Camp Texico on the Go: Bringing Christ’s Love to Every Stop
CORRALES, N.M. – Summer camp is always a unique experience where young people spend part of their summer break having fun, building friendships and, most importantly, growing in their relationship with God. At Camp Texico on the Go, we take that experience on the road. Rather than staying in one place, we travel across the Texico Conference, bringing camp to churches and communities wherever they are. Each week, our team sets up games, classrooms and worship spaces, only to pack it all up again and move to the next location. Even though we’re mobile, our mission is the same as every other Adventist camp: to lead young people closer to Christ.
This past summer, with a team of 10, the journey began in El Paso, Tex., where we faced our first challenge: no air conditioning. If you’ve never been to El Paso in the summer, just imagine extreme heat and then turn it up a few notches. Still, we weren’t discouraged. We unloaded bins, set up classrooms, arranged the worship area and plugged in fans wherever we could. The moment the first camper walked in, we were reminded why we were there. El Paso turned out to be a week of spiritual growth and seeing Jesus at work despite the heat.
The next week, we headed to Abilene, Tex., an eight-hour drive away. We followed our routine: unload, set up, prepare. This time, the challenge wasn’t physical. Our team, primarily from Hispanic backgrounds, served in a community with strong African roots, working with children who speak Kinyarwanda. The cultural shift required us to listen, learn and adapt. The first day was tough. There was a noticeable distance between us and the campers. But by day three, something shifted. We discovered their deep love for soccer. Our original game plans were set aside, and we played soccer twice a day, every day. Even staff members unfamiliar with the sport jumped in, because when you care about kids, you meet them where they are. That week became a beautiful reminder that love, respect and a willingness to grow can bridge any cultural gap. Our week in Abilene was a week I know our staff will not forget.
Our final stop of the summer was Amarillo, Tex. Unlike our earlier locations, the biggest hurdle here was the building layout. The church had separate exterior entrances to each room so campers had to move through open outdoor spaces between rotations. This meant our team had to be extra watchful and alert to keep everyone safe. By this point, tiredness within the staff was setting in, but the kids brought a fresh wave of energy every day that was just enough to keep us going. One camper’s laughter and joyful spirit quickly captured the hearts of all, reminding us how essential it is that every child feels seen, valued and loved.
At the end of each week, we packed everything back into bins and loaded the trailer. But it wasn’t just supplies we were carrying. We were carrying stories, memories and moments of transformation.
Camp Texico on the Go is more than a traveling summer program. It’s a ministry built on faith, flexibility and purpose. Each stop came with its surprises and lessons, but the heart of our mission never changed. Over the course of the summer, we didn’t just bring camp to different cities, we brought the love of Christ to every heart we encountered!
By Naomi Martinez
