I returned for a second year because I felt like my work at Flemingdon Park was not finished. I really connected with all of the children last year, connected with the community and was able to share the gospel with them. I also feel that by doing that I helped open their capacity for God’s love.
When I came back this year some of the kids that were really not as engaged last year during bible or worship, are the most engaged of the whole group now. This really warmed my heart to see that I had a small part in their spiritual growth as they begin to seek God. Asking them questions this year they’re able to answer and I’m able to see the spiritual growth. I get to see how God works in their lives. Johnny used to not pay attention to the Bible, and now he’s retaining a lot more information this year. I’m able to recognize that he’s learning about the word. The impact might not be right now, but maybe in the future, they’ll be able to recognize it in their own words. We’re building their foundation for the future.
I’m not going to lie though, this internship has been a little harder because it is a new group of children, which is common in the Flemingdon Park community, with families always moving out, which is great, but connecting with these new kids has been harder. There is a language barrier with a good bunch of the kids, and at the beginning, it was hard to really communicate with them at all, but as time has passed I feel as if I might finally start to be getting through to them a little bit and hopefully I’m able to share about the gospel with them as well. However, I am strengthened by the whole experience as every time I talk to the kids I’m retelling myself all the teachings and it gives me a spark again. Every day is a new day to learn something. Every day there’s a possible conversation that can happen. I do believe the 7 weeks of camp have an impact on them as humans. Watching the growth of kids like Johnny shows me how important it is to be with them every day. It means a lot to me. I’m working around the camp, still coming and taking this valuable time with them. There are still days I randomly get really, really, sick but you know.
