At Luther Springs, there are lots of traditions. One of the traditions happens after mealtime. When campers and staff bring their plates to the kitchen window, they say “Jesus Loves You” to whoever is washing the dishes there. It’s just part of the Luther Springs culture. But it’s something camper Savannah didn’t want to do when she first came as a camper three summers ago.
“When I first came to Luther Springs, I was too scared to say, ‘Jesus Loves You,’” Savannah remembers. “I wasn’t really a talkative person, and I was nervous about doing things in front of people.” Despite her reservations, Savannah had a great first week as a camper. “I liked getting to meet new people and having all the outdoor experiences,” Savannah says. “But my counselor that week was the biggest inspiration to me. She was comforting and understanding, and she was always there for me. I decided I wanted to be like that.”
Since that first summer, Savannah has been coming back to Luther Springs. This past summer, she came for three weeks – two as a camper and one as a volunteer. “I love camp,” she says. “It’s my second home and always makes me happy. I’ve changed since my first week as a camper. Now I feel comfortable doing a lot more things and I will go out of my way to talk to people. And I tell people ‘Jesus Loves You’ all the time!”
Savannah says being a camper at Luther Springs has not only helped her find her voice, but has helped her grow in faith. “When I first started coming to camp, I had lots of questions and felt like I was really unsure about faith,” she recalls. “But I feel stronger in my faith now. Each day at camp I get to share my highs and lows and my God moments with others. I have so many God moments here.”
Getting to volunteer at Luther Springs this past summer also confirmed for Savannah that she wants to be a counselor when her time comes. “Getting to have responsibility and to help and advocate for others really had an impact on me,” she says. “I want to be a counselor. I want to be able to tell campers that Jesus loves them.”
Your gifts to NovusWay provide campers like Savannah the opportunity to grow in faith and confidence in a community of love and care. Thank you for giving children of God a camp home.
