Rachel's Reflections

Acorda! Acorda! (Wake up! Wake up!)  The campers stumbled out of their tents in the pre-dawn chill wrapping their capulanas (traditional cloth) and blankets around them. We all followed the program leader to a corner where one of the other counselors was crying. She had a candle and there was a white cloth in front of her.  As she started speaking the campers realized she was pretending to be Mary at the tomb of Jesus. Walking further we encountered two of the "disciples" pondering over what they had heard from the women about Jesus being alive. In the middle of their conversation "Jesus" appeared and reassured them. Afterwards we discussed the significance of Easter morning and then prayed. The above re-enactment stuck with the campers the rest of that morning, discussing and thinking about it. It was the culmination of a weekend camp over Easter for a church. I had the privilege of helping counsel three of the younger youth girls with my friend Anabela.  A par

This is a story about T__, one of the campers from my cabin last week. As you read her story you will understand why I am not writing her full name: T__ was placed in my cabin with 3 other girls, she was quiet and reserved, often sitting alone. On the second day I learned she was Muslim . During devotions that night I asked all of them two questions: If you were to die tomorrow are you sure you would go to heaven? If God asked you why he should let you into heaven what would your response be? T__ was the last to answer, after hesitating she said, “ In my religion we do not know if we will go to heaven or not. ” She had no idea who Paul was and did not want to borrow my Bible for devotions.  The next day I asked her, "Did your parents grow up Muslim?” She explained that her Father had been Catholic but converted to Islam to marry her mother. Her grandmother is a devout Muslim. “I think both religions are good and worship the same God,” she told me. I told her this could not