Unforgettable

I’m not usually the kind of person who fills her summer with camp participation, but I decided to give it a try. I made one of the best decisions ever! Young Life camp gave my summer a sense of fulfillment. In my eyes, for a camp to have its own fullness, it needs to meet three important criteria: to be entertaining, provide good teaching and create opportunities for building relationships.

Entertaining​

The resort of Pamporovo, and specifically the hotel of Forrest Nook provided wonderful conditions and warm hospitality. From the beginning, we were engulfed in a wave of positive emotion; the games started even as we were coming in the parking lot. The beginning was totally exciting, but we didn’t expect how much more was in store for us! Every single day was different, and the surprises followed quickly, one after the other. Together under the stars or gathered in a meeting hall, dancing and playing, we made new memories. Our leaders and organizers invested a lot of effort to set this all up. But even more impressive was how they joined in the fun alongside us.

A major event of personal importance during camp was my own birthday. I can definitely say this was one of the most memorable, special days in my life​ — I was able to spend it in an amazing location, ​ with amazing people, in a special and beautiful way!

Good Teaching

The themes and stories during this camp were really well presented, both for those who have faith and those who are still uncertain of their personal faith journey. I saw the impact of those teachings on one girl from our town. To her, faith in Jesus was something new and unfamiliar, but during the last evening of the camp she shared that she felt much closer to God and now had a better understanding of His love. She made a commitment to start reading the Bible after returning home.

We also heard the personal life stories of four camp volunteers. Many of us recognized ourselves in their stories, and realized we were not alone in this complicated and tough world.

A major part of the spiritual impact of camp was a period of 20 minutes — at first, we didn’t think much about it, but later many of us realized this time was of key importance. At the end of the last evening, we were instructed to walk out of the hotel, and spend 20 minutes by ourselves, without talking to anyone else: simply spending time with God. And so, each of us chose a place under the stars and stood there silently. The only sound was the crickets. What everyone spoke personally to God, we cannot know. But when we came back, some were in tears, while others had wide smiles on their faces.

Relationships

Not only had we made friendships with young people from Bulgaria and North Macedonia, but we also felt the love of all the volunteers and camp leaders. Their joy and positive attitude inspired us to cherish this warmth in our hearts and bring it home. ​ ​

Our deep fellowship during those five days was also due to the fact that we didn’t use our phones or any technology. Yes, it was kind of hard, but only for the first half hour. Afterwards, we quickly forgot about our small screens. We simply didn’t need them — and some of us didn’t even want them back (including me). This experience reminded us that we shouldn’t be dependent on technology, especially our phones. If it wasn’t for their absence, we wouldn’t have experienced those five days in such an exciting way.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to share about those unforgettable five days. I thank everyone who made Young Life camp possible. And most of all, I’m thankful to God for the opportunity to be a part of it!

As you read this, summer camps are wrapping up in the U.S., and thousands of kids experienced a week similar to Joana’s because of the generosity of friends like you. To see what many of our friends will be interacting with in their new walk with the Savior, check out Young Life’s After-Camp Plan on the Bible App!