My Best Friends and Family

My name is Melveena and I am 25 years old. I started going to Birch Bay Ranch (BBR) when I was 8 years old. I went to BBR day camps and this was the first time that I started getting involved in summer camp. I continued to go to BBR as a camper until I was 16 years old.

Throughout this time I made some friends at BBR and these friends turned into meeting every summer at BBR friends. We not only were campers at BBR but then also became counselors. These people whom I met throughout my BBR summers were not just co-counselors but we became friends outside of BBR as well, doing activities like going to K-days. Not only were we friends outside BBR but we became best friends, having kids at the same time then watching our kids grown up and play together.

I also had the pleasure of having the opportunity to be the program coordinator at BBR when I was 19 years old. I created the “Amazing Race” (Birch Bay Ranch Version) and enjoyed watching the campers work as teammates. At BBR your not singled out, your not a loser, your not made fun of, your apart of a Christian Family with people who will always love you.

Birch Bay Ranch is my home away from home. It is a safe place and a rescuing place. BBR gave me my best friends-they gave me a family. I still go out to BBR and volunteer. I woke up one morning this past summer and had a desire to go out to BBR and clean toilets- to serve. Jesus washed the disciples feet and so I find myself like Jesus and wished to clean toilets at Birch Bay Ranch. I’m encouraged to have Birch Bay Ranch apart of my life and apart of this community. Kids need to hear about the love and power of Jesus Christ and I so much look forward to sending my children and future children to Birch Bay Ranch. It is a place of love and kindness, fun and excitement, a place where I learned how to canoe, horseback ride, rock climb, and be in love with Jesus with those around me.

Thank you.

Melveena Borgstrom-Garden