Araminta: More than Just Summer Fun

By Hannah McDonald

[Editor’s Note: Camp Araminta set a record for attendance this year with around 300 staff and campers combined to fill nearly every bed at Camp Lake Swan. But, numbers only tell a part of the story. Here’s Counselor Hannah McDonald’s account of God uses Camp to break into the lives of our children and teenagers.]

As a returning cabin counselor, I’ve seen the Lord move powerfully every summer at camp. Each year, my cabin of anxiously excited high schoolers gradually settle into the rhythm of camp life. By the third day of camp, new friendships and inside jokes develop. They start to laugh freely and sing louder during worship. Slowly, they begin to open up about their lives back home. If you watch closely, you can see how the Lord uses every piece of the camp experience to turn hearts towards Him. Nothing is wasted. Even the derailed cabin time conversations that devolve into joking and the sudden thunderstorms that shift the schedule. Each and every summer, God’s plan for Camp Araminta is better than ours.

On Thursday night, our middle and high school campers had the opportunity to attend a healing prayer service. As worship began, campers were encouraged to seek prayer as they felt led from our adults and clergy. By the third song the room had settled into worship, and I saw so clearly how each prior moment had been softening and preparing the campers for this one. One by one, campers fell to their knees and on their faces in complete surrendering worship of the Lord. They sang and wept without abandon. As we prayed for campers, the Lord continually brought to mind 2 Corinthians 3:17: “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” And so, I prayed for campers to be cut free. 

On the last night of camp, campers shared testimonies about how God moved during “Say So”. But this year, I saw the testimonies before I heard them. I saw heavy shoulders relax as burdens were lifted. I saw sudden lightness and tears that turned quickly to joy. I saw freedom. And where there is freedom, there is great rejoicing. Praise God.