My experiences with mentoring and camp counseling (long)
Submitted by Don on June 24 1999 at 16:39:41
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Someone here recently asked my about my experiences with mentoring and camp counseling. I wrote a pretty huge e-mail in response and decided to post it in the hopes that some of you might think about becoming active in, and making a difference in, the lives of youth......... I've always had a big heart for youth but it wasn't until two years ago that I came to realize that God had given me some special talents in this area. I came to realize that I had a special way with boys.... I could sort of emotionally and mentally bring myself down to their level....and still be respected as an adult and act as an adult at the same time. On top of those talents, and as a Christian, I have a strong need and desire to follow God's plan for my life. God's plan for my life is to reach out to those kids that are hurting and let them know that God cares about them. You see....I feel that we, as Christians, are being used by God to be his hands and voice in the world. He gives each of us special talents that we can use to do his work....and mine happens to be relating to youth. Or more specifically....teenage guys. Camp counseling: I have been a camp counselor for the last two years at a Christian facility for both their week-long middle and high school summer camps and fall and spring weekend retreats. It was easy to get involved in this area....they never have enough male counselors. The main prerequisite is that you love kids.....and can maintain your composure while under a lot of stress. When kids are away from home in a camping situation....especially during a week-long summer camp....and away from their normal environment....they tend to express a lot of their pain and uncertainty with life. This is a perfect time to show them how God loves them and teach them about what being a Christian means. For me....it's easy to open my heart and show them tons of love. This is something they often don't get at home. When you reach out to kids in this way, they never forget you, and it greatly impacts their lives in a positive way. Especially when these relationships are maintained by e-mail, phone, or personal visits throughout the year. God has brought me into some special relationships at camp with boys from backgrounds ranging from normal, well adjusted, and loving to some with severe depression problems or....in one case....a kid who basically lives on the streets cause his parents kicked him out. I think if Jesus were here he would be reaching out to these kids and ministering to them. Mentoring: While at camp about a year ago I met a kid and who was 14 and on three different medications for clinical depression. He had been battling depression for couple of years and had also been hospitalized and had been suicidal at times, he also had abused drugs and alcohol. This kid had never known his father and had never had much of an adult male role model. Under the circumstances he was pretty well adjusted and had been raised as a Christian, even though he didn't, and still doesn't, always follow a Christian lifestyle. I didn't get to know N to well at camp because he was in the freshman cabin and I was mostly hanging out with the seniors....but as camp went on, I had feelings that this kid was special. After camp was over N moved across the country to a small town where he knew no one. I knew this would be very hard on him. Because of my job, I have a special ability to fly around at no cost to myself. As I mentioned earlier....I hadn't gotten to know N well at camp. But after camp I felt an ever increasing feeling, and now I can only say that feeling was inspired by God, to become a special friend to him. I had a hard time tracking down a phone number for him but the Internet is a wonderful thing. I was very hesitant to call N because I was afraid of how he might react. He might not even remember who I was. Or he might not be interested in talking with me. Or he might think I'm a weirdo or something. I nearly didn't call......and yet I had to....it was v ery strange. So....I did make the call and it was the beginning of the very special friendship. He needed a mentor and I realized that becoming involved in his life was what God was leading me to do. I travel across the country on the average of once a month to visit with him for a few days. N tells me things that he would never tell anyone else and he calls me his angel from heaven, since I've shared with him my belief that God brought me into his life. At first his mom was worried about trusting me but it didn't take long to realize that I could do a lot of good for her son. N and I have had a lot of great times together doing guys things and we talk about a lot but... even after a year... he still not ready to open up about his deepest emotions. Maybe he never will and maybe that is best for him, I guess time will tell. He has told me he might have killed himself by now if I hadn't come along. I also know that God has a great plan for his life and that's why he brought me into it when he did. You should know that when you get into a strong, loving relationship with a young man, it's not all fun and games. Being N's mentor has brought us into conflict many times and we've had some pretty good fights. I don't think you can love someone without a pissing them off once in awhile and visa versa. I know that when N grows up he will have a special place in his heart for me and he will remember what I did for him. I pray that he will reach out to others as I've reached out to him one day. As I write this, I'm on the verge of establishing another relationship with a 15 year-old kid much closer to home. I'm sure he and I will grow just as close as N and I are now. I figure if I can make a huge difference in the life of just one kid a year by being their mentor or special friend, and if those kids reach out to others as I have when they become adults, then the world will be a little better place. I've been writing for over an hour and I only covered camp counseling and mentoring....WOW. In closing, I would just like to say that anyone can make a difference in the lives of today's youth. It takes some time, effort, and energy but the rewards are ten times greater than what you put into it. And I think it's what Jesus would do...... Don |