My senior year in high school I took a marketing class, and the teacher talked highly of the Tifton YMCA summer camp. Instantly, something struck me -- I had to apply. Note that I had never worked at a job, and I had no idea where to begin in the application process. I went in for my interview and I'd never been so nervous. What if I didn't get it or what if I said something wrong?
A few weeks passed, and I received a phone call that I got the job, and I would start the Tuesday following my high school graduation. My job as a camp counselor consisted of doing devotions with the kids, being their mentor, playing games and going on field trips with the kids. Going into this job, I prayed God would equip me because I'd never worked with kids, or even babysat, so I had no clue what to expect or how to discipline and care for kids in any situation.
Driving to that first morning of work I was extremely nervous, but broken. Yes, I said broken. Broken, meaning I knew some of the kids didn't come from mended homes, might have never heard of who Jesus was or what it was like to be loved. I prayed for strength when these kids needed me, wisdom to know how to lead them, patience when they didn't listen or do what they were told and humility to get on their level and be their best friend when they felt alone.
The summer progressed, and my heart grew for these kids. Seeing their little smiles every morning through teeth, receiving hugs and pictures they drew and playing intense basketball games with the little boys made my summer full of laughs and sweet memories. They had this innocence about them and a pure heart that I feel we all still have, but lose touch with while growing up and becoming adults.
They became best friends because they share the same favorite color, sang and danced because it didn't matter what others thought, and more than anything they didn't see race, social status or physical appearance -- they simply loved anyone and everyone, and their hearts were so accepting to those with whom they came in contact.
Every part of these precious little ones grew on me, and it was the end of last summer that I learned these kids changed me in the best way possible. They made me reflect on my own personal relationship with Christ. They barely knew me and, yet, trusted me after a few minutes. They trusted I would care for them, get them from place to place and make sure they were safe and protected on field trips. They trusted me and they merely knew my name. That's the kind of trust and faith we should have in God. I was struggling with my calling after graduation and I was under a new kind of stress with starting college, but I saw these kids have the faith and trust in me that I needed to have in God.
"You don't have enough faith," Jesus told them. "I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible." Matthew 17:20.
We often forget in our waiting period, dry season, or moments of struggle that God has us and He's already conquered our future. He's our Father, mentor, protector, best friend, safe place and counselor. We are His children, and He desires for us to run to Him and love Him in every walk of life. He will never leave us or forsake us even when we fall short and fail Him.
I was supposed to influence those kids at summer camp, but I can honestly say that they did more for me than they will ever know. I will never forget the memories I made at YMCA summer camp, and I hope when they are my age they can look back and say great things about their experience.
Now, I am close to finishing my second year of serving as a camp counselor, and it has been a great summer working with some of the most precious kids ever. I was asked in my interview why I wanted to work summer camp and my thoughts then were to make money and have a job -- gosh, how things have changed in a little over a year. Walking in to snaggle-toothed, goofy and fun-loving kids every day has probably made my summer one of the best. There have been tough times, but pool days and popsicles always fix everything! These kids have changed my heart and have left a huge impact on my life. I only pray it was the same for them.
