Next Monday 86 volunteers from our church will host Royal Family Kids Camp in Glen Rose. RFKC, as it is commonly called, is a very special camp designed to exclusively reach out to children ages 7-11 who have been abused or neglected. The vast majority of the kids who will attend this year’s camp are in CPS ordered foster care. I ran across a compelling story from a Royal Family Kids Camp that took place in Kansas regarding a little girl named Dana, one of their campers. I thought it was too good not to share.

Sue Pierce, a Camp Counselor from Lenexa, Kansas, said that Dana stepped off the bus at camp and didn’t say a word.

She did not speak all week long. Dana had been abused by her own father in the wicked of ways.
Dana had not spoken to adults since.

Even though Dana did not speak all week long the staff and counselors didn’t make a big deal about it. They just loved her and chatted to her just like they would all the other kids. Dana’s first year at camp was a success. She had the time of her life.

Dana came back to camp for four more years, not once speaking to an adult.
Sue said in Dana’s last year at camp (and now 11 years old), Sue decided to play a little game of tag with Dana in the pool. On Tuesday Sue lightly tapped Dana on the shoulder and quickly swam away. Seconds later, one of Dana’s buddy campers swam over and told Sue, “Dana knows it was you – she thinks you’re nice.” On Wednesday, Sue played the same game. On Thursday, Sue was swimming with the kids and she felt a light tap on her shoulder, she turned around but no one was there. Seconds later a camper splashed over and said, “That was Dana, she thinks you’re fun.”

On Friday, Dana’s last day of her last year at camp, the kids were sitting in chapel. Sue quietly approached Dana from behind and gently tapped her shoulder. But before Sue could get away, Dana had already begun tilting her head backward. Sue stopped and saw Dana leaning back to look at her. After they locked eyes Dana quietly spoke one tiny word. She whispered, “Hi.”
Time froze and the entire room was silenced. Sue smiled back and said, “Well, hello.”
After five years, Dana was able to trust one loving Camp Counselor. We hope one day Dana will transfer her trust and her life to a loving Father God.

I am so thankful that our church is committed to Royal Family Kids Camp. I wonder what kind of stories our camp staff will return home with next week?