Summer Camp

One of the things I enjoy the most about my job with White Fields Foundation is the ministry opportunities it facilitates.  A good portion of my job involves office work, 

but occasionally I get the chance to help with various outreaches.

Several days ago, we took a group of about 30 inner-city boys that have been involved with the sports ministry this year to an overnight camp out in the country.  The baseball season just ended, and this was kind of one final hurrah before summer is over and school starts back up. 

The camp is located on a beautiful piece of property that borders the Quemahoning Reservoir.  

I absolutely loved being there to watch the kids get off the bus and see their faces as they slowly realized what all they were going to have the opportunity to do during their two-day stay.  

Canoeing, sports, climbing wall, zip-line...the boys had the chance to do all of these activities, which were interspersed with several Biblical teaching sessions, and meals, of course. :)

For the most part, I was free to take pictures, and just get to know some of the boys that were there.  

I hung out with the little tee-ball guys (6-8 years old) for most of the day, and a few of them managed to capture my heart in the process. :)  Here are some of my favorite images from the day:

{these two are brothers, Malik and Junior...it was so sweet to watch the older brother look out for his younger brother, who couldn't get his hearing aids wet, and needed help with them}

Many of the boys had never been canoeing before...it was so fun to watch them trying to learn, 

and see the whole range of reactions...from "This is awesome!!" to "I'm scared..Mommy! We're going to tip...take me back!!" to "Shark! I think I saw a shark!" {LOL...that's one thing they probably didn't need to worry about coming across in the reservoir}

Kickball team rally...

Climbing wall instruction...

One of the highlights for the kids was the time they got to spend in the pool.  It was a beautiful pool facility, overlooking the lake...complete with a diving board, a huge slide, and a bounce cushion.

One person would sit on the edge of the bounce cushion, 

another would jump from a higher diving board...

...and bounce them into the air before they landed back in the pool.

Before ending this, I wanted to share something that one of the kids said to me towards the end of the first day there.  We were standing in line waiting for dinner, and I was talking to some of the little boys.  One of the boys standing next to me was the son of a volunteer coach that is very involved with our ministry - during our conversation, they asked if he was my brother.

I told them that he wasn't my brother, but he was my friend..."and so are you" I said, 

pointing back at the little boy that had asked the question.

I didn't think anything of it at the time, but several minutes later, after walking away, I realized that one of the boys that had listened to the conversation had followed me.  I turned to him and he asked me quietly "Can I be your friend too?"  Oh goodness, he was so sweet...totally melted my heart. 

And it made me sad at the same time, realizing that some of those kids there were so desperate for love and attention and friendship.  I came away challenged to remember that there are many hurting children and adults around me, and I need to pray more that I would see them as Jesus sees them...and be willing to put aside my needs and agenda, and love them as He does.  So easy to say, but unfortunately it often takes situations like that to remind me how to do it.

Blessings to you all,

Rachel Elisabeth