Stories from the campfire

Another camp story.

I went down to the registration for the campers for the second week. And one of the first campers to show up was an 11 year old girl that we will call "Jane". Jane was quite a tomboy, and it was clear that she was influenced very little by other people. It was also clear that she was probably not a very east child to raise, so I liked her right away.

I kept an eye on her as the week progressed, and it was CLEAR she was her own person. She shared with everybody that her mother gave up custody to her grandparents, but kept custody on her siblings.

The camp nurse stayed in her cabin. On Tuesday night Jane said to her "You are the oldest person in our cabin." The nurse replied "How can you tell?" and Jane said "Because your skin is all wrinkley and hangs off your face." Now, Jane knew exactly what she was saying, and said it because she knew she could get away with it. FREAKIN' SWEET!!

On Thursday we had a group of volunteers come in and work a beauty shop. They do the girls hair and make and there is nice dresses they can wear for the evening. I saw Jane and her counselor as I was walking and she had a dress on and make up and her hair was done. So I said "Jane, you look so beautiful!" and her counselor told me not to say that of she would take it off. So I then said "Jane, this look just is not working for you." and she laughed. I went into the beauty shop and talked to the woman who did her make-up and Jane told her that she wanted to look like a dead bride. I thought to myself, with a foundation like this, under my tutelage I can do nothing but great things with this girl.

On that Friday during our last meal, after she ate she went to the side room and was scrubbing the floor. I talked to her and she said that she felt God had told her to clean the room. She also said she hates cleaning. I want to adopt her.

As she was leaving I told her that I was a lot like her, and she was created as God wants her to be and not to let people change her.