Sarita Hartz, a YoungLives volunteer coordinator in Arlington, Va., writes about her experience with a YoungLives group at camp.

 

Karla is a beautiful Hispanic girl from El Salvador who grew up with an abusive father and ran away with her boyfriend, who also turned out to be abusive. She has a gorgeous 18-month-old daughter who will take your shoes and try to walk around in them.

During our last night at camp, a younger girl — who was serving at the camp — shared her story of abuse and God's healing in her life. I could see the yearning on Karla’s face for that kind of freedom. Karla looked at her in amazement and asked, “How can you be healed from all the stuff that happened to you?” The only answer the girl could offer was: by a loving God.

Karla is a young woman who fears no guy will ever want her because she has a child. But she also stays strong and refuses to go back to her ex-boyfriend because of the better life she wants for her daughter. And at camp, she decided that she wants Christ to walk alongside her.

I watched these girls in our group grow young again. I saw them learn that they could jump off the ropes course and win a volleyball game. I watched them realize they are made of stronger stuff than they thought. I watched them sit in a circle as each shared her story of pain and lovingly rub each other's backs as if to say, “I understand.” I watched them make each other laugh like they hadn't in a long time. I realized that this is why I am here, this is why Christ came — because of the difference we are making in their lives for eternity.

YoungLives camps are held during the summer at Lost Canyon in Williams, Ariz., and Windy Gap in Weaverville, N.C. For information about bringing campers and their babies, or if you are interested in serving on the childcare team, please contact YoungLives.