Dulce and Rosie - By Hillary

My group of girls and I were sitting together in what seemed to be another typical cabin time, much like the previous ones that week. The girls were so distracted be the mosquitoes, the heat, and the grass.I was trying to explain Christ’s sacrifice for us and how it’s vital for us to become a follower of Christ when suddenly ten year-old Dulce from Phoenix, Arizona asks “how do you become a follower?” My mouth dropped. I probably stuttered for at least two seconds. Moments later Dulce and I were sitting together on a secluded bench, and I sat there silently and praised Jesus as Dulce asked Him to "save her, to hold onto her and never let go of her—through the good times and the bad." Then I prayed. Afterwards, we both looked at each other; we were both smiling ear to ear. “Guess what Dulce?" I said, "We’re sisters now!” For the rest of that night we couldn't stop giggling and hugging each other. Her joy overflowed, and once again I was overwhelmed by God’s amazingness.

Rosie is from Phoenix as well. While she was not in my cabin, God still allowed for us to build a relationship. Rosie has been coming to CBX for several years now. I’m told that each year she comes she is a little bit more open to sharing and to making friends, but she’s always been hard to break and hard to talk to. Rosie would spend two hours with me at the slide as I lifeguarded at the lake. I tried really hard every day to convince her to ride the water slide, but she always accused the lake of being too cold, or the water too deep. I told her I’d stand in the water as she slid down, just to make sure she’d be okay, but she refused. She just wanted to hang out and talk, so we did. I remember one day she told me that she really liked the testimony I had given earlier that week. I didn’t think a lot about that comment at the time; I mostly thought she was just being polite. We talked about music, basketball, and a little bit about her home life. If Rosie was not at the lake during rec she was in the game room. It wasn’t until the last day of camp that I was able to convince her to take the slide. She made me stand in the water at the end of the slide and I almost got knocked out by her as she slid down—but she did it.

Rosie left camp crying, but she made sure she got my email address as well as my phone number. That weekend she called me sixteen times in one day—I didn’t know what I was thinking giving a 12 year-old girl my number. I did not know Rosie’s story until a few days later, when I talked to the director of the mentor kids group that Rosie is a part of. Apparently Rosie wasn’t just being polite when she told me that she liked the lesson I gave. Apparently God really used my story. This amazed me after I heard Rosie’s story, and what she has been through. Only God can take the story of my perfect, sheltered life and use it to minister to a young girl who has been through more pain and rejection than I could ever dream of. Rosie and I are reading 2 Corinthians together.

God is awesome for letting me tell hurting kids about the hope of our Savior. I’m so glad I’m here. Please keep praying for this camp, for the kids that are here now, that are coming, and the kids who have already come like Dulce and Rosie.  Pray for the staff here at CBX. It’s been unbelievable to see other human hearts that desire to be consumed and used by God.