Lost Treasures

Four

HOSEA

Almost as soon as we got to camp, it was time to find out who was on our teams. I had never seen so many people in my life, but, even though I didn't know anyone except Israel, I was excited to find out who would be on my team.

"Welcome to Encounter Camp 2018!" the youth pastor announced through a megaphone. A few other staff followed with noise makers, acting totally ridiculous but hyping us up nonetheless.

After a few announcements, the pastor (whose name I learned was Brett) told us our teams.

I was on Black. "On the black team, we'll have Joel, Avyn, Noah, Emory, Salem, Hosea, Madisyn, Steele, Kaylin, and Jeremiah."

Up on a post, there was an all-black sign that I assumed was where our team was supposed to stand. Slowly but surely, the ten of us gravitated towards the post and put our stuff down.

We had two team leaders, who looked about my mom's age. Their names were Brock and Carleigh. "Later today, we'll have Team Time, where we come up with our team name," Brock explained to us. "We'll also bring some supplies in case anyone forgot or didn't have enough black apparel. Carleigh and I always come prepared!"

I noticed their ring fingers and assumed they were married to each other. That was kinda cute, to have a husband and wife as our leaders.

"If you don't know anyone in this group yet, don't worry," Carleigh said. "We'll have plenty of time to make friends with everybody. Teams are a big part of this camp, as some of you probably already know. So we're really going to work on our team skills this week."

Even though I didn't know him very well yet, I was glad I'd been put on a team with Salem. At least he was a familiar face from the bus; and if Israel liked him, then he must be a pretty good friend.

ISRAEL

"On the green team, we'll have Cole, Hollen, Hilary, Emerson, Israel, Canaan, Navy, Justus, and Ellen," Pastor Brett announced.

That was me.

I turned to Hollen and gave her a double high-five. Since it was my first year at this camp, I was kind of nervous. I didn't think I would know anyone outside of my youth group, so I was anxious to see who would be on my team. Thankfully, one of my best friends and band mates from church was on the green team with me.

Our leaders were Kirk and Violet, who looked young enough to be college students. I wondered if they were Encounter Camp alumni.

Violet made a joke about how she should've been on the purple team, and everyone laughed.

"One time, I was on the blue team with someone whose name was actually Blue," Ellen, a small blonde girl, remarked.

"That's a genius pairing!" Violet exclaimed.

I liked this team already. Everyone seemed friendly and outgoing—my kind of people.

ASPEN

I wasn't really looking forward to seeing who was on my team after Hilary's name had been called. I mean, I knew she'd already told me her team color, but a small part of me hoped that there was a mix-up, and that I'd get to be with her this week.

It looked like the odds were not in my favor today.

Finally, they got around to announcing my team. "On the yellow team, we'll have Aspen, Evie, Roman, Cat, Eden, Joey, Kollen, Zephaniah, Azriel, and Lacy."

Eden clung to my arm, following me to the yellow sign that was posted somewhere up high for everyone to see. I took a quick glance around the circle as my team began to gather. It was an equal distribution of boys and girls; five of each.

Our leaders were Calvin, who Eden was looking at with dreamy eyes, and Caro, who was actually my small group leader back at our church. I liked her; she was young enough to be relevant, but not young enough to where she felt like the same age as me. Calvin was pretty attractive, but I knew better than to have a crush on a leader or staff member. Unlike my sister, who was still practically drooling over him. I rolled my eyes.

"We can't wait to see you all later at Team Time, when we get to pick a team name!" Caro announced. "I know we're yellow, which isn't the best for rhyming, but be creative, guys! I believe in you."

I doubted we'd come up with anything good, but I appreciated her enthusiasm about it. There really wasn't anything you could name the yellow team, besides "bananas" or something cheesy like that, but hopefully we'd think of something.