First day at Camp Hope

"Hi Jello are you taking Tracy’s place?"

"Yes dear, I am."

First off I’d like to share with you the tremendous blessing it is to be able to follow after someone like Tracy. It is a beautiful thing to look at the kids and be able to see the personality and love of this dear woman who has captured their hearts. She has taught them how to love and how to be open to change even when it’s painful or sad. This question is a reminder to me of all the love that has been poured into them and as much as I am filling the role Tracy had before me I am not filling her place in these kids hearts, but because of the love that has been poured into them their hearts have grown to be open and willing in receiving new people into their hearts and that is one of the many ways God used Tracy in this community!

Twelve years old and dressed the part, her voice four volumes to high. Yes, looking for the attention of the eyes of anyone who might notice. Her words teetering on the edge of __________ as she draws people into listening to the gossip of so and so.

Under her breath mocking her leader as she steps forward to pick her work sheet, selecting the easiest and returning to her seat. She’s trying to follow the rules. I joke around with her, make her in her actions take back her previous spoken words of homeworking being no fun. She awkwardly sounds out words actually trying now.

Confusion written all over her face as her eyes are fixed scanning the words on the page. She’s trying to match what is being read to what she sees. The words of her bible are similar but don’t match up with the order she hears them being read. As the passage is discussed, she is eager to participate, open to hearing and as her eyes meet mine her face is radiantly lit with a smile. 

She’s sitting on the edge of her seat, her eyes eliminated. She’s waiting for her card to be called, but she gets trapped in ones again. In the excitement of the game she is fixed on hearing her next instructions. Not trying to gain attention or keep up an appearance but lost in the thrilled of being a kid and trying to win a game.

This is her fourth day at camp with UrbanPromise Toronto, Camp Hope ever. As I reflect over the day we didn't do anything that was super cool, are snack was little, program was no extravagant but something about being there made this young lady truly happy. I am excited to know her, to hear about her life, to journey with her this next year. I ask you to pray for her, thanking God for her receptiveness and asking Him to work through His Holy Spirit in her life.