2002 Week # 3

Report by JP.:

The third week of camp takes on a completely different feel. Although the schedule is primarily the same, the age group is different. Third and Fourth weeks are for campers who have completed 2nd-6th Grade, and as they enter the camp on Sunday afternoon, a childlike quality takes over. They wear their emotions on their sleeves, and those emotions are sky high on Sunday. The walk into their cabin as if it were the Marriot, and they treat the dining hall as if it were a Five Star Restaurant. As we all dream of heaven, they act as if they are already there. 

Bunk selection becomes a huge deal. They approach it as if they are finding a life partner, not a mattress for a week. I've actually seen a kid pace the floor for minutes before making the selection of a lifetime. Their is much strategy as one must consider cabin air flow, location of spider webs, and nearness to the bathroom.  

Now, as a counselor, I observed an interesting phenomenon. My boys would actually trade bunks at times. For example, "you can read in my bunk during rest time if I can read in yours." Why this is exciting I'll never know. Still, I think it shows their overwhelming desire to experience everything.  And to check out which mattress they should choose for next year. 

The clearest difference between Senior and Junior weeks is seen at Cabin  Report every morning at 11:45. Where Senior weeks ooh and ahh at the  inspection report, the Juniors roars will reach a deafening level. If you  drive by camp in East Haddam and hear children screaming, do not panic. Some  cabin must have received a 100! 

On a more serious level, Third week was so special because it shows us why  Jesus made so many remarks about us being like little children. When the  kids have quiet time, it usually becomes, "hey let's all go sit on a bench  and be quiet together." My first instinct is to say, "hey boys, spread out,  it's quiet time." Instead, I thought to myself, "have they learned something  about community and support that I've missed out on." 

Several times during the week, a child would run up to me and exclaim, "I've  lost my bible." This was not an "aw shucks" comment but an intense pain of  loss. Each time, the child would look and look until the bible was found.  Then, they would carry it around like it was their prize possession. I was  convicted at how flippantly I use my bible and how casual I am in my reliance  on it. 

Thursday night bonfire was an enormous hit. Everything and everyone is  thanked. Just when I think the kids have gone around and expressed thanks to  everyone, they come up with something new. Nothing goes unnoticed. I  wonder. These things that I take for granted, how can they have the depth of  insight to notice and thank what I would never think of? 

I counseled at Third week to serve. I wanted to give back and help the kids.  What happened was different. Instead, I was the one counseled at third  week. God used these kids to be living examples of what he wants my heart to  become. Instead of being the helper, I became the helped. I was reminded  how joyful and exciting it is to be a Christian. Many say that if you want  to be a kid you should go to Toys R Us or Disney World. God showed me that  to have a childlike faith as he requires, the best place for me to go was  Third Week at T.R.C.C!

-JP Conway