We left for Camp Ewalu every year on a hot, humid, or even rainy Sunday. By the time we got halfway to camp we were nearly through the Ewalu songbook. As we neared the roundabout a few miles west of camp anticipating the exciting week to come, we became anxious in the back seat and before we knew it we were going in circles! Our dad would drive around the roundabout at least twice to make us squirmy! We finally reached camp but that was just the beginning! Soon we got to meet our counselors, go to campfires, hike, swim, creek stomp, and most importantly learn about God!
We saw love, compassion, grace, and faith at camp. It became a second home and the people there became a second family. Family is how camp started for us way back in the summer of 2004 at family camp when we were two years old and we have gone to camp every summer since. Each new year brought new excitement and new adventures, but what stuck out the most was the people. The Ewalu community has taught us that it is cool to love God and to read the Bible. We grew up with countless dedicated, talented counselors who not only kept us alive but helped us grow in our faith journeys. We were in several programs starting with Mini-Camp all the way to Rock and Raft our freshman year of high school. We went together each of those 16 years, and still recall so many fun memories, and how each year taught us something new.
We continued our camp journey by becoming LT’s (Leadership Training Participants). We learned how to be strong Christian leaders over the past two summers spending countless unforgettable hours with our peers out in the beautiful woods! We also learned how to step outside of our comfort zone, try new things, and use our strengths while being aware of our weaknesses. Being LT’s is something we will never forget. It gave us friendships, memories, and experiences that will last us a lifetime.
Ewalu has also taught us to take God’s amazing grace home with us. We can share his love with people outside of camp’s borders. It has changed the way we live every day. From every exciting hello to each difficult goodbye camp is our favorite place to be. Each fun, healing, draining, itchy, faithful, and muddy week was way more than worth it. And we can’t wait to spend many more years in the kingdom of God that is Ewalu.
Alyssa and Kristin Hoey
Ewalu Summer Campers
LT participants 2018 and 2019
