Hello all! My name is Ethan Hildebrand and I spent my summer as a cabin leader at Gem Lake Wilderness Camp this year. Gem Lake is run by Inner City Youth Alive, an organization that is specifically aimed at bringing the hope of the gospel to those who live in the North End, especially the youth. I’m super thankful to have spent my summer up at Gem Lake, and I can honestly say I’ve had a very impactful two months. With it being my first normal summer up at camp, I wasn’t too sure what to expect. There were some nerves, lots of unknowns, and a whole lot of excitement, but through it all, I knew that God had brought me back up to camp for a reason, and he certainly showed his hand over the course of the summer.
In a summer of fun and meaningful moments, one stands out to me in particular. Coming back from a one-on-one time, a camper and I were having a conversation about camp, which shifted to a conversation about God and the existence of God. This camper hadn’t been particularly open to spiritual conversations during our past times together, but he had actually asked questions this time. I saw a hunger for truth in him, and it was a very tangible piece of evidence that what I and the staff team are doing up here is truly making a difference. It was a great summer, and I’m glad I followed God’s calling to serve at camp this summer.
