Rachel Brighton, long time Arcadian and 2013 Summer Staff member was asked what serving on Camp Arcadia’s summer staff has meant to her. Here is her response.
Working on staff at Camp Arcadia began simply as a fulfillment of a childhood dream. From a young age I began anticipating the day that I could spend a WHOLE summer in one of my favorite places on earth. Honestly, when I first applied to work on staff, that was my main motivation–to be at camp all summer. Turns out I got a lot more than I bargained for… in a good way. I did not anticipate gaining valuable life skills such as improved interpersonal communication, confidence in leading groups, and how to take initiative to get something done. It did not occur to me that I would live, eat, and breathe life with 40 other people; that I would be jumping into a precious community of people, all working to be servants and hosts to members of the body that had come to a place for rest. I did not think about the fact that some days I would be so exhausted that it was only another staffer shaking my shoulder that forced me out of bed. Yet even on those days where my eyes would only open wide enough for me to avoid crashing into things, the moment I stepped outside, everything would change.
You all know how special camp is: the lake, the sunsets, the sense of peace, relaxation, and restoration. Stepping outside to all of that is now why I work on staff. It is an opportunity to allow someone else to develop all the wonderful memories that I treasure from summers past. Being on staff means that all summer, I get to be overwhelmed by the majestic sunsets God paints each night. I can jump into the lake and be reminded of God’s immersive love as I myself am immersed in the waters of Lake Michigan. It is the place where I first experienced the joy of true servant-hood coming from some place deep within me. I learned that when my heart is set solely on pleasing and honoring God throughout the day, I have an unexplainable love for every person I encounter and serve. Working on staff at Camp Arcadia is an experience I will never forget. It is an experience that I continue to talk about long after summer has past. It is an experience where, through the ups and downs, God takes this broken individual and continues to grow and develop a servant’s heart within me.
I hope to see many of you this summer!
By: Rachel Brighton
