posted by Philip Nice

It’s on. Here at headquarters, Philadelphia Youth Camp preparations are rolling right along, with Herbert W. Armstrong College students receiving their assignments, instructors working on their lectures and counselors getting to know their campers—on paper, at least. I remember pouring over my campers’ applications during my counselor years. But this morning, one application stands out: mine.

It was sort of funny, actually. I was a terribly shy, inward kid, and I didn’t want to go to camp, but my parents made me apply. They knew how bad I needed it, and that I could contribute something too, if only camp would disengage my parking brake. I had other ideas. I sabotaged my own application. On the 20 or so lines provided for me to fill out why I wanted to come to PYC, I wrote: “Because my parents want me to. And I think it would be fun.”

Lame-o! I thought my application was a shoe-in for a reject—and I would get to stay home all summer.

But God had still other ideas. Mr. Wil Malone, my regional director, wrote this on his ministerial recommendation: “MUST GO!”

Now I look back on that first year as a PYC camper. I’ll admit, I was still sort of shy most of the way through—but what I do remember is listening to everyone else and realizing, “Hey, we’re all in this together!” and growing to love them. They had the same thoughts and experiences and struggles I did back home, and they all loved being together. I can’t describe how awesome it was to mentally—and socially—connect with teens like me!

The next year, when I got my second-ever PYC application, do you believe I attached an extra page, front and back, to list my reasons for wanting to go to camp? And that year, when I got there, the shyness was pretty much gone and I had an absolute blast! I’m telling you, I had experiences and made friends and learned things and had more fun than I knew you could have! My life, from then on, was different, was better. I still have close friends from that PYC.

And it started with me trying my best to get out of it. God said, “Nope! MUST GO!”