It was
the last night of camp and I had run out of coping techniques. The group of
girls who had set their cabin on edge all week were out of control. It’s always
on the last night of camp; the kids with the greatest fears act out the most.
They act out because they don’t want to go back to the way things are back
home. After chapel we isolated the group of girls now known as “The Fierce 9”
straight to their cabin to settle down away from the rest of the campers.
Emotions were broiling; they didn’t know who to take their anger out on. I
stood my ground by the door explaining that they would have to calm down if
they were going to enjoy the rest of the evening. They shouted in protest, they
called me names. Then a punch was thrown into the wall, leaving a fist shaped
hole in the sheetrock. 
I had spent the last three nights after chapel with these girls. I
shared the hidden stash of Gatorades and crackers. In our group time they had
the freedom to speak their minds and be rambuxious, but the conversation would
always end on a serious note. No matter how tough these girls tried to act and
how loud they were, the truth was that they were all wounded, scared and
hurting.
Just listening to the way they described their
life and the people in it who had hurt them broke my heart. Any one of the
experiences they shared would be enough to harden the softest of hearts. The
saddest thing I heard was the confession from many of the girls that they feel
out of control emotionally most of the time and are afraid of the way their
anger is destroying their life.
They needed to hear that despite their
circumstances and what has been done to them; they can have peace with God
through Jesus. As they grow in Him they will see the life giving fruit of Love,
Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self
Control. They heard this truth all week long as they participated in the camp
activities and they heard it again from me. We could all see that a very real
spiritual battle was raging in their hearts as they wrestled with the decision
to turn their lives over to God.
To be honest, when the angry girl threw a punch
into the wall, narrowly missing my face, it took an extra measure of the Holy
Spirit to keep from losing control myself. Pastor Chad and Mrs. Tonya came to
my rescue.
Together, Chad and I
loaded up the girls in the van and took them to buy the supplies needed to
patch the hole in the wall of their cabin. Instead of the radio, for
entertainment on the hour-long country drive to Guymon we called mom, after
mom, after grandma to explain how their daughters were behaving. By the time we
got back to camp all the “tough girls” had disappeared. There was a new air of humility
and meekness.
Everyday for the last two weeks since we’ve
been back from camp, the same girls have been up and ready at 8:00 A.M. for the
church bus. They have been serving on mission with us delivering
lunches. On Thursday I got a text from the mother of the girl who threw the
punch. She said, “Miss Anna, my daughter will not be able to volunteer
tomorrow. She came home from camp and asked for help with her anger. I am
taking her to her first counseling appointment in the morning. God Bless!!”
We thank God for His
Word, and the power it has to transform hearts for those receive it. Thank you
for praying and supporting the work at Mission OKC. May we continue to see
these young people set free.
