Changes

Camas changes you. It's changed me (although don't ask me exactly how- 'cause I haven't  been able to but it into a coherent sentence yet) and I have been blessed over the past months to watch how it changes all those who come to stay.

It's been in the youth from Glasgow and Edinburgh that the most dramatic and encouraging growth occurs. These young people, who come putting together rude words in combinations I've never heard before, who don't understand the concept of sitting down together and sharing a meal, who've never seen a sheep in real life before, who've had to put up barriers to protect themselves from the tough stuff around them - in a course of a single week these very same kids are running around in the garden trying to catch butterflies, setting a trapped sparrow trapped inside free, and just loving playing outside without the distractions of cell phone reception, video games and all the comforts electricity brings. They are sitting together in a candlelit room singing songs, drinking hot chocolate and joking around.

Watching these young folks visibly relax, barriers begin to come down and learn to embrace a different way of doing things is truly a beautiful thing and to me it is nothing short of a miracle. To hear them say that being at Camas has inspired them to be a better person, has taught them that they can trust people again or even simply encouraged them to eat more vegetables and play less video games has been amazing.

All that to say, it's been one heck of a summer. I've had tons of laughs, a few tears, learned loads, grown, played outside, ate amazing food, made lifelong friends and gained a summer full of sweet memories. I'm going to miss Camas, miss Scotland and miss all the crazy people I've got to know over the past four months!

I'm not too worried though, I'll be back someday.

Now, I can't put up this picture without telling the story behind it. This was my final view of the Isle of Mull and some of the friends I was leaving behind on it. These girls (who had the afternoon off of course, no slacking at Camas!) lovingly delivered me to my ferry. They then proceeded to wait on the pier to wave and shout out as I waved back to them as the ferry drifted away. Very, movie-esque and truly a beautiful moment. I must admit I got a tad emotional, I realized this when nearby people would comment on how lovely a send off that was and then look at me and with a concerned look immediately ask me if I was going to be okay.