Filled with Peace—The Camp Difference
Adam* and Lisa* had been foster parents for about ten months—just shy of a year. In that short time, they’d opened their home to three different children, each with their own stories of heartbreak and uncertainty. Adam and Lisa poured every ounce of their love into these kids, determined to make a difference. But as the months wore on, exhaustion took hold.
They’d heard the statistics: nearly half of all foster parents stop fostering within the first year. Now, ten months in, Adam and Lisa felt like they might become part of that statistic. “We were so tired,” Lisa admitted. “I wasn’t sure how much longer we could keep doing this.”
Though they had talked about pausing their foster journey, they had already registered for Camp of Champions—our three-day, two-night camp designed to help foster parents complete their continuing education credits and connect them with other families facing similar challenges. Meanwhile, their kids—both biological and foster—experience a fun, authentic summer camp, complete with crafts, games, and outdoor adventures. They had only been fostering a few months at last year’s Camp of Champions but remembered the peace they felt being surrounded by other blended families that looked like theirs. They had been looking forward to it.
On Friday evening, Adam watched as their two foster daughters giggled with other kids around the breakfast table. Lisa was struck by the sense of camaraderie among the parents, too. They met couples who had been fostering for years, couples who had just begun, and some who were on the brink of quitting—just like them. Throughout the weekend, stories were shared about the highs and lows of foster care. Tears were shed, tools were shared, and burdens were lifted.
At some point during the weekend, someone read from Galatians 6:2: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” The verse struck Adam deeply. He realized that foster care was never meant to be done in isolation. Just as the children needed support, so did the parents. Over the next two days, Adam and Lisa found themselves laughing again. They felt harmony being with others who shared their same struggles, and they were able to be vulnerable about their feelings surrounding the difficulties of fostering.
By the last day, Adam and Lisa felt hope and determination stirring in their hearts. God had given them peace about continuing their foster journey by keeping their home open. Lisa shares about this time, “it doesn’t make it not hard…He made it clear we were to continue to foster. He will make a way and give you the strength and tools and patience you need.” The foster journey isn’t easy, but Adam and Lisa both felt a renewed sense of purpose and were determined to keep their home open for as long as the Lord called them.
While Camp of Champions fills our hearts with hope and community, it doesn’t magically erase the challenges of fostering. The struggles—the exhaustion, the heartache, the uncertainty of tomorrow—remain part of the journey. Yet, in those moments when the weight seems unbearable, foster families draw on the strength of the connections they’ve made and the support they’ve found. Fostering is a path filled with both triumphs and trials, and while a weekend of renewal can’t solve every problem, it sparks a resilience that they can lean on when times are especially difficult.
Adam and Lisa are still going strong and have been fostering for almost three years! We are so thankful for them and for foster parents like them who are committed to caring for children in Alabama. To make a difference and become a foster parent, visit here!