Bringing It Back to God
With three years of volunteering at Jesse-Ketchum under my belt, I had mixed emotions when finally taking the chance to work as a summer intern. The idea of becoming a camp leader was exciting, but it was also intimidating to think about all the new responsibilities I’d have to take on. I held high expectations for myself because I looked up to past leaders I’d worked with when volunteering. Aside from the pre-established dynamics I’d built with the kids, I felt that I lacked the leadership skills and wasn’t mature enough in my faith to measure up.
As I got to know my fellow interns better and began planning the program during training, I gained more confidence in what I could contribute this summer. With the resources I was given and the tremendous support I had from my team, I began to understand that God was preparing me for this role by providing me with aid in my areas of doubt.
When camp started, things seemed to go much smoothly than I expected; I was surprised by my own patience when approaching conflicts between kids and daily camp challenges. It was at this time that I remembered I cannot rely on my abilities alone. God has a plan for this community, and my role in this is only possible when I trust in Him completely. This isn’t to say that these past few weeks haven’t been challenging, but I’ve found myself managing through every struggle with grace because I am constantly reminded of my purpose here and how great God is.
I’ve rarely felt drained at camp because I feel refreshed in taking a step back and seeing the impact my team has been making by simply extending His love to these kids. Watching the kids outwardly praise during worship, learn to manage their emotions, and pray during stressful situations gives me motivation to continue pouring into this community. I’m here to show what it’s like to follow Christ, and although I’m still learning in my own walk with God, I can guide these kids to Him through one-on-one conversations and small gestures of love.
God revealed Himself to me in many ways this summer, and my time at this camp has reminded me that He is in control. Being surrounded by a supportive, Christian team and witnessing the kids’ growing passion for Christ inspires me to continue giving my best when serving God. This summer has been a blast, and I attribute all my successes to Him.
“ Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.”