Full Circle

According to the program staff at Luther Springs, Isabella Eastwood is the first “legacy” counselor at Luther Springs. Isabella’s mom worked on staff back in the early 2000s. This summer, Isabella became the first child of a former counselor to work there too.

With a mom who was deeply connected at camp, Isabella has been going to Luther Springs since she was young. Despite all that camp experience, at the beginning of the summer Isabella wasn’t sure if she was ready to be a counselor. “I had worked with kids before the summer,” Isabella says, “but being the one they relied on every day while at camp was a new experience. I’m grateful I had training to help me feel more prepared.”

Isabella says the staff training she received at Luther Springs gave her more confidence, providing her with the skills and practice she needed to serve as a counselor, especially as a Bible study leader. “During staff training we all taught each other the Bible studies we planned to lead for the summer,” Isabella says. “Some of us would even act like campers for part of the time. Learning to teach about God in a way that campers of different ages can understand was really helpful.”

Isabella says that leading Bible studies during the summer was one of the experiences she loved the most as a counselor. “I really liked one of the readings we used from 1^st Samuel, the one about how God does not look at the outside appearance but looks at the heart,” Isabella shares. “That really spoke to me, especially when working with teenagers at a time when they are self-conscious about their appearance. Campers need an outlet to talk about that kind of thing because they don’t get the opportunity often.”

This fall Isabella started her college journey, and she has taken with her some of the lessons she learned at camp. “Being a counselor wasn’t easy at times. So that has taught me to stay calm and focus when difficulties come up. Some of the things I learned in staff training have helped me in my daily life as well.”

During the summer, there were moments at Luther Springs, when Isabella appreciated the camp legacy she was living out. “I remembered the games and songs from being a camper, and now I was leading them. I remember my counselors from when I was young so it warms my heart to know that I could be that person for some of my campers. It was a full circle moment. I feel lucky to have been doing what my mom did. Teaching kids, walking my own faith journey – I loved every minute of my summer.”

Thank you for your gifts to NovusWay which provide holy space and loving support for young adults to grow as servant leaders, teaching them skills they use with summer campers and in their daily lives among God’s people.