Dear Camp Shamineau,

Dear Camp Shamineau,

Hey, camp. It’s been 6 months since I’ve seen you, crazy. I’m sorry that I haven’t gone up to see you. Honestly, retreats make me kind of emo, they make me miss summer, so I thought it would be better for me to just skip those since I won’t be able to make it back this summer. I know!! I’m sorry!! The thought of not going back makes me want to cry too, but when you think about it, this is all your fault, camp!! It’s your fault for pushing me to grow in my faith, showing me my love for ministry, introducing me to genuine people with such an authentic and raw love for Jesus and making me the person that I am today. How dare you!! Its ok, I forgive you, I’m not mad, I actually wanted to thank you.

Thank you for slapping me in the face and telling me that I needed to reevaluate my relationship with Jesus. I really needed that. Who knew that my life would change because I decided to wash dishes and clean toilets for a week? You did I guess. Thank you for making me feel comfortable and loved when I came to my first staff training. Little Hallie was terrified, she didn’t know what she had in store. She didn’t know that she was about to have the best summer of her life, that she would return home a changed person. Thank you for introducing me to some of my best friends. You have a weird way of bringing people together. Grayce, for example, we met because half of our cabins accepted Christ at the same time in the span of a few minutes. The presence of the Holy Spirit was so strong, all we could do was cry. We met because she ended up crying on my bed and eating my jolly rancher gummies. 3 years later she is still one of my friends. Or Sophie, we really bonded after I found her crying on the bathroom floor and said she looked like Gollum. Crying really bonds people, but you already knew that. These are just two out of many amazing people that you brought into my life. People that have helped me grow and discover my worth as a child of God.

Although all of these people mean a lot to me, I want to thank you for re-introducing me to the most important person in my life, Jesus. You have created a place where God is welcome, and boy does he show up. I have seen Jesus within you in ways that I cannot explain. I saw Jesus in the early sunrises, the surprises, the laughter, the tears, the people, the games, the campers, the sleep deprivation and even the emergency room…especially the emergency room. I wish I could explain it. I believe that God is tangible in everyday life. If you can look, you can find him in everything. However, in the whirlwind of everyday life, this can be hard. Thank you for creating a place where this can be easy. Jesus shines through the people and the trees and makes his presence known. You can feel it. Jesus is there and he is changing lives and if you let your guard down for just a moment, he will change yours. I know this because he changed mine.

He taught me many things there, everything from how to love others to how to deal with being spiritually attacked and come up on top. He did give me one thing though, a love for ministry. He showed me how many of his children are lost and in desperate need of a savior. He placed a calling to reach the lost on my heart and told me to go, so camp, this is why I am writing to you. I wanted you to know that you have gotten me to the place where I am today. In September I will be packing up my backpack and traveling around spreading the gospel. Your involvement made me 100% confident in my decision. You have shown me the mission field even if it is just in Motley, Minnesota. Thank you for trusting me with your kids, Shamineau. Being a counselor was one of the best things I have ever done.

Love you!

Hallie

Also, a letter to all my campers:

Love you. Miss you. I hope you are doing well. Thank you for teaching me innumerable things. Free time is at 2:30. Please put clothes on over your swimsuit. Meet me at the dining hall at 5, I’m making friendship bracelets at the cabin if you want to hang with me <33

Xoxo, Hallie

Here are some fun pics now that we are getting nostalgic:

Days of Elijah on REPEAT!! Nothing better than some island worship.

“Hip-Hop Hallie”

 The first cabin I ever counseled:,)

The church is like slime, a hallie original devo…hmu if you want to hear it. Slime included.

 Me after living on an island for a week #cute #clean #swag

Ok I’m done sorry

!!!side note: I am humbled and blown away by all of the support I have received both spiritually and financially. Last month I met my first deadline of $5,000… 4 months early!! Thank you again to everyone who has gotten me this far. I wish I could express my gratitude. It’s hard because I am so monotone, but trust me, I mean it when I say thank you. $5,000 down, $10,000 to go!! I cant do this without yall, thank you!!!