(Macie's POV)
I've been a camp counsellor at many camps for loads of different ministries, but mainly for CFLL as that's the one that we've been involved with. It's so gratifying getting to help shape the hearts and minds of the youth that are shaping the next generations. This time round I assisted at a camp for teenage girls aged 14-18, the main objective of them being at the camp with us is for them to leave us feeling encouraged on their walk with the Lord and feeling driven for their purpose in life. We mentor the girls and help address any concerns they have in a christian environment so that they can grow into the women the Lord meant them to be. The camp director is a wonderful lady called Sierra Wallace, we've been family friends for a long time as she and her husband have 7 children that are all grown up and out of the house. She and her husband have also been a part of CFLL ministries for many many years and have had various roles, as they are now empty nesters it made sense for them to be able to take on roles such a this for varying periods of time.
My very good friend Laurie Parks was my co-counsellor for camp this time round, we met many years ago we junior counsellors at family camp in the summer and as the years have gone by we've been assigned to be counsellors at the same time a few times a year. As the years have gone by and we've found ourselves in the same season of life, she's become a close confidant of mine and someone I consider to be one of my best friends outside of my sisters and family. We've done this specific camp before so we have found a solid routine that we have for ourselves and how we manage the campers. This is faith based, but there's less teaching from us and more of us interacting with the girls and having discussions. We would start the day by welcoming the girls and showing them where they'll be sleeping, they received their camp uniform earlier as this camp has uniform that is provided. Some ministries will have clothing guidelines that campers need to follow whilst others have uniform that must be bought.
Once the girls are settled in we take them on a tour of the facilities, while there are some girls that are repeat campers we do have new ones every round. Then we tell them what their schedule is going to look like for their time with us, the first day is always an icebreaker day since it's usually a half-day to account for campers checking in. The rest of the days started bright and early with breakfast, Cierra, Laurie, and I handle making breakfast for us all then when the girls wake up we do room inspections before gathering to eat. Cierra handles morning devotions and either Laurie or I will play piano when we sing after breakfast. Then we clear the tables and have discussions on how we can deal with our sinful nature, we discuss ways that hearts can lead us to sin through bad attitudes, ungratefulness, disobedience, pride, selfishness, and so on. We encourage the girls to be open to confessing their sins and repenting for ways that they've been sinful so that we can work through it with them for the better. When we're done with devotions the girls go into their rooms for private time to read their bibles/pray/journal and while they do that we start assembling the sandwiches for lunch.
After lunch and more devotionals, the girls were sent to get changed, physical activity is mandatory at this camp so all the girls got dressed in their swimwear and we met outside for free time. Fitness is an important aspect of being at camp as we need to encourage exercising for the benefit of our brains and bodies, so that we're better able to take care of the body the Lord has given us.
On the last day we finished our water activities with a water balloon fight, it was something we thought the girls would appreciate on their last day before they headed home the next day. We split them up into teams and set rules and just let them have at it, it was a good way to get their energy out and strengthen their newly founded friendships.
Every evening we'd have dinner then gather around the campfire for evening devotions before bed, after devotions we'd sit around the fire and roast marshmallows while singing hymns until it was time for the girls to go to bed. Sometimes we'd have the guitar and violin and other times we'd just sing acapella around the fire. It's such a privilege to be able to take part in their spiritual growth of the youth, it makes my heart happy that their hearts are being pointed towards the Lord and that they're strengthening their relationship with him while at camp with us.
(Bloopers)
They were supposed to swim and 2/3 of them just started running on the water???? I couldn't even intervene cause this was my first time running a teen camp from start to finish and I just wanted this over with 😂