“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:19)
The theme for this summer at Camp DeWolfe was “All things new”– The new things that we would try this summer, as well as the new things that God wanted to do for us and through us this summer. I had remembered last year’s theme revolving around courage, and we had looked at Ruth and Naomi, Abraham and Isaac, Esther and King Xerxes, and it had been wonderful, as that was my first year at Camp DeWolfe. It was not my first year as a camp counselor, however, it was something much needed for me to hear, stepping into the new position as a senior counselor. With the support of Nate and Anthony, I was able to grow into the position and grow with courage. I was able to have the courage to try new challenges– the multi vine, the catwalk, the mohawk trail… The summer was so great and so strengthening for my character and my faith that I decided to come back for another year at Camp DeWolfe.
In this second year, I came back as a Unit Leader, and had been looking forward to what this year had for me. See, the prior year at Camp DeWolfe had been a stepping stone for me to grow in my confidence and to grow closer to God, but I also knew that God was not done with me yet. I knew that God wanted to do so much more with me this summer, and that is exactly what He did–all things new. It started with climbing the rock wall and the vertical play pen for the first time, all the way to the top. Then it progressed to building campfires, and even leading trainings. To top it off, it led to me experiencing what it means to be the Body of Christ. This summer, I learned what it meant to have an intentional community, that really cared and supported one another. We laughed together, we cried together, and we even prayed together. This summer, we died to ourselves in order to serve one another, and to push forward the vision of Camp DeWolfe– to have intentional community, to empower leaders, support spiritual formation, all while living in the beautifully crafted natural setting surrounding us. We became the Body of Christ when we did life together here and recognized that there was an even greater purpose to why we were here in the first place, and that purpose was to be the hands and feet of Jesus for all to see.
I can leave knowing that although God did really great things this summer, He is still not done with me yet, and wants to continue to do all things new this year when I go back to Nyack College for my Junior year. I now have the confidence of belonging and knowing that I am a part of the Body of Christ, and that I too, can be the Body of Christ to others.
Katherine Pena — Unit Leader 2017
8/9/17