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The Word of God
Camp starts and ends with a rush that is even more intense than the rest of the week. One Saturday, amidst all the hugging and picture-taking, I noticed a girl off by herself, reading at a picnic table. She seemed oblivious to all the chaos. As I walked to her, I found her engrossed in her new Bible. I recognized the Bible as one our camp gives out to those who don’t have their own and who show an interest in spiritual matters. The Bible signified her new commitment to follow Christ. She looked up, smiled and then continued reading in the book of Mark.
“She’s done nothing but read it ever since I gave it to her last night,” her counsellor informed me.
Her mom was the last to arrive, and I recognized them as being from our local community. As her stuff was loaded into the back of the truck, I saw her clutch her new Bible close to her chest. Amidst all the chaos in life, I prayed that the words in her new Bible would bring her quiet solitude in the grace of God’s love.
The strength of love
On the way back from the campfire one evening, I talked with a camper about her week. To be more accurate, I asked one question and proceeded to listen the rest of the way back to her cabin. In her quiet voice, she talked about the safeness of camp and the feeling of being free from pressure. I thought it odd for one so young to feel the fun of camp to be so much in contrast to her everyday life. Kids often talk about the fun they are having at camp, but this girl talked with a different intensity. Halfway to her cabin and halfway through the conversation, she took a breath and stated, “My mom is dying of cancer. It’s just her and me, and sometimes it’s kinda hard . . . .”
Life was not easy for her, and her mom’s imminent death weighed on her mind constantly, yet for this one week of camp she was able to be just a kid. She sang the camp songs, played the games and had one week to be free and “feel happy”. She also talked about realizing once again God’s love for her. As we rounded the corner towards the lodge, she added a final comment: “It gives me strength knowing that He knows what’s going on.”
Doris Born, Gardom Lake Bible Camp, Enderby, B.C.
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Last modified September 15, 2000.
© 2000 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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