I Ashlan, got to attend Camp Elim alongside the 3rd-6th graders of Pulpit Rock Church May 31st – June 5th! The week was full of long days and late nights, but had the most rewarding of memories and moments shared with kids.
The camp would have free time every day where kids swam in the pool, rock climbed, made bracelets, did archery and canoeing, and so much more! I loved seeing kids laugh with their friends, make inside jokes, try activities they never had before, and conquer some fears such as climbing the rock wall.
One of my favorite moments of camp was the campfire we would have every night. Due to the fire ban, we sadly could not have a real campfire, but the kids still loved the light-up, inflatable fire. We would start the campfire by singing energetic songs with funny dance moves to accompany them. We then transitioned to slower songs where I could hear kids singing at the tops of their lungs praising God :). On the last night of camp around the campfire, kids were given the opportunity to share where they have seen God at work in the past week. Kids shared moments when they prayed to God for courage when there was a thunder storm, or when they prayed for rest on nights they couldn’t sleep. They shared how camp had become a place of comfort for them when they typically struggle being away from their parents. Some kids shared how the memory verses we learned brought them reassurance during challenging seasons of their lives.
This time of sharing around the campfire revealed to me the child-like wonder and awe these kids have towards God. As I have gotten older, there have been times where I’ve felt that I have overcomplicated my relationship with God. These kids praised God for so many small things that I would typically overlook. This really challenged me to try and approach God the same way these kids do.
Although I don’t know the personal experience of every kid at camp, I can speak at large when I say that so many new friendships were formed, deep conversations were had, and God was active and present throughout each kid’s time at Camp Elim. As kids were being picked up by their parents, many of them told me that this had been one of the most fun weeks of their lives. Even though I am still slightly exhausted as I write this, seeing the smiles on kids faces made the 6 hours of sleep per night absolutely worth it.
