Day in the Life at Camp Echoing Hills
“I just want you to know that God loves me just as much as God loves you. I can’t walk right, talk right, or eat right…but God loves me. God gave me the body I have. I don’t know what he wants me to do with it, but I’m giving it back to him.” – Cordell Brown, Founder of Echoing Hills.
In May 1965, Cordell encountered the Lord while working on his family’s farm. A new dream had been planted as he prayed, “Lord I know what you want me to do. I don’t have any money to do it with, no college education. I can’t write so people can read it…but you know all that. I’ll do what you want me to do.” (pg. 79). That farm would be where Cordell’s dream would come to fruition as Camp Echoing Hills – dedicated to helping individuals experience the love of Jesus through recreation.
The ministry serves individuals of all ages, and this week is kid’s week! Campers ages six to thirteen started the day with Chapel and a worship service, singing and praying. During the rainy morning, the kids started with indoor activities. Counselors split them by gender; the girls painted pottery, and the boys played floorball, a game similar to lacrosse.
After the rain stopped, the girls went outside to make homemade applesauce, and the boys went down to archery. While waiting for the applesauce to cook over the fire, the girls enjoyed a friendly game of Jenga. Soon it was time for lunch, pool time, and rest time. This marked the end of a fun but busy morning!
The afternoon was filled with crafts and a snack. Boys and girls made cloud dough – a mixture of conditioner and corn starch. Heads up, don’t eat it! This messy creation was fun for all ages, as everyone was delighted to mix the ingredients. When the craft was finished and the room appeared clean, the group gathered in the dining hall to make sugar cookie dough. You can eat it…but not yet! The cookie dough was thrown into the oven to be enjoyed after dinner.
Making memories calls for long days, but counselors, staff, and campers are more than conquerors – the theme of camp this year. As Romans 8:37-39 says, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Do you feel called to ministry or mission work? Do you have an individual with an intellectual or developmental disability in your family who needs support? Consider joining or partnering with Camp Echoing Hills. You’ll love it!
https://ehvi.org/recreation-2/
https://ehvi.org/god-doesnt-make-any-junk/
https://www.southernplate.com/how-to-make-cloud-dough/
