This past week I had the amazing opportunity to go to church camp. I got to be a bible class teacher to the 6th and 7th graders. I became very close to these girls. I spent time in their cabins and really got to know them. A lot of times i feel as adults we look over this age group because they are so young. These kids opened my eyes. they have such an open mid on the world. Here are four lesson I will carry with me forever.

1. Mistakes do not make you who you are.

These girls kept me on my toes all week. From trying to help their friends out by talking to boys for their friends. These girls had the biggest hearts but sometimes they helped in the wrong way. When they got in trouble it didn't change their hearts it just changed how they went about helping their friends. Though they may have made some bad decisions during the week it did not change the way I viewed them. I still saw them as the awesome girls I met the beginning of the week.

2. You are never too young to ask the big questions.

At the end of the week when we had finished the bible lesson for the day we asked if they had any questions and boy did they! One girl asked, "if we do so many bad things why does God still love us." Wow! I was not ready for that question i had to think on it for a minute because what I told her would be what she took away from camp. I asked her that if she breaks a rule at her house and her parents get mad do they still love her? She said yes. I explained that is kind of like God. He gave you life and no matter what he will always love you. The next girl asked, "Why did God create us?" Again, wow! These girls were getting really deep. The other teacher answered this question. These young kids have so many questions that are being unanswered because no one takes the time to ask them if they have any questions.

3. Times really have changed

I like to look back when I was in 6th grade and i look at the challenges that I faced and they are nothing compared to what these girls are going to face. We didn't have to worry about the bathroom and who was gonna walk in. I didn't know half the things that these girls knew about certain subjects. They have been forced to look at these things as "normal."

4. You are never too old to relate to girls half your age.

I am 21 years old. I thought I would have the hardest time relating to girls half my age. They turned me into a 10-year-old again. I was talking about boys and seeing how many cookies I could fit into my mouth. i was exhausted by the time it was over but I would not trade the time for anything

I have gone to camp for 13 years and this was by far the best year I have ever had. I learned so much not just about God or about these girls but about myself. I saw myself in a lot of the girls who I had the chance to be a mentor for that week. I thank God for putting them into my life, I can not wait till next summer when I get to see them again.