By Libby Cluett
lcluett@mineralwellsindex.com
Happy faces greeted friends and family members Wednesday morning as 37 youngsters returned from their week-long outreach camp experience at Kids Across America.
After the eight-day trip to a camp near Branson, Mo., kids unloaded from a charter bus at Mineral Wells' Bethel Baptist Church. Parents, grandparents, friends and family picked up the kids, who seemed all smiles.
“They were happy to see them gone and they were happy to see them back” said Clarence Holliman, who administers the area kids' participants in KAA through his church, Bethel Baptist Church of Breckenridge.
Kids from Mineral Wells and the surrounding area first went to KAA camp in 1996, according to Holliman, through the generosity of Robert Upham and Dr. Kevin Jones. At that time, there were 10 kids who went to camp.
“If it were not for them, this would not have started and would not have continued,” Holliman said. “There are countless numbers of 'I'm third' business people who have contributed to these kids going to camp down through the years.”
Holliman said the camp gives kids summer time learning about the Lord and peers and said there are many “young people who were saved.” He said the camp, nestled in the mountains along Table Rock Lake in Golden Mo., provides children with “spiritual growth activities.”
“KAA is the best wakeup call that anybody could ever ask for,” said Breona Barnes in a thank you note to the contributors. She explained that the years of camp has changed her and she once “had a flashlight but no batteries. I knew of Jesus but I didn't know him for myself.”
Samuel Robinson of Fort Worth – a kaleo or counselor for the group – said he formed a golf team of four kids, which won first place in a tournament in Springfield, Mo.
The Wednesday morning crowd of students and counselors parted ways, but from their thank you letters, seem to want to continue next year.
Holliman said the camp takes place each year from June 17 to 24.
“Anyone interested in going next year with our organization needs to apply by Nov. 5. We form a waiting list and draw kids from that waiting list,” he said.
For information on the Missouri camping experience, contact (940) 682-8585 by the November deadline.
Holliman, the chief fundraiser for the local project, said there are now about 18-20 contributors to the camp experience for kids. He said that anyone interested may make donations for the local program through Bethel Baptist Church of Breckenridge.
