Camp Experience-Day 1

Day 1: As the children filled up the trailer block, the feeling of suspense began to build in the air. A feeling so strong it was sensed from miles away. We introduced our selves to the pathfinders from Goshen who were waiting with us. Our directors were everywhere at once trying to do so many things. You could just imagine how the coordinator looked if the directors were running around. Picture a woman who is always looking out for us, suddenly rushing us to get everything done, while trying to figure out what we were missing. Many of the children were not aware of the little situation that was brewing underneath the surface of all this madness. We were missing some things that if we did not obtain, would have devastated our trip. We were missing basic foods like milk, eggs, vegetables and other items that we could not leave without. Coordinator Edey called some of the pathfinders to go along with him and Goshen’s very own director McLean, but by the time they turned around, she was gone. We could not have gone to camp without our coordinator, food, and Cornerstone’s pathfinders. After a few minutes of calmness, people began to realize that coordinator Edey and director Mclean were nowhere to be found. The pastor and I jumped in his van and began our long road trip up down Utica and Eastern Parkway where we finally found them. As all hope seemed to be fading God gave it back and reminded us to always have faith and believe in him. We returned to the trailer, got on the bus, stopped to pick up Goshen, and THEN WE WERE FINALLY ON OUR WAY!!

The ride: Many would think bus rides full of children would be loud, rowdy, discombobulated, messy and just plain out of control. Well to all those who think that way, I would like to inform you that Lighthouse Pathfinders, Goshen Pathfinders, and Cornerstone Pathfinders are the best group of kids you will ever meet. Just as long as our coordinator and director were on board you wouldn’t have to tell us to quiet down twice. We were informed that this was a privilege, not a mandatory trip. They would have no problem in taking away our activities. At our tender teenage years we could not stop ourselves from asking some mandatory road trip questions. As we traveled, we all noticed how far from home we were, but could not help but wonder how close we reached to our destination. Questions of “are we there yet?” and “how much longer?” flew from every mouth, even mine. Not long after the bus was silent, the quiet sound of all three churches was a sound too be remembered. I say this because as soon as it began, it ended.

The arrival: When we arrived, it was around 3:30pm. The sun burned our skin and made a mockery of us, it seemed the closer the sun came to setting the hotter it became. Church after church came and set up, while lighthouse struggled to stay awake. Tired eyes began to fade as we continued with the help of our very own Naquan Taitt, as he assisted with setting up the tent. As night fell, the weather went with it, turning our once despised furnace into an un-welcomed icebox. We worked, and worked, praying that we could soon finish and go to sleep. As always, Naquan came through, altering our minds to figuring out missing pieces. Our tents were completed and the sleep we needed, we received.

Written By:Deneeka Leon

(from left to right: Kira Borne, Daneeka Leon)