From ZimCamp to Camp Swamp

Hi Friends!!! Welcome to our first blog post in 2024!!! Most of our counselors this summer have grown up at Camp Swamp, but this year we also have several counselors who have grown up at camps started by Swamp Corps. As we have interviewed these new applicants from outside the US, they have each expressed an appreciation for Swamp Corps, a desire to give back to Camp Swamp, and a heart to build up camp in their part of the world. All of our international candidates require visas to travel to the US. Our applicants from India and parts of Africa face waits over a year to have the required consular appointment for their visa.

We want to introduce you to two of our counselors, Gaby and Tawana, who are requesting your prayers for their time this summer at Camp Swamp and their visa application. Gaby and Tawana each grew up in the church in Zimbabwe and attended ZimCamp, a sister camp to Camp Swamp started by Swamp Corps. See some photos below from their younger days at ZimCamp.

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They are now attending university in the UK - Gaby in Manchester at the University of Salford and Tawana in Birmingham at the University of Birmingham - and are active in their respective campus ministries. As we met via zoom for their counselor interviews in early February, they each shared their availability for Family Camp and weeks 1, 2, and 3 and advised that the soonest consulate appointments may be too late for their plan to counsel this summer at Camp Swamp. They each decided to pray and fast for earlier consular appointments. On February 15, they received news of appointments with the consulate. From Tawana: “God really worked powerfully … and He opened the door for us. We got our VISA appointment for the 28th of March at 10 am. Both of us got on the same day and the same time. We thank God for coming through and we are endlessly grateful for all your prayers. Now we are praying for the appointments to go well, and prayerfully and faithfully, we will be with you in May for camp!!!” When Gaby shared how the answered prayers were “definitely faith building!”, we realized that her faith was not the only faith that had been encouraged and built up.

We appreciate how these young women want to encourage, love and share their faith with our campers here in the US this summer, as well as their convictions on the power of prayer and fasting as college students.

We look forward to our campers arriving this summer. Camp Swamp is also excited to welcome back alumni and their children, as well as new families from the community. Registration is open for Family Camp, all six weeks of camp, Shining Stars Camp and Adult Camp. For more info about our camps, click HERE.  Looking forward to seeing you at Camp Swamp and lookout for our next blog post coming soon!

Don't forget about the Mother-Son Retreat on March 22-24 and the Mother-Daughter Retreat on August 23-25. These weekends provide valuable time, away from the distractions of devices, to focus on your connecting and making memories with your children. Registration is open now for these parent retreats.

About Rachele Gibson

Rachele Gibson along with her husband Steve Gibson are Camp Directors at Camp Swamp.

Mother-Son 3/22-3/24
Family Camp 5/29-6/1
Summer Camp Week 1-6
Shining Stars 7/14-7/20
Adult Camp 7/25-7/28
Mother-Daughter 8/23-8/25

Check out volunteer opportunities during any one of these events.