Ellie's Life

(This post is written by Hillary, a second year counselor).

Pray for Ellie. This past week, I had the opportunity to counsel the most independent, strong, and determined eleven year-old girl I have ever met. Ellie is a tomboy; her resilient and carefree personality clashed big time with the four other young girls in my cabin, who showed more concern towards the older boys’ cabin than I wanted them to.

This summer we are teaching the campers about the identity they can inherit as a child of God. Although Ellie has yet to start her first year of middle school, this girl knows her social identity. She is strong and able to defend herself. Because of her tomboyish style, Ellie gets bullied a lot in school. Her home life has also taught her to be tough and defensive. When Ellie opened up to me about her life at home, my heart began to hurt for her. A home ought to be a haven, but this is not the case for Ellie, whose family does not know Jesus, and whose residence is located in a dangerous neighborhood.

Because of the bullying Ellie has experienced in school, and because of the hard wall Ellie has built up around herself, she has a hard time making friends. Throughout the week, I had to address several issues with the young girls in my cabin regarding its division. It is hard for Ellie to convince herself that someone would want to be her friend. Thus when the other girls in my cabin would invite Ellie to join in their games, she often hung her head and declined.

While the Gospel was shared several times every day at camp, I think it was really hard for Ellie to receive the truth that God wants a relationship with her as His daughter, and that God would love her unconditionally—no matter what. While I have a family who has exemplified God’s love for me, Ellie does not. During the last day of camp, she and another camper were discussing how much they’d like to stay and live in Durango because “everyone is just so nice here, and no one is like this in Phoenix…everyone just cares about drugs.”

Ellie and another young girl in my cabin had been in several disagreements towards each other since their 10-hour bus ride to camp. But on the last night they both decided to have a sleepover together in the same top bunk (although, I did wake up the next morning with Ellie back in her own bed because “Faith kept stealing the covers”). They had also decided to have several “play dates” with each other this summer, and to make a “friendship bracelet for every time they got to hang out.”

I think one of the things God taught Ellie this past week at camp, is that she is capable of making friends with girls—even girly girls. But my prayer is that Ellie would soon understand that not only can her identity include being a friend with someone, but it can be found and rooted in the adoption of the Most High through Jesus Christ. Pray that God would show Ellie that the reason people in Durango are “so nice”, is because Jesus has changed their hearts, and shown them God’s unconditional love towards His children. Pray that the Gospel hits Ellie, and that she realizes that her Father in heaven loves her, and can protect and defend her better than she ever could.