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Grief Journey at Ridge Haven
June 28 - July
3, 2010; Grades 3 - 12
©Nicole
Johnson
Brave Heart
“The LORD your
God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with his love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17
It takes such courage for someone to walk the journey
of grief after the death of someone they love dearly. Most people are
not prepared for the intense and overwhelming emotions and loneliness
that occur during this time. Therefore, Ridge Haven Camp is offering a
week of summer camp to
 support children and teenagers (3rd through
12th grade) who have faced the pain of the death of a parent, sibling,
grandparent, relative or special friend. This is a Christ centered
camp designed to meet the unique spiritual and emotional needs of
youth who are grieving.
When someone’s world has been shaken, this is the time when his or her
world life views become essential. Our hope is in God’s love,
faithfulness and presence in our lives no matter the storms. Grief is
such a paradox. Paul explains it by saying we will grieve but not like
those without hope. We can have deep emotions of hopelessness and
truths of hope all at the same time. After Lazarus died in John 11,
Martha, his sister, said to Jesus, “Lord if you had been here my
brother would not have died.” To Martha Jesus gave the theology lesson
of the hope we have in the resurrection. Mary said the same words to
Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here my brother would not have died.”
With Mary He wept. Jesus expressed the paradox of grief in that one
moment. Even when Jesus knew the end of the story, as we now know, of
the miracle of Him giving Lazarus back his life, still Jesus was
deeply moved and wept.
There will be times of singing and worship and Bible studies to renew
our faith in the comfort of God’s love. The campers will be divided
into three groups, senior high school, middle school and juniors. Each
group will have separate speakers to address the spiritual and
emotional needs specifically for their group. This is such an
important time to have this biblical integration into real life
experiences. Death stimulates questions most people don’t dare to ask.
What a great time and place to safely ask them.
This will be a great week where trained camp counselors will walk
alongside each child and explain the process of the grief journey.
Youth express their grief by doing things. A camp experience is a
wonderful outlet to learn to identify and express their emotions in
healthy ways as they face the challenges of hiking, the ropes course,
and the climbing wall. The camper will have the opportunity to make a
memory box in honor of their loved one. It is important to prepare
them for future moments of grief such as graduations, birthdays,
weddings and all of the times their loved one should be there. The
happiest day of a young lady’s wedding day may also be the saddest day
because her Dad is not there to walk her down the aisle. That again is
the paradox of grief, being happy and sad at the same time. By
understanding how these moments of grief are normal and someone can
miss the one they love so much but continue to live a full and happy
life helps them to adjust in a healthier manner.
A wonderful camp experience is a treasured time for these campers to
realize they are not the only ones going through this. What a comfort
to know they are not alone. It is nice to have fun and still know it
is safe for them to express a painful emotion if they want support.
The death of a loved one is not something a person “gets over,” but
they will “get through it” and adjust. There is the hope of learning
God’s plan and purpose for their lives. God has an exciting future for
each one of these campers. He has given each one of them gifts,
talents and experience. Camp is a great time to be challenged to
discover them.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to
prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future…
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart…”
(Jeremiah 29:11-14).
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you…”
(Isaiah 43:2).
Martha M. Furman, LPC, LMFT has been in the counseling field
since 1979, after receiving her masters from Covenant Seminary.
She is currently in private practice in Roanoke, VA. Martha has
worked with Gentle Shepherd Hospice facilitating grief support
groups for all ages for over 11 years.
Martha has developed and facilitates Camp Brave Heart
Brave Heart Brochure
Register Online for 2010 Camps
2010
Summer Camp Discounts Now Available!!
Cost is $450.00 ($75.00
registration fee included)
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