“Best Camp Ever!” Friend, July 2017
Best Camp Ever!
The authors live in California and Utah, USA
How could Bryant hit the target? That was hard enough when you’re not blind!
June 20
So … I’m kind of worried. I was asked to be Bryant’s buddy at Scout camp this year and help him pass his merit badges.
But here’s the thing … Bryant’s blind.
He can do lots of stuff on his own, but sometimes he needs a little help. Like someone helps him so he can pass the sacrament. But that’s a lot different than passing a merit badge. I hope he can do it. I’m going to do my best to help him. He’s my friend, and I want him to have fun at camp.
June 21
Today is the first day of camp, and we did the swimming merit badge. A leader threw a brick into the pool, and we each had a turn to jump in and get it. I wasn’t sure how Bryant would do, but I tried my best to help him know where to go. I shouted directions to him from the side of the pool. He probably couldn’t hear underwater, but he didn’t give up. He kept feeling around until he found the brick. He finished on time and earned his badge. It was awesome!
June 22
Today we did the badge I was worried about the most: archery. That’s hard enough to pass when you’re NOT blind! How could Bryant shoot a target? I tried my best to help him aim. But it was hard for him to hear me because the other boys were cheering so loud behind us! Everyone wanted him to pass. And he did! We were so happy, we patted him on the back and jumped around like crazy!
June 23
I’m soooo tired. I barely got any sleep last night. In the middle of the night I heard a freaky noise and poked Bryant to wake him up. It went kind of like this:
Me: Bryant! What’s that noise?
Bryant: Um, I think it’s a frog.
Me: I don’t think so. Could it be a snake?
Bryant: Nah, snakes don’t make noise. … Maybe it was a coyote?
Me: You said it was a frog!
Bryant: Maybe a coyote is chasing the frog.
Me: Or maybe the frog is chasing a coyote.
Bryant: Hahahaha! Maybe it was an alien!
Me: A robot alien!
Bryant: Dressed like a coyote!
Bryant and me: HAHAHA!
We were cracking up all night! Finally, we got some sleep. It was kind of scary to hear weird noises in the dark. I wonder if that’s how Bryant feels sometimes. But joking with Bryant helped me feel better. I’m glad he’s my friend.
June 24
It’s the last day of camp, and it’s been great! I thought it would be hard to help Bryant, but it was actually lots of fun. He’s really cool and funny. And he can do lots of things!
June 25
When I got home, I told Grandma all about camp. I told her it was the best Scout camp ever and that it was really fun being Bryant’s buddy. Grandma read Mosiah 2:17 to me. It says, “When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.” She said that when I helped Bryant, I was serving God too. I’d never thought of it that way before, but I felt the Spirit tell me that it was true. It’s awesome that I could serve God and help my friend.
Bryant’s really cool. He always keeps trying and shows me that we can do hard things—sometimes with a little help. He reminds me that Heavenly Father is always there to help. And Bryant helped me be brave when I was a little scared. So I guess Bryant was really serving me too!