Working in an environment with Girls in Action, Acteens, and college students could make a person weary after 16 years, but not for Cindy Skelton. In fact, her desire has always been to work with such a diverse age group.
Skelton and camp guest Sarah Braddock participate in field riot activities last year.“It’s my passion, I love working with GAs, Camp La Vida and college students,” said Skelton.
More than two decades ago, Skelton became involved with Camp La Vida, a missions education camp for girls. She has served on staff since the summer after her sophomore year at Limestone College.
“I did not know about Camp La Vida and I asked my WMU director how to get in touch with someone about working at GA camp,” Skelton said. It was from there that she began working at La Vida.
Skelton attended Camp Rawls, a camp that preceded Camp La Vida, as a camper and knew she wanted to be part of some type of camp ministry. Since then, she served five years on staff at La Vida just recently finished her 16th summer as camp director.
The most exciting thing about each summer is that it is always a different experience.
“It’s new and different each year. New people and new challenges in working intensely for 10 weeks with summer staff,” she said. “Another favorite thing to do is spend time with homesick campers and watch them as they adjust to camp and they end up having a great time.”
Skelton helps campers pull on the rope for the flying squirrel (the giant swing) this past summer.Some of her favorite encounters have been “encouraging campers and staffers in choosing a missions path by becoming a missionary, Journeyman or USC/2er, and then seeing them take that giant step.”
Skelton is part of the South Carolina Woman’s Missionary Union, auxiliary to the South Carolina Baptist Convention. Through this organization, she has been able to participate in missions’ experiences.
“In 1995 I led a team to Kenya to do evangelism for two weeks. In 2005 I led a team to Bangladesh to do prayerwalking for two weeks,” said Skelton.
When not involved with camp life, she enjoys outdoor activities such as playing football, baseball and soccer with her best friend’s children.
“I was pitching sponge balls to them when they were about 18 months old in the house. Now they are 7, 9 and 11, and we still manage to get in trouble by playing in the house,” she said.
Skelton is part of the Girls in Action organization and attends St. Andrews Baptist Church, where she teaches fifth-and sixth-grade GAs each week.
“Through this I have been able to participate in local missions such as helping the homeless, working in a food pantry and ministering to children of fair workers,” she said.
Camp La Vida is owned and operated by the South Carolina WMU and has served Southern Baptist churches in South Carolina since 1983. This past summer, Camp La Vida had 2,102 campers. There were 270 decisions -?including?58 professions of faith, 24 for Christian service, 115 for mission service, 52 rededications, and 21 other decisions. A total offering of $3,513.70 was given to the Cooperative Program.