Homesick but Not Alone

To Sabbath School teachers: This story is for Sabbath, November 9.

By Andrew McChesney

O

livya first went to an Alaskan summer camp when she was 11 years old. She lived far away from Camp Polaris, and she felt so homesick on her first day at the camp. She missed her dog, Callie.

“I want to go home,” she told her father as he dropped her off.

“You’re fine,” he replied with a kind smile.

Then he left, and Olivya faced a whole week without her dear dog.

The afternoon was rainy. It rains often in Alaskan summers. Olivya tried to stay dry.

That evening, the children ate supper and had worship in the main lodge. After that, Olivya followed seven girls and their camp counselor, whose name was Miss Joelle, to their cabin for the night.

It was then that things got interesting.

Miss Joelle opened her Bible and read a story about patience. The girls listened from their bunk beds or on the floor. Then the counselor asked if the girls had any prayer requests.

Olivya’s hand shot up.

“Please pray for me not to be homesick and for my dog to be OK at home,” she said.

Other girls wanted to pray for their parents and families. Some wanted to pray for themselves. They had friends back at home who took drugs, and they didn’t want to get mixed up in that.

Then Miss Joelle asked if anyone wanted to volunteer to pray. Two girls raised their hands.

“Today was such a good day,” one girl prayed. “Help us to sleep well. Amen.”

The second girl’s prayer also was short. She hadn’t liked the rainy afternoon.

“Please make it sunny,” she prayed.

Miss Joelle also offered a short prayer.

“Thank You for the good day,” she said. “Help us to have a good day tomorrow. Please make the weather good.”

The girls crawled into bed, and Miss Joelle came around to tuck them in.

When she came to Olivya, she said, “Hey, Olivya, can I pray with you?”

“Yes, please,” Olivya said.

Miss Joelle prayed, saying, “Dear Lord, thank You for Olivya, that she is my camper, that we came to camp, and that we had a good day today. Help her to sleep well and have a good day tomorrow. Amen.”

Then she moved to the next girl.

Olivya felt so loved. She had felt sad and lonely so far from her dog and her home. But she could see God’s love shining through the counselor’s caring words and kind deeds.

Finally, all the girls fell asleep.

Except Olivya.

In the dark cabin, she reflected back on her first day at camp. It hadn’t been so bad. She wondered what would happen the next day. Would it be rainy, or would it be sunny? What would she eat for breakfast? She loved breakfast, especially if it included eggs. But she also liked breakfast burritos and pancakes. What games would she and the other children play after breakfast? Would she make new friends and talk to them?

With those thoughts, Olivya drifted off
to sleep.

It turned out to be a great week at Camp Polaris. Before she knew it, the week was over, and she was back at home with Father and her dear dog, Callie.

Olivya loved camp so much that she went back the next year, and the next.

Today, she is 17 years old and works as a counselor at Camp Polaris. She goes to the girls’ bunk beds at night and prays for them and loves them, just like her counselor did when she was 11. She wants all the children to know just how much God loves them.

Part of a previous Thirteenth Sabbath Offering went to Camp Polaris to help improve it with new cabins and real toilets and showers. Olivya and the children at Camp Polaris are grateful to all the children and adults who gave to that Thirteenth Sabbath Offering. You can help children in Alaska by giving to this quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath Offering, which will go to a special project in Bethel. Thank you for planning a generous offering on December 28.