This summer Bethany Morse, a 2006 exercise science, physical education graduate, traveled to Micronesian as the director of Camp Micronesia. Morse led a team of 12 La Sierra University and Pacific Union College students at the first Micronesian summer camp along with Pastor Eliki Ravia, youth director for the Guam Micronesia Mission.

Students held camps on the Micronesian islands of Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk, Guam, Yap and Palau. Campers were split into groups of 10 with two sessions chosen from archery, art, Christian drama, ropes course, sports and snorkeling (in some locations). Camp ended with a skit about two characters named Christian and DJ who addressed local concerns like drugs, alcohol and sex.

“I am not doing this project for the tangible gifts, but for the opportunity to see Jesus shine through these kids,” writes Morse in her blog at www.lasierra.edu/blogs/witw. “I think it is amazing that we were able to touch the life of one little boy. Even though everything was in English, all the classes and all the worships... the love of God still shown through. Praise God.”

Camp varied in some way at every island. Most of the camp locations had 40 kids, ages 8 to 16, each week. Chuuk was the exception, where they had 100 students ages 4 to 18. At most camps, about 95 percent of the students were not Adventist. Funding for Camp Micronesia came from a grant at the Pacific Union Conference Evangelism Endowment Fund.

Morse believes God prepared her for the venture. “I worked eight years at Pine Springs Ranch from kitchen to assistant director. I also had taken a year of business finance courses that I never thought of doing, and I worked at a Salvation Army camp.

“My goals were to provide a short-term summer activity for college kids as a mission opportunity, to help people change their mind who say they would never take a year off as a student missionary, and to share God with kids. It all happened!” says Morse.

“My biggest thing in all of this is humility,” says Morse. “Here I am, 25 years old, and I sit back in awe how God has used me. In the planning process when problems came I prayed for God to solve it. Each student had to pay $2,700 for airfare. I still do not have enough money. I had to put things on credit cards. God has and will provide. As long as you are breathing, God can use you. Whatever your dream, vision—do it.”