After that first summer, I had a lot of self-discovery to do. Even though I had spent an entire summer at a church camp, I still was no closer to God. Subconsciously, I was more open. It took a friend to invite me to a local youth group for me to truly open myself to God. From there I had to grow up, naturally as well as spiritually.
I was able to come back to camp zealous about my new life in God, yet unsure how to express it and how to properly maintain it at a healthy level throughout the entire summer. I left that summer burned out. Not really considering the average tenure of a summer staffer is only 1.5-2 summers, I still became hooked on working at camp. I returned for a third summer. Almost every summer I would feel the end has come and it was my last. I even took off one summer just to realize what I missed out on and came back the next year. After my sixth summer I was not offered a position to return. The assistant director at the time felt it was perhaps time for me to move on and pursue new horizons. I spent that summer at a large Atlanta-based day camp. It was a great experience, but not the same. I ended up coming back for a seventh and eighth summers following that year. Maybe people just understood and accepted that I was just going to be a part of this place.
During these last two summers I was able to become acquainted with the Development Director. He was able to show me the benefits of joining the annual donors club, Trinity Pines. During my last summer, I was able to work a little more closely with him, learning some development areas with my Bachelor's internship.
I went on from that summer to move only an hour away to pursue my Master's degree, The program was designed as a calendar-year in and out degree. This unfortunately limited my ability to work summer number nine (though I was tempted to somehow make it work). I settled to volunteer whenever I could and visit all the more.
I knew that camp ministry was something I felt called to do, probably from my second summer as a staffer. I had been trying to get my foot in the door to some full-time opportunity since that time. When I discovered I needed more education, I went and got it. When the doors weren't open, I kept myself busy and continued attending school.
A few opportunities were afforded me when I was about to graduate from my Master's program. I had a few phone interviews and was also invited to North Carolina for a program director position at a camp led by my camp's Assistant Director from the 1980's and 90's. No offers.
I ended up moving south to Florida to try and find new opportunities and a new home. I landed a job working for an employment agency working as an employment consultant and later a case manager. Though this job was not included my long-term goals, I was able to gather some very valuable knowledge through my associations with some amazing professionals. I was able to gain a lot of insight into the world of non-profit work.
In June of last year (2011) I flew up to volunteer another week at camp. I was able to work with the Staff-in-Training (SIT) program the previous two summers and was asked to come back to lead it once again. During that visit I found out that Jim, the Development Director was announcing his retirement to be early the next year. I asked who was possibly in line to succeed him. Hopefull, I suggested myself.
A month later I got a call from the executive director stating my name came up in a discussion concerning the Development Director position and he felt led to give me a call. I sent my résumé along with a cover letter and we were scheduled to get into discussions shortly. It wasn't until many delays and months before I was offered the position in December. So, not even moving to Florida could keep me away from camp!
I spent last month completing my affairs in Florida, packed myself up, and moved back to the north to begin my first full-time position in camping ministry.
It has been a wild ride and I am very thankful to God, for all the people I have crossed paths with, and experience I have had throughout the last eleven years that has been preparing me for this moment. I am very excited to move forward working for a camp that I love and cherish.
I pray that I can be a dynamic instrument in assuring the mission of camp is done and be an intergal part of the future for this amazing community of faith.
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