Sometimes freedom begins with picking up a tool you’ve never held before.
For many of the girls at Oasis Residential Home in the Wood Workshop, it was their first experience sanding, drilling, carving, and assembling a piece of wood into something entirely their own. At first, the unfamiliar tools felt intimidating. Progress was slow. Mistakes happened. Pieces cracked, holes were misplaced, and several girls questioned whether they could finish what they had started.
Yet those challenges became one of the workshop’s greatest lessons.
Throughout the week, every step of the process reflected the journey of the I AM ART themes. The girls discovered they were creative as they shaped raw pieces of wood into unique wooden dolls. They experienced connection by encouraging one another through difficult moments. During the conflict and restoration sessions, they faced frustration as projects broke or didn’t go as planned, learning that mistakes were not the end of the story. As they repaired, reshaped, and completed their work, they were reminded that God continues to restore what feels broken. By the final day, each wooden doll became a declaration of the last theme: I AM LOVED—a reminder that every life is intentionally created and deeply valued by God.
One student quietly observed from the edges of the room during the first day. When asked, “Who are you?” she simply replied, “The truth is, I don’t know who I am.” As the week unfolded, she began opening her heart to the group, sharing that she was tired of pretending everything was okay when, in reality, she was walking through a difficult season. Surrounded by caring leaders and classmates, she gradually found the courage to participate, encourage others, and express herself more freely.
By the end of camp, her answer had changed. Instead of uncertainty, she wrote:
“I am unique, and I am free.”
During one of the group’s reflection times, the same young lady shared these words with the other girls:
“Sometimes life becomes dark, and one emptiness follows another. We begin to believe there is nothing that can be done. But we are not a mistake—we are God’s wonderful creation. God is perfect, and He never makes mistakes. He has a purpose for each of us.”
Another participant experienced a different kind of breakthrough. When her project broke during the conflict session, she became discouraged and resisted repairing it. The process required patience she didn’t think she had. Yet after taking time to step away and return the next day, something changed. Instead of giving up, she became curious. She experimented with new techniques, carefully rebuilt her project, and finished with a smile, proudly saying,
“I love how it turned out.”
Later, encouraging the other girls, she reflected:
“When everything turns dark, we feel disappointed and think there is no way to fix it. But everything has a purpose. It may not have a good beginning, but it can have a beautiful ending.”
That transformation captured the heart of the workshop.
The wooden dolls were never meant to be perfect. They were reminders that God is continually shaping each of us. Just as rough pieces of wood were sanded, formed, repaired, and carefully crafted into something beautiful, the girls experienced the truth that they, too, are being made new.
By the final exhibition, each participant stood proudly beside her wooden doll, sharing the story behind its design. One girl held a doll wearing a stethoscope, representing her dream of becoming a doctor. Another carefully painted hers with vibrant orange details that reflected her joyful personality. Every doll looked different because every story was different.
Together they proclaimed the same message: Freedom is not found in having a perfect past.
Freedom is found in discovering that, in Christ, we are a new creation—formed with purpose, restored with love, and free to become who God created us to be.
Read the Full Impact Report for Oasis I AM ART camp here.
Wooden Doll Project Overview:
Lesson Plan by Chris & Liz Campbell
I AM ART
Freedom to Discover Who I Am
Girls reflected on their identity while shaping raw pieces of wood, discovering they are uniquely created by God.
I AM CONNECTED
Freedom to Belong
Individual pieces became one collaborative artwork, reminding the girls that everyone has a place in God’s family.
I AM BROKEN
Freedom to Be Honest
Black paint and drilled holes symbolized the brokenness we all experience, creating space for honest conversations about pain.
I AM RESTORED
Freedom to Begin Again
The same holes that represented brokenness became the places where the doll came together, illustrating God’s power to redeem and restore.
I AM LOVED
Freedom to Become
The completed dolls and personal letters reminded each girl that she is deeply loved and created with purpose.
