Beyond the cabin: More than a summer camp

I'm from Ord, Nebraska and attend Our Lady Perpetual Help Church. I have been taking part in the summer events for the last four years. I'm 18 years old and the third of nine kids in my family. I am a cradle Catholic and homeschooled since fourth grade. Many of my siblings have attended diocesan youth retreats, and they can make a large impact on your life just like it did for me. 

The day that changed my life 

My first year of attending the summer events was in 2022, and it's one I will never forget. I started the week at HGXF like any other kid there. I brought my very overpacked bag and looked at the group of five girls who I would spend the week with, with a smile on my face and excitement in my heart. About halfway through the week, two of our girls got extremely dehydrated. On Wednesday, the first girl started to get sick. We sat in the sweet shop and she got really dizzy and could barely walk as the priest took her to the nurse. The second girl said she wasn't feeling very well at breakfast the following day (Thursday). 

At that point, my small group leader was a pro at seeing the signs of dehydration and took her straight to the nurse. Later in the day, everyone got ready for Mass and adoration to follow. When we got in line for Communion, one of the sick girls still couldn't walk. She started to cry, and my heart ached for her. I know how important the eucharist is but at that moment something changed. If the Eucharist means so much that just simply walking up to receive Jesus could make someone weep, then it's so much more. After Communion, I was in a complete daze. I didn’t even realize Mass had ended and adoration had started. When the priest walked down the aisle with the host in the monstrance, I just broke down in tears, it was so beautiful with the gold and the lights shining on it. I looked around at the rest of my group, who were in complete tears. It's hard to explain to someone just how beautiful and peaceful it was. When we had Mass the next day, I had a new love for the Eucharist. And when the head guy said they had a prayer team, I knew I wanted to be on that team to share everything I experienced and to make it as easy as possible for other kids to have the same experience 

Prayer team, Higher Ground (high school) and Steubenville of the Rookies 

Steubenville took place a few weeks before HGXF 2023. There’s just something about 1,000 teenagers worshiping God that just gets to you. Adoration was amazing at HGXF, but this was on a different level. Matthew 18:20 says, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I with them.” Just imagine having 1,000 teenagers praising God, it truly felt like we could move mountains. When HGXF started a few weeks later, I was still on what I like to call “Steubenville High,” where all I wanted to do was to praise God. I was now on the prayer team, and I prayed so much that week; it's incredible. The team members that year are my closest friends now. Being on the prayer team, we had some talks about vocations, and every day had some time in adoration. We still got to do everything the campers got to do plus more, and the laughter, I've never laughed so much in life. At adoration, I tried to give the experience I had to at least one camper. The next summer, I was on the prayer team again. Before I knew it, the week was over, but there was one thing that stuck with me. It was a saying: “My goal in life is to make it to heaven and take as many people with me as possible.” That week it became my goal too. 

That year I also went to Higher Ground (High School). There are so many powerful experiences, it's amazing. One thing that Higher Ground taught me was to trust in the Lord. This last summer was by far the best summer I've ever had in my life. I started my last year asking God what vocation he wanted me to be in. When Thursday came around, everybody already knew of something hilarious or beautiful that happened. Adoration was as amazing as ever. When I was finally able to adore the Eucharist, I focused on asking God what he wanted me to do with my life. I listened and prayed and finally I felt some type of calmness from the Holy Spirit that said or rather felt like “I’ve got it, it will happen at the time I planned it.” It made me at ease to give it to God. It will happen when he wills it. Then, I looked around to see if anyone needed to be prayed over or with, and I saw a small group. Adoration took a toll on their leader, and his small group started praying over him. It was the most beautiful thing I had seen all week. It just melted my heart to see that even the campers were willing to help spiritually. 

Every person who went to the summer events would tell you about their experiences and highly recommend them. They all have had a huge impact on me, and I can't wait until next year. I'm going to try to be a small group leader and in the next few years, God willing, a Totus Tuus missionary. I wouldn't be anywhere near the person I am today if it wasn't for these summer events and the people I have met. I hope it can be impactful for everyone else.

Photos courtesy of Cheyenne McCain