Heart Wide Open

It has been a blessing serving as a summer intern at TCM this summer at the Kingston-Galloway location. This is my second year serving as a summer camp counsellor at TCM. I decided to return for a second year because I had so much fun interacting with the campers, and interns during my first year. I was able to make unforgettable relationships with the different campers and returned as I wanted to see the kids again, and see how they had grown up since the last time I saw them. It was also great meeting new people who wanted to serve as summer camp counsellors, and building relationships with them during the summer. It has been very rewarding and lots of fun spending time with the campers this year and hearing about the different things that happened throughout the school year since last summer.  

I am glad that I have been able to grow my connections with the campers from last year, and to see them grow from last year to this summer! Two of the campers that attended camp last year have become TLC’s this summer, and it has been great seeing them take leadership roles at camp. They have been such a big help and have worked hard contributing to camp activities. It has also been a pleasure getting to know more about them and to work side by side with them during the day.  At the beginning of camp, some of the campers were shy and were not participating in activities as much. Over the course of camp finishing Week 4, I have seen big transformations as those same campers are now full of confidence and love to participate in the activities we host at camp. It is also encouraging seeing the campers engage in the different Bible lessons and worship we host everyday. I hope that the lessons we teach will stay with them, and help them grow in God’s Word in camp, and outside of camp as well. While interacting with the campers, I can see and hear that camp is a loving, supporting, and safe place where they can spend their days during the summer.  

One of my favourite memories at camp was during our field trip at the Toronto Zoo.  The campers that were placed in my group were very excited about seeing the different animals, and I was glad to see them happy.  Throughout all the walking and the hot weather, the kids did a great job of keeping a good attitude, and spending time in conversation with each other. Another favourite memory is when we go on our swimming field trips. The kids love the water and even though many of them do not know how to swim, they are open to swimming and asking the counsellors for help. It is encouraging seeing campers pass the swimming test even when they did not know how to swim at the beginning of camp. The kids are always so joyful in the pool and always have a great time.    

During camp, I have seen God working in my life in numerous ways. Camp has allowed me to open up my heart more to the kids, and to be able to embrace the silly part of me to both the campers and the other interns working at camp. I have learned to show love to the children the way God has shown love to me day, after day. Something as simple as saying “Good morning!” or “How has your day been?” can mean a lot to a camper. I found talking intentionally, and learning more about the kids is something I have been working on over the course of camp. I think that God has been working on opening my heart to new people and new experiences of which camp has been a great way for me to work on these things.