Samantha stood in front of the audience, a huge grin spread across her face. She would open the show.
“Go, Samantha,” someone squealed. The music changed to the “Na na na na” song the campers loved. Samantha raised her hands and moved her feet. The audience followed along.
My voice caught. Tears welled up in my eyes. I couldn’t stop thinking about the transformation in the little girl in front of me.
Samantha’s family frequented the restaurant where I waited tables in college. “Here come the 'inbreds',” was a comment that pierced my heart. No one wanted to serve them.
My silence convicted me. I said nothing—not even a prayer on Samantha’s behalf.
Despite my failings, God didn’t forget Samantha. This was her fourth year at Royal Family Kids’ Camp. Bright eyes beamed from once dull pupils; clean clothes replaced filthy rags; blond hair shined where matted strands had been infested with lice. She stood on the stage, belting out her favorite song with confidence.
Familiar words from one of my favorite camp songs whispered through my heart. “I will change your name. You shall no longer be called wounded, outcast, lonely, or afraid. Your new name shall be confidence, joyfulness, overcoming one, faithfulness, friend of God, one who seeks my face.”
God changed Samantha’s name.”
One of the hundreds of moving camp stories retold on the Royal Family Kids Camp website. Feel free to head over there and read more if you dare.
Once again we have been asked to share some “God Hugs” in the form of fleece blankets with campers attending all three of the Georgia RFKC's. Based on our latest count, that looks to be some 180 children/blankets in all.
As of today we have fabric for a few more than 20 blankets, and will need enough material for another 160 covers for boys and girls between the ages of 7 to 11.
We have set Thursday June 8th as our deadline. The sooner we receive your donations the better as we need any additional time before camp begins to personalize each child’s blanket prior to delivering them.
We need all of Ewe!!
Fabric requirements and directions can be found here. If preferred, you may donate funds or fabric and allow other flock members to assemble, go here for details.
If you are a flock member living out of state, we welcome any contribution you might send to us directly. However, we also encourage you to adopt a camp in your state so that you, your friends, Sunday school or church might gather together and lead the children with cords of human kindness and ties of love for the children in your area.
For locals, we will be meeting every Thursday and Tuesday from 12:30pm – 2:30pm so long as there is fleece to knot. Please email us directly if you plan on joining us (3rd floor music department hall of First Baptist Church Woodstock)
No matter where you call home, please gather together with some of your own 'peeps'
and be the hope for boys and girls across the country this summer.
much love,
tammy and mary
“What I'm interested in seeing you do is:
sharing your food with the hungry,
inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,
being available to your own families.
Do this and the lights will turn on,
and your lives will turn around at once.
Your righteousness will pave your way.
The God of glory will secure your passage.
Then when you pray, God will answer.
You'll call out for help and I'll say, 'Here I am.'”
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