Kristel was a difficult camper who experienced horrible verbal, emotional and physical abuse from her father. So when she showed up at camp for her second year she was behaving very independent and liked to get her way.
On Monday her camp counselor started calling her sweetie and would tell her that she was beautiful and that Jesus loved her.
Kristel responded violently by telling her to “stop saying that!” and she would storm off. This scene played out several times each day. Tuesday, “Sweetie… you are beautiful and Jesus loves you,” her camp counselor would say again. Wednesday, same thing. Thursday, yet again.
Even on Friday. Until… it was time to say goodbye.
As the kids were leaving the church on Friday afternoon her camp counselor said, “I am going to tell you one more time sweetie. You are beautiful and Jesus loves you.”
Instead of her normal response of scream-and-run-drama, this time Kristel looked up and said,
“Say it again.”
And so one child, one camp, one club and mentor at a time, we remind the children that they are beautiful and they are loved. You are helping us put that message in the hearts of thousands of children of abuse, abandonment and neglect.
