The work of the Erasing the Lines camp appears as only simple service projects from the surface.
Hundreds of campers and volunteers expect the message of unity to become infectious as Christian-based camp Erasing the Lines organizers complete a week-long series for the 10th year in a row. Seventeen groups of 165 high and middle school students and 300 volunteers are painting houses, building wheelchair ramps, hosting Bible study sessions and completing symbolic river walks until Friday.
With the assistance of 14 different churches, ETL will expand across three area counties, including Pitt County.
Ten years ago, the group began with 26 children blossoming into nearly 200. To spread the importance of unity, the camp theme this year is “One.”
Sammy Hudson, the head camp leader and director of ETL sponsor Son Set Ministries, said “Christ and the Word of God” can accomplish oneness.
During a construction project, two groups paused for a prayer circle opening-day Tuesday. Campers dropped their tools and paint brushes while working on two King of Kings recovery houses to console a young lady experiencing familial struggles.
“We want her to understand we're all one, we're together in this and she's not by herself,” said Hudson, acknowledging such hardships are reality for many of the youth. “We're one body, and that's what we're focusing on this week, whether you're black, white, from one side of town or the other side of town.”
Kathryn Brooks said ETL changed her life as a camper in 2008.
“I grew up in Kinston and I had never seen this area,” she said about a street surrounding dilapidated houses in the city. “Erasing the Lines took me out of my comfort zone.”
Brooks graduated from Arendell Parrott Academy in 2009 and has returned every year since her camp experience to volunteer as a leader.
“When you collide those two worlds, it's eye-opening for people,” she said. “It’s really, really neat.”
Brooks said before Day 1 of camp, ETL held a prayer tour, where kids saw an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in action and a homeless shelter. The group ended at the Lenoir County Courthouse on Queen Street Monday evening.
Some activities will be held in Greenville, which is expecting its own ETL tour next year.
Ten Years Strong
ETL organizers only planned to run the camp a year when it started in 2003, but the City of Kinston urged organizers to continue.
“It's been amazing to watch this community support this the way it does,” Hudson said. “It's been amazing to watch the people in the community step forward to be part of it, because they see the good that's coming out of it.”
Volunteers have provided meals for the group, which is staying in Rochelle Middle School classrooms.
Additionally, those in need reach out to the ETL for project ideas. Other times, campers notice an issue and address it.
“More often than not, we fully fund the projects that we do,” Hudson said. “A lot of times we open up our eyes and we say 'Where’s the need?’ ”
ETL is operated through a full-time Son Set Ministries, which hosts multiple other camp activities. For the trip to Kinston, ETL organizers began planning in January.
“This one gets a lot of spotlight because there are a lot of people involved,” Hudson said, “but there are camps going on all summer.”
The local one will end Friday at 7 p.m. with a closing ceremony at the Rochelle gymnasium. Hudson said the community is invited.
“I know I’m not capable of leading this for 10 years,” he said. “I'm not alone in this. We have other leaders who have been a part of this from Day 1.
“It makes me stand in awe of what God has done.”
Kyle Weaver, 17, who helped paint the American Legion building on McLewean Street Tuesday, has attended the camp the last four years.
“It’s been really fun,” said Weaver, who attends Eastern Wayne High School. “I love doing it.”
He recalled Hudson’s message explaining what “erasing the lines” meant.
“(It’s) like erasing the borders between people and making it to where they can interact with each other a whole lot better.”
Erasing the lines
This year, ETL included an awareness portion to the projects. A Tanzanian man moved to Eastern North Carolina 12 years on a mission to get clean water to his village in Toloha, Tanzania.
ETL caught wind of the effort, outlined on Tolohapartnership.org, so groups will rotate through a river walk this week. They will walk nearly 5 total miles to fill jugs with Neuse River water to represent the people in the Tanzanian village where clean water is scarce.
For each gallon of water the campers bring back, sponsors have promised $1. It will cost $25 per person for clean water for the village.
Tuesday, the first group lugged 33 1/2 gallons of water to Rochelle.
“I think it’s good to see what is going on around the world,” said Katie Maloney, a volunteer. “A lot of times we get caught up in the here and now, but with this, you get to see what it’s like to live in different places.”
Fifteen-year-old Connor White carried 40 pounds of water on his back, along with a giant cross.
“It was heavy,” said the Kinston High School student, “but you’re carrying it for someone else.”
It’s his second year with the camp. He said he’s been enlightened on selflessness and union during his experience.
“Other people are just as important as sometimes you feel like you are,” White said. “You can reach out to other people and help them with what they're going through — not just yourself.”
Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 or at Jessika.Morgan@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan.
Erasing the Lines Closing Ceremony
Rochelle Middle School Gymnasium
Friday, 7 p.m.