|
Welcome to CrossRoads!
CrossRoads—a place to become whole in spirit, mind and body
Testimonies and Stories from Counselors and Campers:
|
Will had a difficult decision to make and not much time to make it. On the last night of camp in summer 2007, Will explained his situation to his two counselors. He could not decide whether he wanted to play in a specialized baseball league with his high school or to join the Crossroads staff and be a full-time counselor. Will’s counselor told him that he was definitely faced with a complex situation. The counselor explained that it would be wise to pray about the decision and investigate what God wanted him to do.
The counseling period ended, and Will immediately went to his bunk and began to pray and converse with God about what he should do. After about 45 minutes to an hour, he went back to his counselor and said that he had made his decision. Will said that he had looked at his favorite verse in the Bible, 1 Timothy 4:12, and that he felt God leading him to play baseball. He went on to tell his counselor that he was one of the younger players on the team, and he felt that God was telling him that he could be a minister to his older teammates like Timothy had been. Though the CrossRoads counselors hope that Will can one day return to camp as a counselor, they are encouraged that CrossRoads provides a place where God can clearly speak through his Word to campers in a concrete way.
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young. But set an example for the believers in speech, life, love, faith and purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12
|
| |
 [the following story was written by a camp counselor, and the name of the camper was changed to protect her privacy]
While summer camp is usually fun and exciting, it is also painful and heartbreaking, especially for a counselor. Behind the bright smiles of young campers is often hurt, fear, and loneliness. Although I saw this in quite a few children at CrossRoads, one in particular stands out above the rest. Her name was Kacey, and she came to me on a night when I, too, was feeling broken and unusable by God.
Kacey was a very closed-minded camper; she did not like being at camp and spoke negatively about nearly every activity in which she participated. Needless to say, I was surprised on the night that she humbly made her way to my room and sat down to talk. Our conversation started out very casual, speaking of camp and the things she liked to do at home. Somehow, Kacey began sharing with me about her family—a father who doesn’t want to have anything to do with her; a mother who was in an abusive relationship in which Kacey was often the victim; and a grandfather who thinks that Kacey is “no good.” My heart broke as Kacey and I cried together on the edge of my bed. I knew only to hold her in my arms and whisper words of love and compassion. Toward the end of our time together, Kacey and I prayed. She thanked me for talking to her and then left to take a shower. Later that night, as I myself was getting ready for bed, Kacey walked up behind me, wrapped her arms around my waist, and whispered, “I’m glad you’re here.”
On a night when I was hurting and feeling so inadequate to serve God, He used me anyways. He used me, not in spite of my pain, but because of it. He allowed me to love a beautiful little girl who hasn’t felt loved in a very long time. Kacey and I still keep in touch. We write letters to one another, and sometimes she even colors me a picture. I look forward to being a part of her life and am encouraged by the thought that maybe one day, Kacey will look back and think of “that counselor” who loved and talked to her when no one else would.
|
| |
[in the following story, the camper’s name has been changed to protect her privacy]
After only a week at CrossRoads, Carissa was able to say that she had experienced a positive atmosphere for one of the first times in her life. Eleven years old and barely 60 pounds, Carissa had encountered an emotionally abusive childhood. At a very young age, she had wowed judges in a Virginia pageant enough to win the crown. Since then, she has suffered constant pressure to remain thin, and was treated as if she didn’t posses feelings. Constantly she was yelled at and put down within her family, hardly ever receiving encouraging words. To top it off, Carissa’s mother had turned to alcohol when Carissa was very young, and it broke her heart to see her mother this way. All this and more she revealed to her counselors on Celebration Night at CrossRoads.
During her entire week at camp, Carissa maintained a calm, sweet personality and was constantly laughing and smiling. She loved to joke with her counselors and easily made friends with everyone in her cabin. Even though she had never been out in the woods before that she could recall, it was impossible to tell by watching her. She adapted naturally to the camp environment and absolutely loved it. In fact, she even chose the Mountaineering track, as she attended CrossRoads during a High Adventure Week. However, despite the charming outward appearance she presented, no one knew of the storm raging within her.
It was through the CrossRoads summer camp experience that Carissa learned how to love again and experienced acceptance and encouragement from virtually everyone around her. She shared with her counselors she had that she hadn’t expected to hear encouragement ever again, and was pleasantly shocked when she was surrounded with it at camp. After Celebration Night, Carissa became determined not to let her family bring her down any longer. She chose to remain positive and try to develop a closer relationship with the Lord. Once she left camp, she began emailing her counselors, and continues to do so to this day. She still shares with them all of the negative things that happen to her at home, but the love and enthusiasm she gained while at camp is so evident in her words that they outshine her negative experiences. Carissa will be forever changed because of her week spent at CrossRoads. |
To contact us:
CrossRoads Camp & Conference Center
2247 Little Piney Road
Lowesville, VA 22967
|