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 Ministering to Angel Tree campers is very rewarding, but it is not always easy. As one volunteer relates, “It was a good, but long week at camp and at times tough because of some children's behavior. It was energy draining.”
It would be easy to give up when behavioral problems flare up. It would be easier for our volunteers to stay home, to not take a week away from their families.
It would be easier to take a nice vacation to Tahiti instead. But volunteers like Katrina Forsyth realize that the easy road does not necessarily hold the blessings of the narrow road.
For her, the biggest blessing came this year from a camper named Jordan. Jordan is 12 years old and lives in Bloomington. Last year, Katrina and fellow-worker Jill had to take Jordan home late at night because of his behavior.
On that late-night ride home a year ago, a touching question came from the backseat. Jordan asked, “Can I come back next year and try to do better?”
Sure enough, Jordan's mom signed him and his sister up for camp this year.
“Others thought I was crazy for letting him come back after last year's performance,” explains Katrina. “But, I believe in grace and in second chances.”
There was a marked difference in Jordan from the beginning this year. Though a few behavior problems still surfaced, Jordan seemed to be truly trying.
By mid-week, Jordan sat tearful with Lorraine, one of the local directors to respond to the Gospel invitation. With a softened face, he spoke what was on his heart: "I just want to be good on the inside," he said.
And the great news for Jordan—and for all of us who, like Jordan, know something on the inside needs changing—is that Christ has the power to melt our hearts of stone and replace them with hearts of flesh. Jordan received Christ that day! And he couldn’t wait to tell Katrina—who had loved him enough to give him a second chance.
The next day another camper provoked Jordan. He reacted and again found himself sitting on the front porch with Katrina and counselor Jill. They lovingly explained that now that he is a child of God that he doesn't have to respond that way anymore. That Jesus can help him to do what is right. They shared some Scripture with him and wrote down verses: I John 1:9, Hebrews 13:6, and Joshua 1:8.
On the last day of the closing program, 13 children received awards for memorizing all 5 of their Bible verses taught in morning chapel. It was hard, because you had to work ahead, because there was no cabin/memory verse time on Friday, because camp ended mid-afternoon. Guess who was one of the 13 to receive the award?
Yes, it was Jordan. |
