I have been working at Strong Rock Camp for three summers now. Each summer has been different yet wonderful in its own way. To describe all my experiences and all the things I have learned during those three summers would take up this whole newsletter. What I must say, is that I consider Strong Rock to be my second home. I enjoy nothing more than making the four and a half hour trek from south Georgia up to Cleveland. Every time I roll through the gate my heart skips a beat and I become as giddy as young girl. With every single stretch of road leading into camp I can see memories right in front of my eyes. Passing field two, I can almost see kids running around kicking balls. At the lake I imagine canoes being paddled around, and I can hear the screams of someone flying off of the blob. As I pass the girls’ cabin area, I can remember all the girls, as well as counselors that have been impacted and changed because of camp. I would not trade these memories for anything.
My amazement is that I can leave for months at a time and be away from all the people I love, but when I return it seems like I was never gone. Relationships just pick up where they left off, and all conversations are immediately turned into, “Oh, remember that time that Cricket wore that ridiculous yellow shirt during Command and Conquer?” or, “Let’s go play four square right now so I can take you down like I did last summer!” It is always refreshing to know that my “away from camp life” may be hectic, but I can enter into a world of love and fellowship any time I am at camp.
I cannot help but think that camp being my home away from home is a little taste of what heaven will be one day. It will be a close fellowship of believers who are serving God together, absent of sin. I long for that fellowship one day when we will all be in heaven where I will see the faces of my Strong Rock family as well as those of many campers. What a beautiful day that will be!
Needless to say, Strong Rock has impacted me in so many ways, and I value everything that I have learned there not only in the enjoyable times, but also in the difficult times. It has been an honor to be a part of such a family, and I will only ever look fondly on the wonderful memories that I have from this place.