An Angel Arrives

For Operation Purple, the NMFA sends a licensed therapist to be on site and available to the kids if they are struggling with issues more complex than just homesickness or disagreeing with cabin mates. The therapist scheduled to come this week had a health emergency on Sunday and couldn't make it. It wasn't until Wednesday night that they were able to get someone to camp. Wanda flew in from Chicago, drove 3 hours and arrived at 11:30pm in the middle of the dark woods. I met her at breakfast on Thursday morning and she was relaxed and easy going considering the journey to get to camp.

When the original therapist didn't show up, I'd told them it wasn't necessary and when Wanda arrived on the last full day of camp, I didn't really see a point to her being there, but I welcomed her and showed her around.

Somewhere within the 24 hours or so that she was at camp, I fell in LOVE with Wanda. Maybe it was the fact that she was a sassy African American woman with attitude. Or maybe it was her gentle but confident demeanor or the way that everything she said seemed to be rooted in soul and wisdom. Or maybe it was that saw the beauty beneath the peeling paint that I see and fell in love with camp. She told me that she had prayed for something like this and believed God sent her to camp, even if it was just for a short time.

We had several wonderful conversations throughout the day- she was a talker and I was absolutely drawn to her, so we kept coming back together to discuss camp, faith, kids, and life. She told me I was a "warrior woman" and I felt empowered.

My BF was at camp for the day on Thursday. I'd asked him to come up and help me with the BBQ since I knew that I couldn't cook for that many people by myself. After he left, Wanda looked at me and said, "that man LOVES you." I smiled and said, "I know" and she said, "no, that is a man in love. The way he looked at you. That he would drive all this way and spend a hot day burning all of his arm hair off over the hot grill. That man LOVES you." I know he loves me, but listening to her observation of us from a distance made me happier than ever.

At the staff meeting today, we went through our highs and lows of the week. Several people said that Wanda was their high of the week. As one counselor put it- "just when you think you are at your breaking point and can't take another step, God sends an angel to make it easier. THAT was Wanda." I couldn't agree more. There was something so peaceful about being around her that made me feel like everything is going to be ok. Camp is going to be ok.

I still have concerns about the buildings that need so much updating, the budget that is so terrible, the challenges our organization faces, but I am not ready to give up yet. We are doing good work, we are a special camp. I thought I was ready to give up, but I'm not. I don't know how, but I know we are going to keep going. An angel visited and I feel inspired.