Hi, my name is Lauren Grace Herdklotz! I'm thirteen-years-old. Most people ask me what it is like living here at the camp. Well for all you people that have been waiting for my answer, here it is! I am not sure how I am going to explain it, but here it goes!!!
I have lived here all my life. My parents met here while traveling on the road. My dad was the Canfield's school teacher and my mom was their nanny or full time babysitter. They both worked in Happiness Club or Happy Heart City. Then they came to the camp to work when they found out that they were having me! Well most people think it would be WONDERFUL to live here. Well here's a shock for you. IT'S NOT!! Why? Well I could give you a lot reasons, but I won't. I'll just give you a few!
1) All my friends leave. You can't count on anyone to stay long. (Except for God)
2) When you live on a Christian Camp you have to make yourself look good. You have to act like a perfect child.
- So your parents don't get fired.
- So people will come back.
3) We live on support and that means that no matter how hard my dad works he gets the same amount of money every month. It's kind of like having your life put in the hands of the people who support you. Financially that is.
4) No one is here during most of the year. Just during family camp. Which is during the summer. About seven weeks out of the year.
Well OK enough complaining. I have to admit there are some benefits, but I think the disadvantages over rule them. Hahaha! Any ways that is my answer and I hope you are satisfied with it!! Just kidding!! Well there you go!
It is supper time now and I am STARVED. We are having the Maines' spaghetti tonight!!! Yummy! Well, have a nice night!!
~Lauren~
7 comments:
Hey I'm glad you live here!
Lauren, welcome to blog world. :) I was a camp counselor one summer for a Christian camp in NY. I can imagine it would be tough not having friends around on a regular basis, especially at your age. - or friends you meet & then in a short period of time they leave, maybe to never come back again. I know my homeschooling buddies around here have homeschooling groups they belong to so they can hang with people like them. Do you have anything like that?
As far as the money goes for your father, I bet he works very hard to provide for y'all. Most adults get the same amount of pay all the time for their jobs. I think what I hear you saying is because your father's income is dependent on whether or not people keep the promises they have made to support him(and your family) it can be a little scary sometimes. One thing my momma always reminded me of was that God ALWAYS provides. The bible says this provision is food, clothing & shelter(a roof over our heads). It says he takes care of the sparrows & the flowers in the field, so how much more does he care for you. I know for myself that there were things as a child I wanted, but didn't always get. I think it is like that for most people, whether you are an adult or a child.
Reason #2, let me get back to you on that one. I'm still processing it.
What kind of things do you have to do around the camp? Is there a swimming area? Do you have a ropes course? Are there things that you children have to do to help your dad out?
I look forward to reading more from you & your siblings.
God Bless, -Gail
Thanks for being honest. When we spoke to families who had lived on a YWAM base one of the things they mentioned was how hard it was to always have people leaving that they had got to know.
It's hard for parents too. Feeling like we have to be perfect parents and have perfect children...lots of pressure. Living on support that's tough too. My girls don't like that we have to say no to so many things. I think you are a tremendous family and I know God loves you and gives good gifts. He cares about all you do. Keep talking to Him.
Lauren, I just read what I wrote last night again. Please don't think I'm trying to discount your reasons for not enjoying where you live. Like Thomas & Lisa wrote- thanks for being honest- I too appreciate your honesty. It is nice to see such mature writing from a teenager. I guess what I was trying to say was, while these are valid reasons why you don't enjoy living where you do, have you looked at some of the other things that I mentioned.
May God continue to richly bless you & your family.
-Gail
Lauren,
Hi how are you, I am deployed to KUWAIT and one of the people that work with me just received a package from your mom. I saw the card that she included and noticed the BLOG address, so I wanted to take a look. First of all, thanks for the box with all the goodies...pretty cool. Secondly, I have never heard of families that lived in a camp, it sounds pretty interesting.
I understand when you say that its hard to keep friends because they always move around; I have 4 kids and they have felt the same way for the last 15yrs. Being in the military, we move alot too. We have probably moved every 2yrs, they have been to like 5-7 different schools; from elementary all the way to highschool. I have two boys and two girls (ages are 10, 15, 18 and soon to be 20). I think we are finally done moving though, we decided to settle down in Fort Worth Texas.
Anyways, hope everything is going well...you sound like a very smart young lady.
Take care
Robert
Thank you guys soooooo much!!! You made me feel ALOT better!!!!!
~Lauren~
Hey Lauren,
I am thankful that you have the intestinal fortitude to be honest with yourself and with others in your life. To share how you feel with only God knows who takes alot of guts that most adults don't have. I applaude you!
My only thought for you is:
"God will not take you where He cannot keep you ...and God will not keep you from where He can take you."
When you live your life for God, no matter where you are He will provide for you. He provides spiritually, financially, emotionally, and relationally. Maybe not always in the way we as humans want, but always as He sees fit. Remain obedient to Him and you will be able to look back on this time in your life and say, "Wow, I can see where God was doing this, that, and the other thing. Also because He did those things in my life, I am now the person He was raising me to be, and I am where I am because of it.
Hang in there and be thankful for those friends you have now and those that you have had. No matter the duration of the relationships in our lives, be thankful for the quality of them. Know also that there will be many more for Him to bless you with.
Love you Guys,
Uncle Bill
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