The last two weeks have been amazing. I had the honor of serving as camp director for the Chicago Hope Academy girls camp. The boys camp was the week of August 8th and the girls camp was the week of August 15th. Their first day of school is tomorrow. CHA is an incredible school in Chicago that is really giving hope to students: http://chicagohopeacademy.org

The camp's focus was exercise and spiritual focus. We had devotions and chapels based on being a woman of virtue: discussion of purity, being a princess of the King, as well as faith, hope and love discussions held in small groups. There was also time for the lake, free time, crafts and nightly team building games. The campfire at the end of the week was heartbreaking AND rewarding. Stories of broken hearts were shared and we all walked away loving each other more with the knowledge that we are all the same: all needing Jesus.

Chicago Hope Academy is a school that Heal Ministries partners with on an ongoing basis. We hope to send teams every summer. Not because CHA needs us but because we learn and live out what the Bible teaches us: to love our neighbors, to show mercy and compassion and to offer HOPE.

The CHA students bonded with each other and with the faculty. Even though many of the CHA students have disadvantaged family backgrounds, they will start the school year at a HUGE advantage over most high school students. They have made friends, laughed, cried, prayed, accomplished goals, realized who they are in Christ AND they have built relationships based on the true HOPE that matters!