Mike Ross
Mike Ross
Jul 30, 2017 · 8 min read

My story: Making a difference at Royal Family Kids Camps!

Here is my story of how God allows me to make a difference in kids every year I go to Royal family Kids Camps! This is my 3rd year going but to tell this story I have to start at year one.

Well my Wife and I was watching the movie “CAMP” and got really excited after being overcome with grief during the movie, and Googled the closest camp to me and sent Director an email at 1:30am :) so this is where it all began.

Year one: Excited to see people I met in training and to see what RFKC is all about. Get there on Sunday to set up and get ready for kids. My director assigned me two boys who had been coming to camp so they were great they kept me on schedule and helped me learn my way around! Had a great time with these boys got to go fishing, games, dress up time, canoeing, and yes got dumped in lake thankfully God knows I swim like a rock and made sure I was in chest deep water, yes I had my life vest on! The boys thought this was so funny, great camp so far.

But as God always does he allows me to see others in need and the Holy Spirit gives me the ability to connect with kids. So why were were in the gym I see a boy who is in his last year at camp I go over to talk to him as my boy says he is a great basketball player which gives me a chance to talk on his level. As I talked to his Councillor and the week went on I noticed he was one who was ready to argue, or be pushy at a moments notice so my mentoring process begins with him as I have a chance. Each time I see him blurt out I calmly ask him why he is upset and we talk about it. Over the course of the week my two boys have picked up on this and are now helping keep him out of trouble. As I said before great boys!

As we were going through the week I kept seeing a girl who mostly had her head down, quiet, and not talking to me for sure, now to me this is a friendly challenge so every time I saw her I would say good morning, how are you, glad to see you, anything to get her to respond to me. Finally a smile! So from then on it was I’m going to talk to you until you say something to me. From there on she would say hi or answer me but not much else. More to come on her in year 2.

Now back to my “3rd” boy. As we are hanging out on Thursday before dinner he had got into trouble and lost some pool time so this was my chance to talk to him about his wanting to fight. I asked him if his coach allowed it in basketball? He said yes his coach like his aggressiveness. I said aggressive is one thing but fighting is another, you are very good at basketball but there is not a college out there that will take you if you are known as a fighter so you have to stop this or it may keep you from following your dreams. He said I get it and will try to do better. I go back to playing with my 2 boys and off to dinner.

Friday is as hard on me as I could see it was on lots of the kids I am used to getting to mentor to my church kids several times a week I now have three boys who are now my kids! How will I survive not getting to see them all the time? YIKES not good!

Well off to drop them off and my two boys were ok as they have done this before one of them tells me “You made it” my response was thanks to you two guys for being my leaders all week and mentoring me. Then the other boy comes up to me and gives me a hug and say thanks for talking to me and helping me this week I will do better I’ll try hard to remember what you taught me about my attitude. Sad I do not know how he is doing but I pray for them regularly so I know God has him and my other kids too, one moment makes a difference!

Year 2… As I am getting packed for camp our Uncle passes away so I am scrambling to let camp directors know what is happening and I would not get there until Tuesday evening. Thus giving my two boys to another person until I get there. Well finally at camp excited to see my boys from last year and meet my new campers!

As I walk into the gym the kids are playing on the blow up games and the girl from last year who barely spoke to me came running up and jumped on me saying I am so glad you are here this year why are you late I missed you? I told her I had a funeral to go to and she said sorry but now come watch me jump and slide. I said let me get checked in and I will I have to find out where my boys are.

As I find them they are already bonding with the person taking my place and I see no need in messing up a good thing so I am now floating helping out where ever needed. This ends up being a good thing as it allows me to see more of how camp works and to the girl who now talks to me all the time, WHOHOO, wants me to watch her play, sit close to her so she can talk to me when eating etc. This showed me we CAN make a difference with just a few words that show them they are important! God is so good!!!!!

As the week comes to a end I see her close back up in her place and not saying much Thursday evening. It hits me hard seeing her sad so I am off to find a quiet spot to cry and pray for her. Dinner and movie night was great then off to Friday again. No easier this year even though I had no assigned campers I got a girl now who I hope to see again in a year. Praying for all the kids as they go home. Year 2 comes to a close with an awakening as to how little time I have to make a difference but know God has a plan!

Off to year 3… As I am getting ready for camp I am excited to see what this year brings. much harder as I moved to another place so unsure if I will be able to make it to camp at all. This is heartbreaking to think I may not get there. PRAY PRAY PRAY! But in God’s awesomeness he makes a way for me to get to go the week before camp!! GOD IS GOOD!

Arrive at camp to get setup and make posters for my two boys both of them’s last year at camp, wait oh cool one of them is one of my boys from the first year and another boy who has been coming. We always go around and pray over camp and all kids areas but I do not see my girls name on any of the signs on bunks, This is NOT good! Then one of the female councilors notices a name is wrong on the sign on bunks! WHEW she is coming as I know this would be her last year also my sorrow turns to joy. As we are getting ready for the bus to arrive we find out that 3 campers can’t come at last minute so one of my boys is moving to another Councillor so we each have one boy this year.

Bus arrives and as I am holding my campers poster he comes up to me and says I am so glad you are my leader this year!!!! Cool!!! Wait a sec I was just around him the last two years talked to him some, another realization that we can make a difference and not even realize it WOW!

As I am talking to him I get a big hug and it is my girl from last year telling me she is so glad I am here and it is her last year and she is ready to have some fun!

Off we go to make this his best year yet… make a difference! We want him back to be a junior leader! Great group of boys this year everything running smoothly. God is good! As we are off to activities my boy asked if he can go fish with one of the other Councillors? I say we can, he says you don’t have too you can go canoeing or what ever you want. I get it this is his last year, yep no problem so off fishing he goes so I just sent up on bank and watch boys all having fun staying 2 deep as you know. Fish are biting this year as I walk down the lake side and I realize there are so many people who make a difference in these kids lives as I watch my boy make he way around to all those who have made a difference in him making sure he spends some time with each one of them. Who is mentoring to who here?

This week is flying by and as before my girl is always wanting me to sit and talk or shoot hoops with her so gym and game time she is right there too. Gives me time to talk to her about coming back as a junior leader and I am proud of how much she has grown over the last few years. Got a big laugh as we talked about her not wanting to say anything to me my first year at camp. Then guess what she introduces me to her little sister… another one to help make a difference in as we are all here to do that very thing.

As Thursday comes it’s movie night and I am told have to sit by my girl so I can watch the movie with her. Then Friday comes harder this year as three of my kids will not be back next year. Boys are OK and excited to be back a junior leaders in a few years, my girl is sitting in the corner crying which breaks my heart again as it is sinking in to her, sad time, shed some tears there too. then she is up and we are all off to chapel for final skit to see how it all ends… someone stay awake you know who you are!

The leaders are a blast to work with at these camps and very proud of all the teenagers who come out to work with the kids also especially those who were once campers themselves! You know what it means to theses kids. BLESSINGS to you all!

As I learned from my boy this year it takes everyone to make a camp run and as he went around to the cooks, lifeguards, leaders, Nurses, Junior leaders he showed me no matter what it is you do at camp the kids are always watching and you do make a difference even if you don’t realize it. God bless to ALL the workers who give up their time to make these RFKC camps a great place for our kids to be kids!!

If you love kids, are in Children’s ministry or where ever I pray as you read this God will call you to get involved and make a Jesus difference in these kids! One moment at a time or one kid at a time and sometimes several at a time! I challenge each one who reads this to go watch CAMP movie after all if it was not for it I would have missed out on these great kids and blessings the last three years! To God be the glory for all that we do for his kids that he has allowed us to cross paths with. MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Blessings,

Mike