This post and eight additional posts will be excerpts from my personal journal from Camp Wojtyla this summer. Excerpts will be identified in italics. I spent the most amazing eight weeks of my life on a patch of heaven with a community of men and women striving to bring each other and the campers who came out closer to Jesus Christ.
"Good morning, Camp Wojtyla!" Renato Sander (aka "Big Bear") bellowed at 4:30am on Day 1 of counselor training at St. Malo's Retreat Center in Allenspark, CO. Didn't sleep well. The wind whipped
and howled throughout the night. Nonetheless, I got up and we took off for a sunrise hike on Pope John Paul II Trail. Silence throughout the walk. Silence when we reached the end of the trail. Pure awe at the beauty that God has created. My humility grew as I gazed upon the incredible scenery. We celebrated Mass atop a rock to commence our 2-day silent retreat. Stories in the Bible tell us of men who went to pray on top of a mountain just before they set out to complete a mission from God. What's next for me?
What I didn't know then back at the start of things was the influence I was going to have on the people around me, campers and counselors alike. Myself and the rest of the male staff portrayed to the female counselors how men ought to treat women. Men should be respecting women, doing chivalrous deeds for them without having some hidden agenda like we see so much of in our society today. Men should be doing those things for the pure fact that they will lead to the betterment of that woman. Some of the ladies there had never seen that before. They thanked us throughout the summer for being real men. As for the campers, these young men got to see examples of adults living out their faith with a radical devotion. They got to witness that being Catholic does not mean following a list of rules and not having any fun. The theme verse for Camp Wojtyla is John 10:10 "I came that they might have life, and have it to the full." That is the exact opportunity that this camp provides for these kids (and the counselors). We were all blessed with the experience of getting out into the wilderness to truly appreciate God, others, and his beautiful creation.
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