Young Life Africa Camp
- The Raining Season
- May 14
- 3 min read
Beginning April 25th, nineteen teenagers from The Raining Season had the opportunity to attend Young Life Sierra Leone's three-day camp in Hamilton. Hamilton is located outside of Freetown, close to the well-known River No. 2 Beach that teams often visit.
That weekend, Young Life Hamilton opened its arms to two hundred fifty teenagers, including the nineteen from TRS. Young Life in Sierra Leone is an organization that seeks to introduce teenagers to Jesus and help them grow in their faith. They achieve this by connecting with young people through clubs, camps, and discipleship groups. Young Life camps are held across Sierra Leone and offer more than just a break from daily stressors. At camp, they experience love, acceptance, and the chance to simply be kids—laughing, playing, and connecting with peers and mentors who genuinely care. Through games, sports, music, and faith-based teachings, Young Life creates a space where these teens can learn about God's love, discover their self-worth, and envision a future beyond their hardships.
The children attending from TRS took the time to write about their experience at camp. Mary shared, "I experienced love, care, attention, and honesty at Young Life. I enjoyed coming because it helped me to be social and not to be shy. The people were welcoming, kind, and not proud, and that made this the best camp I've ever been to." Her words are a testament to the healing power of a welcoming community.
For many of the teens, camp is a spiritual experience. They hear the gospel story. Some are introduced to Jesus for the first time, and others have the opportunity to grow in their faith. Hawa reflected, "The trip was exciting, and it taught me many things about God—especially how sin can separate us from Him. I also got to make new friends and interact with others, and I would love to visit that same place again."
The impact goes far beyond the few days they spend at camp. Young Life equips them with tools to build character, strengthen their faith, and find courage to face life's challenges. Isaac, attending for the second time, said, "One thing I experienced is that we should always be prayerful and care for one another. There is no special person in this world. We are all equal, and we should be bold enough to speak in front of a crowd with confidence."
Even in the small things, important lessons were learned. Alford shared, "We should always be praying and drawing near to God, and also share His word with others. I even learned about table manners. We should eat like gentlemen and ladies, not like beggars on the street. That really stayed with me." These moments of growth and self-respect leave lasting impressions. Young Life is not just a camp — it is a lifeline and a community of hope. In a world that often overlooks them, Young Life Sierra Leone is making sure these young people are not forgotten.
We are grateful that many of our teenagers had the opportunity to attend camp this year. Join us in praying for all the children attending Young Life camps throughout Sierra Leone and for the work Young Life is doing across Africa. We pray that these children will continue to be transformed by the love of Jesus despite the challenges they may face.
Many blessings,
The Raining Season
