Abiding in Christ at Camp: Rachel Browne plunges toilets, paints buildings, and invites 3,000 attendees per year to a camp in Manchester, Jamaica—all while raising three children, volunteering in her local community, and abiding in Christ.

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Abiding in Christ at Camp

Rachel Browne plunges toilets, paints buildings, and invites 3,000 attendees per year to a camp in Manchester, Jamaica—all while raising three children, volunteering in her local community, and abiding in Christ.

Abbey Woodfin

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Managing a camp at seven months pregnant sounds like a difficult calling.

It was difficult. We live at the camp on the top of a hill, so I had Noah [my firstborn son] strapped on to me running up and down from home to camp for months. I remember it being so hard, but there was such a joy in serving God here.

So what does being a camp manager entail?

I am the head cook and bottle washer. I manage everything: the physical site, the new additions, the plumbing, electric, and even plunging toilets if I need to—whatever it takes to make people feel comfortable. I also manage donor organizations, the staff, and correspondents, as well as ensuring the quality of the food is superb. Basically whatever it takes for God to be pleased to walk and to talk with people. Moorlands Camp is a clear and tangible taste of his presence. We have very little to do with it. We just seek the Lord, and he makes it happen.

Why do you do what you do?

It is really just one day at a time, to try to do my best and listen to God's voice, obey and just walk with the Lord, abiding in him. He has led me here, and I need to abide in him. Even when my three kids are screaming and I need to be at the camp, there is an assurance that I am here for his purposes.

Every day since I have been here, I have found that there is a verse in Corinthians that is such an encouragement to me: "And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others" (2 Corinthians 9:8). When I feel that I cannot manage it all—camp manager, wife, mother, missionary—or when I feel that I have joined the circus, I choose to abide in God. The enemy makes us feel that everything is so difficult, and some days seem so impossible, but I have the ability to abide in God. That's what keeps me going, and that is why I do what I do.

How have you combined your background in business with your passion for missions?

I try to use my training and knowledge of business to be efficient in all of the different areas at camp. Even in my least favorite job, accounting, God gives me joy to get things done. Accounting is necessary, so I have disciplined myself to get through it. I just have to listen to music when doing it.

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