Hello Again!
After a great summer last year, I wanted to come back to see how the kids were doing. I was honoured to be part of their growth. Camp is a great place to make friends and enjoy God's gifts. One of the ways I best experience God’s love is through sports and games. My coaches and teammates have been kind to me, and I would like to extend that kindness to others. Jesus teaches us to be humble and generous. This is how I aspire to be in sports. I started playing basketball, soccer, and volleyball fairly recently. Sharing what I’ve learned with the kids as well as learning from them has been a blast!
A memorable experience with a camper this year was *Elijah and I winning soccer together against a volunteer and a camper. We played a great game. On the final play, I drew the double team, then kicked it upfield where Elijah made the strong finish.
We are learning the story of Joseph this year. Joseph’s brothers abandoned him and tried to set him up for failure. Without God’s grace, Joseph’s life would have been ruined, but the Lord blessed him and gave him opportunities to make good choices. In the same way, I’ve been provided with the opportunity to serve and grow alongside the kids at Sonshine Day Camp–something I am grateful for each day.
This year, I learned from a camper named *Levi not to let small mistakes ruin my mood. Sometimes Levi makes mistakes when he plays soccer. When he does, he notes it, adjusts, and continues playing. This allows him to adapt faster than if he reacted intensely to every mistake. Now, if I stumble over my words while teaching Bible, I can keep going without letting it stop me.
God has shown me the importance of fellowship and teamwork. My strength is being very engaged in activities, but this can make time budgeting tricky. With my team reminding me of time constraints, I’m able to fully engage without constantly checking the clock. God has given each of us gifts. With wisdom we learn from the Bible, we can use our gifts to serve in unity.
I've had to learn to let others take the lead when I'm not sure. Last year, I’d be quick to keep questions to myself, even if I needed help. God has shown me that learning from others gives them a chance to teach me. This sets a good example to the kids whom I will be teaching. A leader being led shows that everyone is still learning, regardless of age.
This has been a great second year, and I pray we make many more great memories in our last weeks of camp.
*Name changed to protect privacy.