When Manuela arrived in Ohio after the long trip from Spain, she was nervous about what awaited her. The idea of working at a camp was planted in her mind by her aunt, who teaches English and had heard about various programs where young people get to spend their summers working in the United States. Manuela saw an opportunity to not only improve her English, but to work with kids, and since she is studying to be a teacher, it seemed like a perfect match. She never anticipated going somewhere she was going to be able to connect with God and work at a place where her co-workers weren’t just peers, but would become family.
When the camp director picked Manuela up from the airport she was a ball of anxiety. She didn’t know how she was going to fit into this place where she struggled to speak the language on top of not knowing anyone. But as soon as the car began to pull away her fears and anxiety began to melt away. “You assume the camp director is going to be a strict person. She was friendly, I wasn’t expecting that.” The staff welcome and warmth didn’t stop in the car ride, she found that everyone at camp was attentive. Her roommate Shelby made a huge impact on her, creating a deep and meaningful bond that is still felt today. “I was sharing a room with Shelby that summer, and she was a very strong support for me, checking in on me and seeing what I needed. I remember the first week calling my parents saying this isn’t what I expected, it’s even better.”
The community that was formed became a very special support for Manuela, something that drew her back for more summers. But that’s not the only thing that keeps her coming back. It’s the mission at Asbury, the impact it has on the campers. “One of my favorite Bible verses is Mathew 19:14, ‘Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.’’ I think camp is like that. When you talk about God with children it allows you to connect with them. Nature allows you to do that as well. You can connect with creation. You see it all day, the water, the forest, the food we have at camp. The songs we sing at camp at mealtimes, it all reminds you to be grateful. Everything we do at camp allows you to connect with God.” Manuela says that one of the unique and special things about camp is kids are learning about God in an engaged way. It’s engrained in everything we do.
But it isn’t just the campers who walk away having connected with God while at camp, the staff do too. Manuela, being Catholic and coming to a Methodist camp, was a bit apprehensive at the start of camp. Unsure of how her religious differences would be embraced. “I’m Catholic, in my first summer I was unsure about how it was going to be working at a Methodist camp. But then I understood that we have the same God and everyone understood me. Even the pastors and the Directors embraced me, they all treated me the same way. I didn’t feel excluded because of my religion. I think that’s important. Camp doesn’t exclude anyone, no matter what their background is, that’s an important thing about Asbury.”
Manuela, having gone through two summers now and all set up for returning for a third summer, no longer has any more fears or anxieties about camp. Camp has helped her feel more prepared in her studies to be a teacher, she has watched campers grow and embrace her as a leader and guide and has found a physical and spiritual home on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. “Now that I have been at camp for two summers, I have had many different experiences, but I feel good about how I’ve been able to connect with everyone and connect with God. Not only have I improved my English, which I set out to do, but I have made a home at camp. A summer home. I have family there. A close family, and that feeling makes you want to come back.”