I started going to church is 4th grade. I had met Meggy Higgins before and now that I moved to MA, I went to church pretty much every Sunday, so we quickly became friends. Meg was in my sunday school class, we were torch bearers and crucifers together and after my 5th grade year she introduced me to Bement. I was interested in religion, but really had no idea what to believe in. I knew all the prayers at church, I learned the Our Father playing with my stuffed animals making them say it before I fed them. I Had a few other friends at church but none had gone to bement other than Meghan. Because of Meghan I found Bement.

Going to camp for the first time opened my world up to new friends, team work, community and a miriad of songs and games I will never forget. Here i learned that it's ok to talk to God and it provided a safe and understanding place outside of church for me to do it and explore my faith. I continued to go to bement for 7 years. I became a CLT, CIT, then Junior counselor. I had sooo many crushes and a couple of boyfriends there. I even had my first kiss though it was against the rules :). I remember writing 20 or 30 letters when I got home to all the new friends I made. But Bement gave me a home away from home. Because of Bement I found a Spiritual family.

When I wasn't at camp during the summer I was either at home in the berkshires or I often visited my mom's house in RI. Unfortunately it was usually overrun with drunk people, fights, and usually ended up with me riding my bike to the beach sitting on the rocks and singing camp songs to calm myself down and make myself feel better. Bement gave the tools to handle tough situations outside of camp. I could feel safe anywhere. Because of Bement I found God.

Now I'm grown up, have a husband and a son. When my husband was deployed in 2006 I came back to Bement. It had been 6 years. When I came back I found God again, I found family again, I found safety. It was a rough summer plagued with a gallbladder sickness, dietary restrictions and husband on the other side of the world. Because of Bement I found the strength to carry on.

  It took me a long time after camp to find a church to belong to. I guess Bement kinda ruined that for me. I wanted a place that felt like home, wasn't over run with politics and felt like a family. I eventually found this at St. Andrews. Father Larry Provenzano was the priest, Eric Gladwin and many other alumni were members and it was the family I was looking for. So even beyond it's walls, it had an impact on my decisions. Because of Bement I found Myself.

Now there is a chance that Bement will never affect another child. Because of Bement I Fight.