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From bite marks and a bloody shin to best man
The day Justin met his future Club Kid, “Buddy*” left him with bite marks and a bloody shin! Justin had been called in to break up a fight at Royal Family KIDS Camp, and had to pull Buddy off another boy. Buddy was big for his age and famous for his temper. But as Justin limped away, something about this frantically angry boy moved him. “Buddy was on my radar,” Justin said. “I saw his hurt.” The next year at Camp, Buddy greeted Justin with a hug and a heartfelt apology! His rage problem was still a challenge but Justin saw that this was a camper “God was working on.” Buddy grew more helpful every summer until he was actually mediating disputes with other kids. On his final day of Camp, Buddy told Justin that his dream was to come back to Royal Family KIDS Camp someday as a Counselor! Last September, Justin became Buddy’s Mentor. Their friendship grew ... and when Justin announced his engagement, he asked Buddy to be his Best Man! Buddy was beyond thrilled! He got fitted for a matching suit. He posed for pictures. And on the special day, he stood solemnly next to his Mentor during the vows, and even danced a solo at the reception! The best part of the story? Buddy has recently become a Christian. And the Club Volunteer team expects he’ll return as a Royal Family KIDS leader one day. Thanks for playing a vital role in Buddy’s life transformation! * Name has been changed to protect confidentiality.
A Common Bond Frankie is going to be in my 4th grade class this year. I had heard staff members talking about this kiddo before school started, but had not made the connection until this afternoon, when I went into my classroom to teach my half of the day. I only have a classroom part time this year, so I share with another teacher.
As you probably know, Frankie didn't have a great year last year (I don't even know the details, only that he was known to run away from school and that he was in foster care at least part of last year. I first met him this morning in the school office. He seemed shy, and had a roughness about him as I walked him to class to meet the other teacher I work with. He froze at the door not sure if he wanted to go in, but finally took his seat. I left him with my teaching partner and other students and went about my morning. It was after I left him, that the former school counselor came in to my office and told me that he was the student she had been talking to me about the day before school started, the one who was a behavior problem and was in foster care. At lunch, I asked how Frankie did during the morning session, and my partner said that he was fairly quiet, but "didn't run away!" ---she knew about him as well. Thinking foster care--RFKC, I grabbed my RFKC coffee mug, and headed in my room to teach my part of the day, wondering if Frankie had been to camp. Of course, I couldn't randomly come out and ask, but I thought if he had been there, he would recognize "the King "on my mug. His face lit up when he noticed! He asked if I had been to Royal Family Kids Camp and of course I told him I had. His posture changed, he began raising his hand and participating--smiling and being a bit silly. And as typical, he began testing his boundaries, and seemed relieved that they were in place. If I could only describe the change I saw....not even knowing this kiddo....in a matter of a second, just by making the RFKC connection... I would, but to understand, you would have to have been there to witness it. One week really does make a difference and it truly does carry on throughout the year. A Dream Come True On the first day of camp, his Counselor noticed James standing at the activity center, watching other kids take off on shiny bikes.
More than anything, James wanted to learn to ride a bike. But no one had ever shown him how. So James -- the little guy with an awful past -- and his dedicated And then it happened. His Counselor let go. And seven-year-old James had his first dream come true. The rest of the week, James and his bike were inseparable! And every time praise rang out ... “Good job, James!” ... that precious boy sat a little taller on his bike -- and his smile got a little wider. A Hand to Hold On Thursday night of camp, A.J. was having an especially difficult time--as many of our campers do on Thursday. Grandma and Grandpa offered to take his cabin for Counselor Relief to see if they could help. Another boy, Jerrod, was noticeably frustrated by all the attention A.J. was eliciting from Grandma and Grandpa. Grandma noticed what was happening and went to stand by Jerrod’s bed. He reached out and grabbed her hand. She tried after a little while to take her hand away and he just held on tighter. Grandma held Jerrod’s hand that night for 45 minutes as he fell asleep. A Precious Memory I (the Director) recently received a call from
The child was told to bring something with him to talk about. What he brought was a scrapbook of memories. This was not just any scrapbook. This was a Royal Family Kids’ Camp scrap book. He was Donny, one of the precious children that had attended our Royal Family Kids’ Camp in Heroes Night Every Wednesday at camp, they have Heroes Night. It’s a way for the children to meet “community helpers” who are available to children when they are in trouble or need emergency help. On their way outside, Rachel told her Counselor, “I don’t like policemen. They are the ones who took my mom away in handcuffs.” The Counselor later told us, “We were blessed with some of the greatest policemen who jumped right in and played with the kids. I believe Rachel and all the campers saw another side of those officers that night as they spent time with them.” I didn't deserve it At each camp we hold an Everybody’s Birthday Party for all the campers worldwide—because many of them have never had their birthday celebrated. At one of the camps on the night of the party, a counselor noticed that Charlie, an otherwise outgoing child, seemed a little withdrawn. After singing the birthday song and lighting the candle on Charlie’s cupcake, his counselor noticed tears in his eyes. When all started to eat their cake, Charlie didn’t. After some time, his counselor noted that he slowly began to join in eating his cake. Later on, he commented to Charlie that he had seemed upset and wanted to make sure he was okay. His answer was: “You guys have been so nice. I didn’t deserve it.” For the rest of the week, his counselor made sure Charlie knew he did deserve it—and all the royal treatment they could bestow on him and much more in life! I Will Change Your Name Music blared from the speakers in the chapel. The excitement was electric. It was the night of the variety show.
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; blonde 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. I’m part of God’s Family and I’m Going to Camp! Jeffrey was sent to his family in Spokane after school was out. He was again exposed to abuse while there and that brought him back into custody of the county in the Tri-Cities area. Notes on his registration indicated sexual abuse and a warning not to allow him to be around small animals. Because of being moved during the summer, the boys’ positions for camp were filled and he was 9th on the waiting list to go to RFKC. As it turned out for Jeffrey, he was placed with a foster family in the church sponsoring the camp. Every Sunday he would ask if he was going to camp and where he was on the list. He found out the week of camp that there was room for him to go. He showed up at Registration wearing his RFKC shirt from the previous year. He announced at Station 1 of Registration on Monday morning, “I’m a part of God’s Royal Family and I’m going to camp!” |
