David and I were asked to share a little about our camp experiences at church this morning. This is what I said.
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. Proverbs 18:10
Most of the kids we met at camp don’t have a safe place. They may never have had one.
During training, we were told not to try and “fix” the campers or try to counsel them. These kids have counselors and case workers and teachers and foster parents to help them with their issues. Our job was to provide a refuge, a safe place. (more…)
(NOTE: This is a continuation of a series about my week as a counselor at Royal Family Kids Camp, a camp for foster children, most of whom have been the victim of some kind of abuse. To read what has gone before, see the links at the bottom of this post.)
Weepy Thursday
I woke up feeling weepy Thursday morning. Not only did my ankle hurt, but my heart also hurt, knowing that I’d be saying good-by to Jane and Sue in a little over 24 hours. If the girls shared my anxiety, they didn’t show it. The teen helpers had set up a nail salon in the common area in preparation for The Royal Tea later in the day, and before breakfast all the girls were sporting nails with rainbow colors, glitter polish, decals, and more. But Tea Party or not, we were still at camp, and we had dance class, activity centers, and Kids’ Club. Before you know it, it was time for lunch. And then it was TIME… (more…)
Happy Birthday! (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
(NOTE: This is a continuation of a series about my week as a counselor at Royal Family Kids Camp, a camp for foster children, most of whom have been the victim of some kind of abuse. To read what has gone before, see the links at the bottom of this post.)
Dinner
Chapel and dinner were accompanied by some acting out and personal issues. Sue pouted when I wouldn’t allow her to work on her keychain lanyard while everyone else was singing. And at dinner Jane struggled to stop when she was satisfied rather than continuing to eat until she felt sick. By this time of day, everyone was beginning to tire, and I had come to expect a few problems. But spirits and energy levels were lifted by the balloons and birthday napkins in the dining hall, the cupcakes on the dinner plates, and the party preparations that were going on in the field between the pool and the Chapel. (more…)
(NOTE: This is a continuation of a series about my week as a counselor at Royal Family Kids Camp, a camp for foster children, most of whom have been the victim of some kind of abuse. To read what’s gone before, see the links at the bottom of this post.)
After our shopping spree, Wednesday proceeded through the normal camp schedule: activity centers, Kids’ Club, lunch,and an actual quiet time when exhausted campers and counselors napped for a few minutes. Then it was time for swimming.
With my foot wrapped and swollen, I opted out of getting into my swimsuit. Jane had decided she preferred swimming in filtered,
English: Super Soaker CPS 4100 from Hasbro; 2005 re-release (not original). Photograph of soaker that I own. Taken 02/14/2005. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
chlorinated water, so I supervised her at the pool while Judi took our other three to the more adventurous waters of The Pond. I found a chair with some other counselors in a shady corner where I thought I’d be safe from splashing and runoff from the swimmers. In my planning, however, I failed to take into consideration the many toys that were floating in the pool. It wasn’t long before I found myself staring down the barrel of a Super Soaker held by one of the girls from Dorm Room #1. She was on a mission, but at least she was polite about it.
A Visitor
Wednesday morning my throbbing ankle woke me early, but with a lot of prayer and a little determination, it’s amazing what you can do on one foot. I was sitting in a relatively quiet corner, dressed and contemplating the long walk to the dining hall, when one of the girls came running breathlessly down the hall.
“Miss Linda, there’s a MAN asking for you!” (more…)
