Joy of Jesus

I can honestly say that I have been going to Birch Bay Ranch for over half of my life; with eleven years experience as both camper and staff I have not been able to stay away. I have met so many amazing and loving people who accept me for exactly who I am. I always felt like a bit of an outcast in school and with other friends but whenever I was out at camp I wasn't afraid of people judging me and that let me grow so much, not only as an individual but as a child of God.

As a camper I learned so much from the counselors about what it was to be a christian. I could see their joy and excitement about what they were doing and what they found in God; I wanted that. Throughout the school years I went through some tough times as many teens do; I rarely felt good about myself and often sat alone in my room crying when I came home. I did some things that I'm not proud of but as I got closer to the people at camp they showed me that even though bad things happen there is always good to be found and now those scars are just reminders of how much God and the Ranch did for me.

I'm so happy to say that I have truly found the joy and excitement of Jesus by working now for three years. I was still shy my first year and only volunteered for two weeks but amazingly working was even better than camping so the next year I wasted no time in signing up for all four months of summer and fall. Spending so much time there with incredible people made the Ranch my second home and leaving at the end of October was really difficult.

When the applications for this past summer came out, it originally didn't look like I was going to be able to make it out with university costs and the prospect of figuring my life out but I couldn't stop thinking about being out there again. I knew that if I was supposed to be at the Ranch then God would work with me to make it happen. All it took was a text from a couple of people I love to get me out for all of June, July, and August; I couldn't be more grateful that it did. I can't imagine having a better time in terms of fun, friendship, and growth anywhere else. I saw my fellow staff members do remarkable things for each other and for the campers and I felt myself grow and learn so much from both the staff and the children. 

The most amazing thing I've experienced though is the changes I get to see in the campers. I have had returning campers now and to see where they started in their faith and where they've gotten to in just a few years is so encouraging. I've even had the privilege to see dramatic changes in the short five days these campers are with us. I get to hear 100 campers screaming out how great Jesus is everyday, nothing could be better. I may say that I work at Birch Bay Ranch but it's not a job to me; it's a passion and I would do it forever if I could. 

 

I have met so many people there who are the best friends I could have asked for and to see the dramatic change in one of my very best friends when I asked him to come out to camp with me has been a miracle in my eyes. You might think that it would be hard to spend so much time away from home and friends but I have found that all but a very few of my friends who have stuck with me are from the Ranch. 

God is truly great and has used this camp to change the hearts and lives of so many people. I hope that the opportunity to be reached by this ministry is not taken away from future generations and that we can continue leading and supporting thousands of people in their relationships with Christ.

Jasmyn Kwong