This past month of August brought big transitions for me. I finished my two year term at Camp Andrew Jackson and the Jackson House community. I then moved to Louisville to begin the next part of my vocation journey as a youth minister.

As part of my new job I attend classes to equip me to lead the youth at my church. In one of my classes, I was listening to my teacher talk about the history around the Bible. One of his statements struck me because of its relevance to my experience as a CAP volunteer. He said, “The mountains are where prophets go to be transformed.”

Whoa!  That could not be closer to the truth—except I am not thinking of the Bible at this point. I am thinking of CAP. When I first came to CAP I remember spending a lot of time discussing expectations with my fellow volunteers.

You see CAP is a place of growth and transformation but that process was not something that I could visualize from start to finish. My expectations of what would happen at CAP paled in comparison to the reality of my experience.  At times reality is different from expectations which can cause conflict and other growing pains, but the reality of CAP was a mountaintop experience for me.  

While I went through a transformative experience my point is that this transformation was not always comfortable. Despite that discomfort, CAP was still an incredible experience. When I came to CAP I met people who are going to be my role models for the rest of my life. These people who are role models are all over CAP. They are the volunteers, the employees, and especially  the participants. They taught me many valuable lessons. My community members taught me to love like I have never loved before.

The love they taught me has impacted every area of my life. First it spread into my service; I loved my co-workers, then my students and campers. Then it spread to include all of Jackson County.  Next, it spread and changed how I love my family. It became easier to tell them that I love them. The love that came from my community members will continue to influence my life for a long time to come. That’s the plan anyway.

I also found role models at my service placement at Camp AJ. Liz, the camp manager, taught me about how to be more professional and personal at the same time. Mike, the camp coordinator, taught me a lot of goofy stuff. He was a great role model for how to be around the kids we served. He also taught me how to build hiking trails, so if this youth minister job falls through I have a solid skill to fall back on. That’s valuable stuff!  Miss Connie, the camp caretaker taught me about self-care and the importance of a positive attitude. She also taught me about how porch sitting and coffee drinking could be about community, relationship, and a slower pace of life. The students I taught helped me learn to serve. It's not service unless it is done out of love.

I can say I served my students and campers. I served Eastern Kentucky. I went to the mountains and I was transformed. I went there and I met prophets like the Bible talks about. These prophets taught me a lot of different things, but the greatest thing they taught me was how to serve others.

This is Anna's last contribution to the blog as she has completed her term of service.  Upon her exit from CAP she began a position as a Youth Minister in Louisville, KY. Anna had served at CAP’s Camp Andrew Jackson from 2013-2015. Opinions expressed in volunteer blogs are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of CAP or the Volunteer Program.