We Plant, He Waters

If you’d asked me a year ago what my 2025 summer would look like, I would never have dreamed I’d be here, working again at a summer camp in my church community. Not because I wouldn’t have wanted to – the total opposite – I had simply given up on the idea after our church-run summer day camp camp was shut down after COVID. When the news came to me that the church didn’t have enough money to run the camp, I was heartbroken. I looked for someone or something to blame and questioned God’s plan. I always felt like my skills were best used in a camp or classroom setting. Why would He cut off such a valuable connection to the families in our community? 

When church members encouraged me to apply for the TCM internship, I was not really sure. But I began to feel God’s voice telling me that Sonshine Day Camp was where He wanted me to be this summer. Despite having another job lined up, I applied. Ever since then, God has been revealing Himself in ways I never expected. 

One of the things God has been teaching me is that it’s not about me. One of the reasons I was so angry about our church’s summer day camp being shut down was the fact that I would no longer be a part of the “action”. I felt that without our group of camp staff and our program, families would not be reached in the community. That’s when I was reminded of this verse: 

It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.

1 Corinthians 3:7

This summer, we’ve had so many amazing opportunities to connect with families in need in our community. Over the past few weeks, we have had some great conversations with parents who have expressed to us how Sonshine Day Camp has positively impacted their child. Parents have even expressed interest in coming to our church on Sunday. Many of our kids come from non-Christian homes, and so we are blessed to have the chance to teach them Bible stories. The kids have truly been remembering and understanding the stories, which is a huge answer to prayer. I’ve even had some good conversations with my little ones who are in Grade 1 and 2 about God during silly times, such as petting therapy dogs.  They said to me, “No way God made puppies too!” I pray that God would continue to water the little seeds we are planting. 

For the past few weeks of camp, I have been reminded that God never stops moving. I am so grateful to be a part of His amazing plan, but I am not the one making seeds grow. That was always Him.