Good morning everyone! I hope you had a wonderful week. I had a rare privilege this past weekend – I was able to go back up to Camp Haluwasa in New Jersey!! 
This is the Christian camp that I attended for several years as a camper and later returned to work at as a counselor and as the camp nurse. I also based the second book in the Laurel Hill series around the girls attending this camp (named Camp Wikitoje in the books).
Have you ever stayed at an overnight camp when you were a kid? Did you ever work at a camp during the summer? These can be some of the most powerful memories that we carry with us throughout our lives! It had been 20 years since I had been back on camp and I could still walk my husband all over that camp to show him all of the places just from memory because it is ingrained in me! I know that some people don’t have particulary good memories about summer camp experiences: being homesick, hating the food, not wanting to participate in the group activities or singalongs. I feel sad for people who were not able to love the camp experience like I did. I just wish that everyone could have the same love for their camp that I do, and I think that’s one of the reasons that I wrote about Haluwasa in the second Laurel Hill book. I wanted people who may never have set foot on camp to be able to love it just like I do by experiencing it through my character’s eyes and activities.
I can honestly say that being back at Haluwasa just for the one day has revitalized me and given me a positive attitude again! I feel determined to push through difficulties and I am reinvigorated to continue writing and to promote my book.
Psalm 31:3 Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
I know that the Lord has something special planned for me in this venture as He is the one who has given me these talents so He will guide me in what He wants me to do.
Camp Haluwasa celebrated its 60 year anniversary and I pray that the Lord continues to use it for another 60 years or more to change the lives of children and to allow them to build those positive memories that will be with them for the rest of their lives! I encourage everyone to check out Haluwasa or a Christian camp near them and think about allowing it to benefit your lives as well: consider going as a camper or sending your child, become a volunteer on work days getting the camps ready for the summer season, consider working at the camp for a summer or a few weeks, or consider donating to help the camps continue to enrich the lives of children for the Lord! The blessings you receive will be unbelievable!!
#halualum16 #haluwasa #campmemories #Hesstillworkingonme #LaurelHillSeries
