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Join us in thanking God for His faithful work throughout the years as narrated by an incredible young woman, Son'yei Gueye, who began as a Star Rock Ministries' XLR8 camper years ago and is now giving back as a camp staff member.
"I remember my first year as a camper with XLR8 and feeling the immediate outpour of love and excitement as soon as we stepped off of the buses. In just one week, I experienced God in ways that I had never thought were possible. Growing up as a city kid from Long Beach, just being in nature and surrounded by God’s creation was astounding to me. The lake, the trees, and best of all, the hundreds of stars that I could see at night, truly made camp feel like a magical place that felt like home. The years that I spent as a camper with XLR8 empowered me to believe in myself and have confidence that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Even after I went back to the ‘real world’ in the city, I would remember all of the hard activities at camp that I accomplished and it kept me going in many trials that I faced as a teen.
When I came to camp as a volunteer youth leader, I was worried that camp might not feel like the magical home it once did as a camper. All of those doubts went out the window during the first night game when both camp staff and organization youth leaders ransacked the costume closet and left as completely different characters, all for the sake of the kids. I remember leaving XLR8 my first time as a youth leader and being so relieved that camp still felt like home.
Fast-forward to summer 2021 when I worked on the YSSC staff as part of the kitchen team. I remember being so nervous getting dropped off on the first day. However, once we finished the first week of training, I had never been more sure that I was where I was supposed to be. From the grace given to me by my supervisor when I would ask a bunch of questions, to the memories made with staff, to the skits bringing joy to campers, I began to realize that nothing could take away the true magic of camp. I learned as a staff member that it's okay to be spontaneous and to not let fear stop you from trying new things. I even took a backpacking class after and went on a backpacking trip with total strangers! That is something that I would have never considered before spending an entire summer away from home working in Yosemite. Camp has shaped me, uplifted me, and instilled so much confidence and courage in the woman that I am becoming in Christ. Every single role I have had at camp —camper, volunteer, staff—has caused me to see God’s plan unfold in such a remarkable way that began all those years ago when I was camper with XLR8."
Son'yei Gueye
