HOW CAN I CHOOSE JUST ONE MOMENT FROM CAMP THAT HAD AN IMPACT?
I can't.
So I will share two special moments that happened at Fisher Bay Bible Camp last week.
We had not planned to be participating in the camp this summer so it was a surprise to receive the call from Scott Rosom, director, to ask Walter to be the speaker for Junior 2 week.  Our calendar was open and Walter thought he could prepare the stories and lessons in a week's time.  We arrived at Fisher Bay on Monday afternoon and campers were arriving in half an hour.  No problem!  Chapel time wasn't until 8 pm that evening so Walter had time to review the story of Mary Slessor, missionary in the 1800's to Nigeria, Africa.  All went well.
I had anticipated being Walter's prayer support and maybe help out in the kitchen or wherever needed. But at the next morning's 7 am staff meeting, Scott asked if I was willing to help in Riflery for Skill 1, 2, and 3.  I knew how to operate a pellet gun and thought I'd be more crowd control than anything so I agreed.  Oh, and by the way, could I fill in for Skill 4 after supper with the airsoft activity?  Now that was a stretch!  But being trained as a missionary to respond with "I shall be glad to", I couldn't refuse.
The blessing of being involved in the skills was to be able to interact directly with the campers.  In the past, I was cooking and basically locked into the kitchen all day.  My only interaction with the kids was to serve them at meals.  I barely knew anyone's names.  But being in the riflery shack 3 times a day gave me opportunity to get to know at least 25 names. And then about 8 more on the airsoft course.
On about the fourth day of camp, I was walking over to the tuck shop (canteen) to get my one free item for the day.  As I came back with my ice cream sandwich, I noticed a little girl alone on the swing set.  I sat nearby and struck up a simple conversation with "Sierra".  It was her first time at camp and she was 8 years old.  She was one of the quiet ones in my riflery skill.  As I asked a few more questions, she began to tell me about her family.  She lived with her Gran on the neighbouring reserve.  Her mom had a boyfriend and lived in Winnipeg.  They drank a lot.  Her dad was in the hospital (probably in Winnipeg).  This kind of explained her quiet and withdrawn nature.  So I asked if she wanted to come to camp next summer.  Sierra replied that yes, only if she can get enough money to come again.  Some lady sponsored her to be able to come.  So I encouraged her to pray all winter and God could provide the money.  Then I was prompted to ask if she wanted me to pray with her right now, and pray for her mom and boyfriend and dad and Gran.  She nodded and folded her hands as we sat on the swings and prayed.
Right after we said "Amen", the lifeguard announced swimming time, so Sierra ran off to get ready for that.  But I sat and pondered this rare opportunity.  How precious to listen to a sweet little girl's hard story and then see her bow her head and pray!  I will not forget Sierra.
The last night of camp was banquet night.  We enjoyed a lovely supper in a dining hall decorated with forest animals and leaves made of construction paper.  Then the fun part was that the counselors have to do the dishes while the support staff get to play with the kids!  Walter engaged in the epic water fight, while I chose a quiet spot to hang out.  As the sun was setting, it was getting cooler out, so I ran back to our room to get a jacket.  And then it was campfire time.
I walked to the fireside benches and found a seat.  Soon, a ten-year-old boy, "Connor", sat beside me. He was also in riflery and was usually one of the boisterous and active ones in the group.  He sat quite close to me and instead of joking around or jumping up or chasing other kids, Connor just sat.  So I asked him a couple questions about his day.  Pretty soon he began sharing about how he wasn't sure what grade he would be in this year.  He got his report card that said he wasn't going to be promoted.  He seemed quite upset about it.  Was it also because it was the last evening at camp and going home would be difficult?  When the campfire singing and skits started, our conversation came to an end.  But Connor kept sitting beside me and didn't join his other friends or participate in the songs.
My heart was touched by this "tough guy" being so vulnerable and maybe needing a caring "mom" figure for comfort.  I will not forget Connor.
Will I ever see these children again?  Not sure.  Will they remember me or our conversations?  Hard to say.  All I know is that I will be impacted by Sierra and Connor because the Lord used them to remind me how important and how loved each soul is to Him.
"Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to Him belong; they are weak but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
The Bible tells me so."