In the apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, a certain expression returns time and again—the joy of finding the lost one. This is what the father felt when the prodigal son finally returned home. Our Heavenly Father feels this, too, and He shares this joy with those who labor to help one of his prodigal children find their way back. I consider it a grace that we were the ones who could proclaim the Gospel and witness hearts turning toward God during the youth summer camps last year.

We participated in six camps. Two of these were our own camps while we were invited to the others. The summer started with difficulties. With less than two weeks left before our first camp, I called everyone to confirm their child would be coming. It turned out that instead of the thirty-five young people we were expecting, there would only be twelve! I was shocked. In all these years, I had never even considered canceling a camp, but now that seemed like the only logical choice.

That Sunday, something struck me during the first reading at Mass. The reading was about Abraham bargaining with God to save the righteous people living in Sodom. “Lord, you who are just, how could you destroy the righteous along with the wicked if there are fifty righteous people there?” God promises that if He found fifty righteous people, He would not destroy the city. Abraham keeps lowering the number, and God promises that even for that few, He will spare the city. That day, I felt as if God was turning the story around and was now bargaining with me. “If I send only twenty-five young people, will you be offended? And if only eighteen? Will you not proclaim the Gospel to them as you did when I sent fifty-three? …And if I send only twelve, will you not even hold the camp?” This word from God shocked me to the core and woke me up. “Of course, I will tell them the Gospel. Of course, I will hold it,” I answered.

One of the young people helping with the summer camp sharing her testimony with the campers. We started promoting the camp again, but even so, there were barely twenty young people in the first camp. This had its advantages. A smaller group allows for a much more personal experience, but it also gave us a chance to try a new format: a mobile camp. Instead of staying at one campsite and traveling to reachable locations, we went from one location to another. We went to the best caves, the most beautiful rock-climbing spots, the most stunning hikes—the most beautiful sites in Transylvania. We could not have done this with forty young people—the logistics would have been impossible—but now, the opportunity was here to create a truly exceptional camp and those who came with us were blessed.

Our second adventure camp was held in the usual way. With many young people and helpers, the atmosphere was excellent from the start. Although we held this camp at the customary location and in the traditional manner, we did so with just as much love. The weather was wonderful and everything was perfect. The spiritual core of the camps was the same. The morning testimonies were given by the young helpers, and these—no matter how they were delivered—were worth more than gold. I gave most of the evening presentations. Starting from the life of Abraham, I spoke to them about the journey of faith. We touched on themes such as hearing God’s call, doubts and the birth of one’s own decisions, the things we must detach ourselves from, and so on. Phones didn’t come out, and no one had to be disciplined. The young people were attentive.

Father Árpád Kovács and Father Rezső László supported us to the fullest. If we asked if we could have a Mass at a certain hour in the evening, they answered, “Of course.” If we asked them to hear confessions, they simply asked, “Where and when?” Whatever we needed, we received.

This year the feedback primarily came from the parents. At one point, I noticed that, independently of one another, parents were essentially repeating the same things to me: how grateful they are to God that this camp exists, how glad they are that they found it, that I probably don’t even know how much it means to the youth and how much they look forward to it, and that they see the difference in their child when they come home from the camp. It was encouraging, and I felt great gratitude in my heart.

I believe the “seeds” have been sown. That was our task. To Him be the glory and the thanks for every minute we could spend with these young people!