tree) in their walk with Jesus Christ.  One Senegalese leader expressed deep gratitude over and over, for the games, the leaders, and for the activities the boys got to experience, expressing that his heart is very full.  It was an unforgettable, special, sacred time together, and full of God's heart for each boy.  Everything is sinking in, and I feel like 1/2 of me is still in Africa!  But feel free to check out some of our "Warrior Camp: Africa" highlight pics and videos below.  We also were able to donate all our game equipment to the Christian District in Senegal, so they can use it for ministry and other Warrior Camp events in the future.  Huge thanks to Tim Eby, Jim Franklin, and our whole camp team (Curt, Fernando, Jason, Jeremy, Jesse, my Dad, Louis Pierre, Solomon, both Michaels, John-John, Ida, and everyone else who helped) for making this possible.  To all the boys and people of Senegal, we love you, and so does God!  He knows your name.  Thanks so much to everyone for your prayers...God is on the move, and ever-awesome.  To God be the glory!

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...Warrior Camp Pictures...

How to Win @ Blow Gun Wars!
Baad Village, Senegal.  Africa.
February 23, 2014

Preparing for Battle!
Baad Village, Senegal.  Africa.
February 23, 2014

WARRIOR CAMP
Group Photo
Baad Village, Senegal.  Africa.
February 23, 2014

WARRIOR CAMP
Group Photo
Dakar, Senegal.  Africa.
February 22, 2014

Final Warrior Camp Rally
Most Important Part of the Day:
Sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ w/ the boys!
Dakar, Senegal.  Africa.
February 22, 2014

Looks like our group is growing!

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...Warrior Camp Videos (Raw Footage)...

Africa Warrior ShoutOut 2014!

Location:  Dakar, Senegal.  Africa.

Date: February 22, 2014.

Event: WARRIOR CAMP ShoutOut Challenge!

Objective: Who are the loudest Warriors in the World?

20 feet

20+ seconds

Ages: Boys and Teens, estimated at ages 5-20+

Participation: Approximately 51 Campers + 2 Leaders

Loud Meter Peak (Excluding Outside Interference): 98.2 Decibels

Chant = "SE-NE-GAL"

Senegal Warriors...LIKE A BOSS!

Africa Warrior ShoutOut 2014!

Date: February 22, 2014.

Event: WARRIOR CAMP ShoutOut!

Objective: Who are the loudest Warriors in the World?

20 feet

20+ seconds (or longer!  They sounded so good and were having so much fun I couldn't cut em off too soon! :)

Results @ 2:26

Ages: Approximately 6-11 years old.

Participation: 25 boys + 7 Leaders

Loud Meter Peak: 100.2 Decibels

Location:  Near Fissel @ Baad Village, Senegal.  Africa.  

Chant = "FI-SSEL!"

Senegal Village Warriors...Defeatin' Dakar!

Dakar, Senegal.  Africa.

WARRIOR CAMP Tug-O-War

February 22, 2014

"Could play a note on that rope!"

Baad Village, Senegal.  Africa.

WARRIOR CAMP Blow Gun Wars!

February 23, 2014

"Baad boys, Baad boys.  What'cha gonna do when they come for you?!"

Dakar, Senegal.  Africa.

WARRIOR CAMP Blow Gun Wars!

February 22, 2014

"Let it rain ammo!"

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Thank you again for praying for our team!

Dream big, cause our God is big and truly awesome, and God bless!

Derek
Isaiah 40:28-31

PS: To all our Senegal brothers and sisters, we miss you and are praying for you!  Through Jesus Christ, we'll see you in heaven, if not before!

Hello Africa! 2-21-14

Warrior Camp Update

Date: February 21, 2014

From: Dakar, Senegal.  Africa.

Hello Warrior Nation!  This is a special update, and yeah, we really are in Africa right now.  We left on February 14, and return in early March.  I get to go to our work site soon, because I'm part of a work and witness team to Senegal.  And on top of that, the local missionary on the ground here is letting us do Warrior Camp in Senegal with the gospel boldly shared in our final rally.  Vehicle is leaving.  Gotta go to the work site now.  More later.  Pray for God to do His thing.

God bless!

Derek

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Update #2

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Hey!  It's 1:30 a.m., but I just wanted to ask you to pray for our Senegal Work and Witness Mission Trip, the whole team of missionaries, pastors, and workers, for health for all, for Warrior Camp, Chosen, for VBS, and for our well drilling projects.  We have a great team, and God is already allowing us to be a part of what He's up to in West Africa.

Since we're in Senegal, we're renaming "Warrior Camp" for cultural reasons.  The new, special name for Warrior Camp: Senegal Edition is "Camp de Flambeau", which means "Camp of the Torch, or Flame", in the popular Senegal language of French.  And as Christians, we know who the light of the world is.  We have the same pursuit of epic games, and same message of Jesus Christ.  That doesn't change.

Our first "Camp de Flambeau" will be Saturday, February 22, 2014, from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m on a dirt soccer field in Dakar, Senegal.  Dakar is the capital of Senegal, and boasts of nearly 4 million people in a country that is 95% muslim.  The 2nd "Camp de Flambeau" will be in an African village approximately 3 hours from Dakar.  A pastor from our home church in Idaho will be joining a local Senegalese youth ministry worker and sharing the gospel at the conclusion of each Camp de Flambeau.  Praise God for this opportunity and ministry partnerships.  We're really excited!  More later, including pictures.

Keep in touch, grow strong, and God bless!

Derek

Isaiah 40:28-31

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Merry Christmas Everybody!

I hope you have a fantastic time celebrating the birth of our humble hero Jesus Christ :)

On that note, I thought you might enjoy this too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1E-9Z8sFyRs


Merry Christmas, and God bless you!  :)

Derek
Luke 2

CHRISTMAS WISHES!

Hey!  How are ya!?

Little secret: Got some WARRIOR CAMP legitness coming via UPS and making it's way across the country!  (They really are all about logistics! :)  It left Heyburn, Idaho and just hit Boise, Idaho @ 1:30 a.m. today.  Should hit my house tomorrow!  Can’t wait + think all ya WC xtreme freaks might like this!  Have a great weekend, and don’t miss out on what Christmas is all about!  

Luke 2 = #BESTGIFTEVER!

What's 1 of your favorite Christmas memories, and the best gift you've ever given?

Love you all and Merry Christmas!

Derek

SPECIAL FALL SHOUTOUT TO WARRIOR NATION!

Date: November 1, 2013

From: Nampa, Idaho

Email: warriorcamp1@yahoo.com

SPECIAL UPDATE...

Hello WARRIOR NATION!

Hope you're doing great and having a fantastic Fall!

Wow!  Welcome to this special update.  I'm not sure where to begin.  But somehow, I'm gonna try to keep my own words brief.

Recently, I heard about something super cool, and when I finally got to see it, it left me overwhelmed with joy and thanks to God.  It's from a 5th grade boy who just recently wrote a paper for school about his experience at WARRIOR CAMP.  He wrote it for English class and, after working on it from September 2 to September 9, he recently turned it in on September, 13, 2013, nearly 6 years to the day from our very first WARRIOR CAMP.  His assignment?  Write a paper about the most challenging thing you have ever done.


He gave me the green light to share it with you (thanks bro!) and I hope you enjoy it!  And so, without further delay, here is his unedited paper, presenting WARRIOR CAMP in his own words.  Check it out!  (He's a good writer...I might have to recruit him to take-over this blog!)

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Challenges I Had At Warrior Camp

I had to face many challenges at Warrior Camp.  Warrior Camp is a day for boys go to my church, and learn about God through a lot of fun activities and sermons.

   

The first thing we did was divide into two teams, a red team and a blue team.  After that each team got their own flag.  We took the flags and marched around yelling our team name as loud as we could.  Next we started to warm up for a game of Extreme Tag.  It was hard and challenging because most of the guys were faster than me.  But the game was very fun, and I only got out once.  Then we went inside to eat lunch.  During lunch there was a competition.  There were four people standing in a line.  I was one of the four guys.  We each got goggles and a giant deflated balloon.  When our leader said go we had to be the first to blow our balloon up until it popped.  I am proud to say I won!

After lunch,  we had a worship time and a sermon.  We sang a lot of praise songs, and I loved every song we sang.  Then we heard a sermon that talked about being a man of God, and following His will.  It was and still is a challenge for me to do that. 

When we were done with that we went outside to a small hill beside our church.  One person from each team stood on top of the hill in a box that was painted on the ground.  The rest of us laid on x’s  that had been painted all over the grass.  When the leader said, “ Go”,  the person on the hill had to go drag his teammates up the hill to the box.  As soon as a person was dragged to the box,  he could help the leader drag the next person.  The team that got all their guys to the box first won. We played that three times, but the third time was much harder because some of the leaders were shooting Nerf darts at us while we tried to drag our teammates to the box.  If we got hit by a dart, we had to lay down right where we were and wait to be dragged back to the box.  The game went on till one team was either all laying on the ground, or all safe.  My team won twice. 

We played a couple more games, made a cool spear out of sticks we got from around Lake Lowell, and then went in for a second sermon.  During that sermon we learned that God can forgive us for the bad things we have done.

Snack time was next.  During snack time we played a game where we had  four people from each team to volunteer to sit at a table, pick a bag, and eat whatever was inside.   I was one of the volunteers.   Two of us had to eat whatever was in the bag without throwing up, or refusing to eat it.  The other two people on our team had to encourage us to eat it, or eat it themselves.  Whichever team ate the most without throwing up would win.  Some of the items eaten were pickled pig’s feet, a whole bag of marshmallows, ten War Heads all at once, and half of a Monster drink.  After my team won, there was a bonus round.  This time one person from each team had to stand on a chair, and had to eat two other mystery items without spitting it out.  Whoever ate the most when three minutes were up, won.  I volunteered for our team.  The two items were a raw onion, and a raw jalapeno.  I ate almost half of the onion, and about three-fourths of the jalapeno, winning ten bonus points for my team because of bravery!  Half an hour later my competitor threw up all over the wall inside the building.  After that incident our leader made us all go back outside for a  giant slime fight!  It was really fun! 

We got on our swimsuits next  for some water games.  We had a water gun fight,  played in the pool, competed to see who could hold their breath the longest, and then got shot into the pool by a giant human sling shot!  Then we dried off and went inside for our final sermon.

During the final sermon we had a wall made of cinder block where we could write down some of the sins we needed  to stop doing.  At the end of the sermon, a guy took a sledge hammer and smashed down the wall.  That is kind of like how God forgives us of our sins.  When we say we are sorry, God forgives us and our sins can be gone so that there is nothing separating us from God.  That was the biggest challenge of the day.

After that,  we went outside for the final game of the day.  This was best game of the day.  We divided into our teams, and stood side by side on the field.  There were all kinds of foam weapons in front of our teams.  When the leader said, ”Go”, we had to run out, grab a weapon, and attack the other team.  If you were hit anywhere on your body you had to pretend to die for five seconds. Then you could sit up and attack people who came near you, but you couldn’t leave that spot.  Whichever team had the last man standing won.  When we were done with that game we went back inside and tallied up the points of each team.  Our team won!!  We all got candy, but the winners got twice as much. It was awesome!

It was the most challenging, yet fun day in my life!  The only day just as good or maybe even a little better was the next year at Warrior camp, but that is another story!  

------- The End -------

Wow.  God thing!  To Him be the glory!  

We love ya bro!  Thanks for sharing your paper with us, and I can't wait to hang out with you @ WARRIOR CAMP 2014 next year.  So proud of you, and keep letting God do His thing in you.  He's pretty awesome!  :)

And, I want to give a big shoutout to all the WARRIOR CAMP Leaders for your heart for God, your heart for kids and students, and for all your sweat.  Couldn't do it without you!  (And we'd just miss you anyway if we tried!).  

And big thanks to you in WARRIOR NATION for your encouragement, prayer, support, and for helping make it all possible for the boy who wrote this paper, and for other boys like him.  Thank you so much!  God is raising up a new generation of young men after His own heart, and that's something to celebrate! 

That's all for now.  More later  :)

Have a great weekend, and a fantastic Thanksgiving full of celebrating His goodness, and may God continue to smile over you!

All for His glory,

Derek
I Chronicles 16:34   +   I Chronicles 29:10-13