An Adventure Camp Story…

If Jamie* is five feet tall, she truly can’t be much more. She stood trembling before our entire camp, but oddly, bearing an uncharacteristic confidence betrayed by a brilliantly unforced smile. Morning sun shined through the pergola-style roof which covers a portion of the “Fostering Place,” our beautifully rustic gathering space designed specifically to host meals, games, and stories at our camp in the Beartooth Mountains of Wyoming. The other 45 of us sat on sturdy wooden benches quietly eating our breakfast, each in eager anticipation of whatever would come next from Jamie. She held the Life Stories queue card at her side, a laminated 8.5” x 11” green sheet which listed the data-points which she, like every YFC camper, was to provide the group. She didn’t need the card that morning.

“I gave my life to Jesus last night,” she said, then paused. Her grin expanded, as she looked off into the distance so as to gather her thoughts, “I’ve never done that before.”

Her words hung in the cool morning air. Most stopped eating, as spontaneous smiles and tears emerged throughout our gathered assembly. Except for the sniffles, you could hear a pin drop. Additional story details surfaced—like those revealing her days in foster care, her recently being adopted, and her confession that our YFC staff members have been like family for her—and rounded out her narrative.

But the center held. Jamie’s life is no longer her own. She gave it to the King.

As a result, we’re all in this together with her… because of Him… forever.

To God be the glory!
And… I truly can’t help but smile.

Matt Hebert
Ministry Director 
* = name changed