Come and journey, journey outward where that cross calls us to care, where injustice and where the young and the poor call to be shared. Come and journey, come and journey, with a Saviour who has come…
The words of the hymn “Come and Journey with a Saviour,” written by Herbert O’Driscoll, have been echoing in my heart. As I sit in front of my laptop and reflect on this summer’s journey. This past summer was beautiful, two months filled with busyness, and energy. Now that those lively weeks have come to an end, I sit quietly at my desk and wonder how everyone is doing. The once busy camp is probably empty now, waiting to be cared for, prepared, and made ready to welcome a new group of people.
I wonder what has become of the campers, counsellors, and all the people I met during the summer. They have probably returned home and begun their ordinary routines and work. Some may be preparing for a new semester, while others may still be enjoying their vacation. Some may already have returned to work.
The week we shared together is no longer physically there. The camp has become quiet and empty until the next group arrives. Yet those glimmering moments have become a small but precious part of my heart. They remain there, shining whenever I remember them. I hope that everyone I met this summer will also carry these memories in their hearts. Perhaps at some unexpected moment, those memories will brighten their day, like a mustard seed growing, like hope.
Since this is the final post in the series, I decided to create a few camp awards. Rev. Sarah also told me that a previous Peace intern had created a Best Camp Food award, which inspired me to make cute images and an award-like title, because all good camps deserve the awards! Please take a look at the photos. I hope they help you feel the spirit and atmosphere of each camp a bit through these images!
And … Here is the list of awards:
Best Camp Food: Camp Bedford (High School)
Best Lake and Nature Programs: Camp Crystal, Michigan
Best Youth Leadership: Camp Christian
Funniest (Silliest) Camp: Camp Bedford (Middle School)
The G.O.A.T. Award (and yes, I mean with real goats!): Camp Walter Scott
Bye-bye, my best camps, directors and counsellors, each of my campers, unique and filled with the light and love of the Lord, team IRTF, Mary and Mark and my great peace intern co-worker, chaplain Maggie, and our Mission Director, Rev. Sarah. We are saying goodbye after this summer, but the memories we made together will remain with us as we return to the world. As this summer comes to an end and we each go back to our own places, and send to the world, the world of agony, the world of war and the world of human indifference, the world perhaps looks much the same as it did before this summer, or even worse. However, we are not the same anymore. Met a lot of people and learned from them, changed and opened, by the people we have met and the time we have shared, we move forward with hope. Like tiny mustard seeds spreading all over the wild field, we go on, carrying what we have received this summer.
Thank you to everyone I met this summer, and to everyone who saw our peace interns' work and prayers throughout this summer's journey of the three peace interns. See you someday, somewhere, everybody. Until then, let’s be salt and light in this world, not by us but the power of the Lord of Christ, whose power working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine, and working over all our limitations, and who turns our weakness to greatness. Go, all the team, we do our best (This is a team name invented by Rev. Ali Miguel). Go team Disciples, good luck, Love y’all, sending blessings.
