Meet the Summer Staff: Danaye Reinhardt

​Danaye Reinhardt is thrilled to be part of the Program Team at camp this year!

Tell us a bit about yourself! 
“I’m currently going to UFV (University of the Fraser Valley) and trying to determine my future, which is super intimidating but also exciting. I love to write anything from sci-fi novels to poems about calculus, as well as play sports and gaze at brilliant stars. I also have a collection of 46 thimbles, which I started when I was eight, even though I don’t sew.”

How was your life growing up in regards to faith? 
“A good chunk of my family have been involved in ministry in one form or another, and my entire family is Christian, so Christianity is very familiar to me. I don’t even know when I accepted Jesus into my life, but I imagine it must have happened at some point! For me, the journey wasn’t about ‘becoming a Christian’ but discovering what that looks like and how to make my faith personal and honest.”

How did you get involved with camp? 
“Both my grandpa and my dad helped build parts of the camp, so I’ve followed my family’s footsteps (by investing in camp, not building things). I first came here as a baby during family camp...then ten years later I started coming as a Huzzah camper. I’ve been here every year since--first as a camper, then as a LIT (Leader in Training), kitchen staff, guest host, and finally program staff!” 

How has God challenged you recently?
“Many of the decisions I’m making are focused on the future (where to attend university, what career to have, etc.) and it’s been challenging to trust God through it all. Lately I’ve been confronting my faith--learning what it means to trust God in the midst of uncertainty, learning of the constancy of God, and learning, simply, what faith is. How can I trust that God holds my future? What does consistent prayer look like? It always seems to come back to the basics of Christianity for me--faith, prayer, and Jesus. I’ve learned all this before. Somehow I’m always re-learning the foundation of my faith and it always comes back to Jesus.”

What’s your favorite camp memory?
“I was a first year LIT during the last night at camp, and two of my campers wanted to stay after chapel as the worship band played. We must have talked for an hour or two and I tried my best to answer their faith-based questions. We talked until after everyone (including the worship band) left, and sitting there on the carpet, those two campers gave their lives to Christ. 
It’s a tie between that memory and the time I misjudged how long my legs were, tried to jump over the creek, and broke my ankle. I had to be carried out of the forest by one of the leaders.”

What do you expect from God this summer?
“I expect changed lives and nothing less. I mean, there’s never been a week at camp where God hasn’t done something. Personally, I am praying for spiritual renewal as a leader and as a Christian.”

What can you tell us about your program role?
“I will be in charge of the tuck shop, so the cabin leaders can blame me if all the campers get sugar rushes. I’m also leading the work crew and mentoring the work crew girls, and I’m both excited and nervous for that...but praying for God’s strength. I’m excited to invest in these young leaders and see what God will do in their lives! On top of that, I will be continuing to do some write-ups and interviews for the Charis Connect Blog (a.k.a. what you’re reading right now)!”

We are pumped that Danaye is investing another summer at Charis Camp! She is a quality leader and we are blessed to have her on Staff!

If you would like to financially support Danaye as she serves and heads back to university in the fall, click here!

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