I have been going to the same camp since second grade. Every summer, no matter what I was going through during the year, I could always count on my camp and camp family to be constant. Camp brought me many things – my first “boyfriend,” the life motto “boys are bad,” and comfort in heartbreak. However, the most important things were intangible. Camp provided me with a home away from home, an escape, and a place to run to when times get tough. Now I know, people say it’s not the place that makes a place home, but in this case, the place is a huge part of it. To this day, the second I step onto camp property, my whole body relaxes and my anxiety is gone. I think it is because camp is where I feel the Lord’s presence the most. There is something so intimate about worshipping outside, where there is nothing between you and God – even a ceiling. I have seen so many lives given to Christ at camp, lives changed, faiths renewed. My story is not different.

At camp, you are literally bombarded with the love of Jesus all day long. It might sound crazy, but at camp, it is literally impossible to hide from God’s presence. I know that many people who go to camp feel the same way. The bible says that the heavens declare the glory of the Lord, and camp has never failed to demonstrate that to me. I have never seen a more beautiful sunset, star constellation, or rainbow than I have seen at camp. The bible says that even the wind and waves obey him. I have seen this demonstrated countless times at camp, whether on the lake, in the pool, or on the reservoir sailing. The place of camp itself magnifies the glory of the Lord, and quite frankly, there is no place I would rather be.

Camp is where people come to encounter love. We spend time with kids and adults from all over the world. City dwellers and farmers alike come together and remove themselves from the outside world to enjoy safety in the bubble that is camp. Our staff has only one goal – to share the love of Jesus with others. This includes other staff members, presenters, family members, and most importantly, campers. Each person has a story, and a purpose, that we do not necessarily know everything about. But God does. That is the most reassuring thing – knowing that no matter where we are in life, God is there with us every step of the way. One way that we see this demonstrated is through testimony night, where everyone shares their story. Testimony night brings tears, coming together as a community, glory to Christ, and hope for a future. Testimony night shows that we are never really alone.

Camp has challenged me to live every day courageously, knowing that there are plans for my life involving hope and a future. I pray that someday each one of you has the ability to find a place with such amazing people as I have found, because your life will never be the same.