Retreat

I came to Barefoot last year and I couldn’t wait to come back this summer! I chose dance as my specialty class this time and I’m learning so much from my dance instructor, Amanda. She is so great and we’re getting really close.

This week I’m already being challenged to be more loving to those around me. I’ve found myself opening up to people and making some awesome friends, as well as strengthening my relationship with God.

This is my first time at Barefoot and I was really nervous about coming here. My counselors have been so cool and they help us to be more confident in ourselves. We're the youngest group here, but we've been doing really well at all the competitions because our counselors have been cheering us on.

I'm learning about film this week. We get to go around camp and shoot video of all the different things people are doing here and then edit the footage. At night, the whole camp gets to watch the video. I think it's great that everybody is watching something that I helped put together.

I've been coming to Barefoot for several years and I was so excited about coming back. The team-building exercises on the low ropes course have been my favorite so far. I can definitely tell that my relationship with God is being strengthened and I'm learning that I need to listen more instead of talking so much.

I've gotten really close to one of the support staff members. She used to be a camper, so we've known each other for three years. She always teaches me to be happy and to just be myself; I'm wonderful the way God made me.

This is my first time at Barefoot. I was really nervous about coming because I thought that it wasn't going to be any fun and that we'd be sleeping in tents. When we got here, I was so excited to find out that the cabins are so nice - especially the fact that there's more than one shower for us girls - and I'm having a great time! I've never been in a lake before and this week I had the opportunity to be in a canoe and ride a jet ski. I'm really proud of myself for being willing to try something I've never done before.

I'm learning a lot this week. The speaker, Jeff, has really been challenging me to change the way I think about things and about having good influences in my life. I've also been learning a lot about myself. The counselors are amazing too. They're really encouraging and they make our whole cabin feel like we're a family of sisters. I think that everyone should come to Barefoot!

I've been going to Barefoot for five years already and it's an amazing place. Each year has really impacted me, but this year I came wanting to truly turn my life around.

I feel like I've been ignoring God lately. This week has been teaching me to get into the gospel more and that I don't have to participate in the things I know are wrong. I'm learning to love and trust others and that God really does love me. Now I realize that I can't change my life by myself. I need God to do it.