The mid-July sun blazed overhead, turning the North Carolina air thick and humid—like breathing through a damp cloth.

The trees swayed lazily in the heat as campers scurried between cabins, the lake’s surface shimmering under relentless light.

From every direction came noise: laughter from kids cannonballing into cool water, counselors shouting instructions for crafts or volleyball, and somewhere in the distance—the inevitable thud-thud of an overworked generator struggling to keep power flowing to bug-lit evening activities.

Even nature seemed sluggish; cicadas buzzed like overheating engines while fireflies still hid away until dusk could spare them from this sun-scorched world.

The day followed a rigid schedule. As dawn broke, counselors roused the campers from their bunks for breakfast, the cafeteria echoing with bleary-eyed greetings and sticky-fingered kids.

After breakfast, morning service commenced, followed by a mandatory bible study session in the large chapel.

Then came the games—a chaotic mixture of capture-the-flag, tug-of-war, or relay races.

Lunchtime was a reprieve, but then it was back to another service, this time in the evening.

And finally, the campers wound down with free time before lights-out at eleven.