Day Camp Recap

We have just completed six weeks of day camp here at HPCO! One thing that keeps running through my mind is how amazing it is that this is my fourth year being involved in camp. It’s incredible to think that I have been here that long. When I look back at pictures of the kids from my first summer I realize that I have literally been watching them grow up. And then it leads me to think of my feelings that first summer and how this was my desire– that is, to stay with the kids and walk with them through life. To me, it is a clear sign of God’s faithfulness and how He has truly given me the desire of my heart.

As I look over the past six weeks, it has been a reminder of God’s continual provision. We had a great group of staff this year: Mario (who is on his fourth summer with us), Dominique, Chris and Annika. Chris, Dominique and Mario are all Detroit born and raised. It was such a blessing to have them and I feel that they were able to relate with our kids on a deeper level. We offered two classes: sports and music. Dominique is a Christian hip-hop artist, Chris is a singer and Annika plays the piano and guitar. They were able to expose the kids to some Christian hip-hop and also tell them of the dangers of the negative hip-hop our kids are so use to listening to. At the end of the summer, a few of the kids performed what they learned in front of their parents.
For me, one of the greatest blessings of the summer was seeing the growth in one of our teen workers. I hired one of my girls who I recently got back in contact with. Ashley is only fourteen, and younger than most of the teens we have hired in the past. But she exceeded all expectations I had for her! I have never had a teen work so hard, and she always initiated interactions with kids. She even sat down with some of the girls and had a couple of Bible studies with them. The best part of having her here was the time I was able to spend with her outside of camp. She lives just down the road from me and spent many hours at my house. We grew very close and slowly throughout the summer, she began to open up with me and our relationship grew deeper. We continue to hang out on a regular basis. I can see God working in her life in such an amazing way. She’s like a light that has come out of a very dark place. When I look at her home life and the way the rest of her family is living, I know it’s nothing short of a miracle that she has turned out the way she has. I know God started working on her even before she came here.

At the end of the summer, our teachers each sat down with their class and shared with them the plan of salvation. Even though we had talked with them throughout the summer about salvation, this was a time they were able to spend more personal time asking questions and talking with their teachers. We had seven children accept Christ as their Savior. I am so thankful that these are kids we will be able to do follow-up with this fall.

I want to thank each of you for your prayers through out the summer. It’s so wonderful that we are not in this alone, and God works through each of us to accomplish His purpose