A New Experience
Have you ever been the new kid? Whether it’s at school or a new job, we’ve all probably been new somewhere at one point in our lives.
That was the case with me and Camp Newfound.
It was my senior year of high school, and my family and I had just enjoyed a nice lunch after church. I remember the exact moment – waiting outside in the hot Alabama sun – that I had the idea to go to Camp Newfound for the summer. It struck me as an odd thought – I had only been to one Christian Science camp before. So why would I start over at a completely new camp where I knew no one? And not even as a camper, but as a counselor? It seemed crazy to me.But the more I thought about it, the better the idea seemed. I emailed Mary and filled out an application right away. I clearly remember the excitement I felt when she called and offered the job – I was going to Maine!
Of course, I was still nervous. I had had the same friends for most of my life and thought I might be a bit rusty at making new ones. And what if everyone at camp already had their own friends and didn’t have any room for new ones? I couldn’t have thought farther from the truth.
You know the part in our camp song “Newfound Days” where we sing “You know the way you feel when you first drive down the hill?” I didn’t know that song yet, but I can testify that I can relate to it entirely. Yes, I was nervous driving down that steep hill for the first time, but I was also anticipating one of the best summers of my life. And I hadn’t even met anyone yet!
The sense of love that embraced me when I first met everyone at Camp was something I had never really experienced before. There wasn’t one person I met who didn’t express some sort of joy or warmth when meeting me for the first time. I knew I had made the right decision in coming to Camp Newfound.
As the summer went on it only got better. I was able to meet and get to know all of the campers, even as a counselor in Fold (the youngest cabin). Every day was filled with fun activities and the opportunity to learn a new lesson. Whether it was canoeing on Long Lake, Saturday campfires, or holidays like the Fourth of July, everyone at camp had the ability to grow in some way. (Also, who knew staff meetings would be one of the highlights of the week? Not me!)
I realized that although ideas seem crazy sometimes, if they’re from God, then it’s right. I had been led to apply as a counselor at a place I knew nothing about and ended up having one of the best experiences of my life. I’m so grateful for Christian Science and camps like Newfound and Owatonna, where we can learn to rely on God all the time.
– Sara Lang