After a message of love in the chapel night, devotions, and a very peaceful night Monday, the teen girls woke up early and ready to the begin the day. Each day of camp begins with prayer at the flagpole. After all the cabins have arrived, the director bids the campers and staff good morning and then always allows one cabin to assist in raising the flag and pray for the day. After flag raising and prayer, the camp filed into the dining hall where a piping hot breakfast awaited them. Chapel sing followed breakfast where the girls lifted their voices in songs of praise and worship. After the girls finished singing songs such as “Where Do I Go?” and “Shake a Friend’s Hand,” they were dismissed to their morning rotations for Trust Time, Mosaics (various activities related to nature), and Crafts.

Of the three rotations, Trust Time is a time organized by the recreation staff. This time was used to encourage the girls to trust each other. The activity that pushed the girls the most involved a pair of girls, one of whom was given the task of leading her blind-folded partner. The seeing led the blind around the grounds, ultimately demonstrating the need to trust in Someone Who is able to see.

Through all the shrieks from fear and the unknown, the girls successfully led one another on the short journey without any harm. This time is also used as an opportunity to reinforce the memory verse of the day. Each day, the girls learn a memory verse that goes along with the theme of the day and the teaching in the evening chapel, which is usually five memory verses for one week of camp. Through the activities and the practice, many of the girls have learned their memory verses without much problem. Learning the verses teach the principle of placing God’s word in their hearts. Each camper has the opportunity to earn what’s called a “Memory Award” and a wonderful gift if she is able to remember all five memory verses at the end of the week.

Tuesday’s theme for the day was “Love One Another,” the theme driven by the Bible verse 1 John 4:7 which tells believers to do just that. Actively loving each other has also been encouraged by the teacher’s recognition of “Random Acts of Love.” So far, we’ve identified and acknowledged several campers for these random acts of love. A few examples are: offering to carry the water bottles for her cabin mates, offering to give up a personal preference for someone else in her cabin, and encouraging someone who was sad. When each camper showed this type of love for someone else, she was given a heart with a candy and on that heart was written, “This is love.” Many of the campers have received these hearts of love and as they continue to actively love without being asked to, they will be given a heart.

The second full day of camp was a hot one, but a good one. With all of these activities and all of these relationships displaying God’s love, some situations need much prayer. One situation involves a camper who is experiencing bullying from some of the other girls and wisdom is desired for the staff in how to address the incidents. Another situation needing prayer involves a camper who is struggling with submitting to authority.  Prayer for the counselors involved would be appreciated, especially in the areas of love, patience, and wisdom.