The Chronicles of A Christian Camp Counselor: The Time I Lost A Camper

The summer of 2017 was one that I will never forget. As a Christian camp counselor, I led a group of energetic and adventurous young campers on a journey of faith and fun. However, there was one incident during that summer that still haunts me to this day—the time I lost a camper.

It was a bustling day at camp, and the sun shone brightly in the clear blue sky. I was in charge of a group of 10 campers, all between the ages of 9 and 12, as we embarked on a nature hike through the dense forest surrounding the camp. As we set out on our adventure, I made sure to do a headcount and reminded the kids to stay close and to follow the trail markers. Little did I know that this ordinary hike would turn into a nightmare.

As we wandered deeper into the forest, the children's energy was contagious, and their enthusiasm for exploring nature was palpable. I cherished the opportunity to share my faith with them and to witness their growing love for God's creation. However, as we ventured further into the woods, I noticed that one of the campers, a 10-year-old boy named Jacob, was lagging behind the group. I called out to him, urging him to catch up, but he seemed lost in his own world, ignoring my pleas.

As we reached a particularly dense part of the forest, I called for the group to stop and wait for Jacob to catch up. But as I glanced around, my heart sank as I realized Jacob was nowhere to be found. Panic surged through my veins as I frantically called out his name, but there was no response. The other children looked at me with wide-eyed concern, sensing the fear and worry in my voice.

I immediately radioed the camp staff and informed them of the situation. A search party was swiftly organized, and counselors and staff members fanned out in every direction, calling for Jacob and scouring every nook and cranny of the forest. I couldn't shake the overwhelming feeling of guilt and dread as I feared for Jacob's safety. How could I have let this happen? How could I have lost one of my campers?

As the hours passed with no sign of Jacob, my mind raced with thoughts of worst-case scenarios. What if he had fallen and injured himself? What if he had encountered a wild animal? The weight of responsibility as a camp counselor, charged with the care and well-being of these precious children, weighed heavily on my shoulders. I prayed fervently for Jacob's safe return, hoping that God would guide him back to us.

Finally, just as the sun descended below the horizon, a distant voice called out Jacob's name. My heart leaped with joy as we followed the sound of the voice, running through the trees until we reached a clearing where we found Jacob, tears streaming down his face, but unharmed. He had wandered off the trail to explore a hidden cave and had become disoriented, but he had found his way back to us.

Relief washed over me as I hugged Jacob tightly, thanking God for his safe return. As we made our way back to camp, I held onto Jacob's hand, vowing never to let him out of my sight again. The experience had shaken me to the core but strengthened my faith and renewed my commitment to the safety and well-being of the campers in my care. As we gathered around the campfire that evening, I shared the story of God's protection and the power of prayer. This story will forever be etched into the chronicles of my time as a Christian camp counselor.