Every year, scholarships provide a way for thousands of Angel Tree® children to go to Christian summer camps, where they have the opportunity to have fun, fellowship with their peers, build relationships with caring camp counselors, and experience the love of God in the great outdoors. At camp many children will make a first-time decision to trust in Jesus Christ or deepen their commitment to Him.
This summer, twins Larya and Lamya had the chance to attend an Angel Tree camp in Iowa. Insider asked them to share a little bit about what camp was like. Here's what they had to say:
Insider: Why do you like making friends at camp?
Lamya: "It makes me feel more comfortable at camp and it makes me feel like I'm at home. With friends. And I think of them as family."
Why is camp important?
Larya: I think it's important for young people to come to camp because they get more experiences about God and life.
And our mom—when she was younger, she didn't really come to camp, but she always says that she's happy that we come because we have a lot of experiences. She loves hearing what we learn and what we do at camp when we get home.
What is your favorite thing about camp?
Larya: Mine are the counselors and having fun.
Lamya: Mine is hanging out with my friends and the counselors and giving hugs.
Larya: Oh and I like worship. I get to let out my emotions.
Lamya: My favorite counselor is Ana. She's really awesome.
Larya: I like all of them.
So then, what's the worst thing about camp?
Lamya: Nothing!
Larya: The bugs. The only bad thing about camp is the bugs because they're annoying.
At camp, what did you learn about God?
Larya: I know that I'm loved more, [and] when I get in trouble, I can just think about God, and then Satan's just gone. [Today] We were talking about narrow paths and wide paths.
Lamya: We had like a string around our ankle to represent chains on elephants because we were talking about circuses and how they had chains and they kept tugging to get out. But then when they were older and growing they didn't know that they could just break through 'cause they're stronger. But when they were younger, they just gave up.
Larya: So it was bondage and there is also a piece of like a tab on it where you could write your bondage on it. And then at the end you could cut it off if you felt ready to, and I cut mine off.
Lamya: Me, too.
Larya: And when you cut it off, you were just letting God's Spirit into your heart and you would change.
Do you think you'll come back next year?
Larya: I want to come back.
Lamya: Me too.
Larya: I want to live here. And I want my mom to be here, too.
Right now, an estimated 2.7 million children have a mom or dad in prison. For many of them, their lives are filled with abandonment, loneliness, and the shame that accompanies having an incarcerated parent. Some even follow their parents’ destructive path to prison.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. Through the Angel Tree program, you can help children like Larya and Lamya find a place where they can make lasting relationships with friends, mentors, and God. Visit AngelTree.org to find out more.
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