Erika Sikon My spiritual place

What place is most spiritual to you?
Chanco is my special place. I feel closest to God there. I have been going to Chanco since I was about 5 with my church. We would have a family weekend right before school went back in session. It was the last few days of my summer, also called Labor Day weekend to most. I remember how wonderful it was to have church outside right on the edge of the James River. I remember meeting and getting to know the members of my church better. I associate Chanco with my church.
When I was about 7 I started attending summer camp at Chanco. It was my new found freedom. I only had myself and people in my campsite to rely on. My parents were not there. I have made so many lasting memories at Chanco. One memory being a huge fight with my best friend over duct tape and a game. Another is breaking my arm and not thinking it was broken. I also worked there as a counselor for two summers and may even return this summer. This place has developed me into the person I am today in my faith. The diocesan of Southern Virginia for the Episcopal religion holds most of their youth events at Chanco. I underwent my true “believing” while I was at Chanco. The event, the people I was with, the place and the hard things I was going through made me a “believer.” You see the beautiful things in life at Chanco; the trees, the dirt paths, the sandy river banks, the rooms without electricity, living in tight quarters with people, the happy attitudes and great people all make Chanco so different from the real world. Chanco is my escape from life. I would look forward to going there and getting away from reality. It is a different world. Usually, there are scheduled times, meetings, services and activities to attend and participate in. This is not just another busy, boring, and stressful weekend. You are not doing the same thing you do every day. You are with people that you only see at Chanco or you are meeting new people. You find yourself. You can be who you want to be. People do not judge you before getting to know you. It is a loving and religious community. Chanco has a “fish bowl effect,” everyone knows everyone and all the gossip and news that is going around. Chanco is nothing like what life really is. It is Chanco to me. Anyone who has been there would understand. You have to go and experience Chanco to understand what the “fuss” is all about.
At this point I do not know how to put into words how amazing this is.