Welcome to the Gilmont Glow, a new monthly blog sharing the stories that grow out of time spent at Gilmont. Stories of campers trying something new, friendships formed around the table, quiet moments in the woods, lives shaped by this place, and the people who make it all possible. Each month, we’ll share one of these stories. A glimpse of what happens when people are given a safe, sacred space to grow closer to God, creation, others, and themselves.
Sophia Moland was only seven years old when she was diagnosed with Celiac Disease, an autoimmune disorder in which eating gluten damages the small intestine and can lead to serious health complications. Before her diagnosis, Sophia spent much of her childhood feeling sick without understanding why.
The diagnosis brought answers, but it also brought new challenges. At a time when gluten-free options were far less common than they are today, Sophia suddenly found herself navigating a world where many foods, school celebrations, restaurants, and social gatherings were no longer simple. While she was grateful for teachers and friends who helped her feel included, she quickly learned that living with Celiac Disease often meant feeling different. Many children with Celiac Disease know what it is like to stand on the outside looking in—unable to eat what everyone else is eating and constantly worrying about accidental exposure or cross-contamination.
Shortly after her diagnosis, Sophia’s family moved from Virginia to Texas, where they discovered Gilmont’s Great Gluten Escape. What began as a week of camp became a second home. For the first time, Sophia was surrounded by campers, staff, and volunteers who understood exactly what she was experiencing. At Gilmont, she didn’t have to explain her condition or worry about whether food was safe. She could simply be a kid.
Over the next eleven years, Sophia grew up at Great Gluten Escape. She enjoyed arts and crafts, archery, nature walks, and large-group games. She built friendships with people who shared similar experiences and found encouragement from counselors who were fun, relatable, and supportive. She was inspired by Mama Rose, who volunteers in the kitchen at GGE, to learn how to cook and bake, discovering gifts and passions she enjoys sharing with others.
Today, Sophia is a student at LeTourneau University studying athletic training. She hopes to use sports as a way to share Christ with underserved children and youth. She has launched her own cottage business, Sophia’s Gluten Free Bakery, preparing cookies, cakes, cinnamon rolls, and other treats. She is also exploring ways to raise awareness about food allergies and special diets through campus organizations and social media. For her Eagle Scout project, Sophia organized and prepared a Christmas dinner for people in need of food and community.
Looking back, Sophia says she is grateful for Gilmont and even grateful for her Celiac Disease. While she would never minimize the challenges it has created, she can clearly see the ways God has used it to connect her with others and create opportunities for service and ministry. She believes God has used her diagnosis to help her build relationships, encourage others, and share Christ in ways she never imagined as a frightened seven-year-old child.
Today, Sophia serves at Great Gluten Escape as a counselor, helping a new generation of campers experience the same sense of belonging she found years ago. Mama Rose even invited Sophia into the kitchen to prepare beignets for breakfast and tiramisu for dessert! Sophia especially enjoys watching campers explore creation, use their imagination, and discover that they are not alone. Through her presence, young campers learn what Sophia learned years ago: they are more than their diagnosis, they are deeply loved, and they belong.
At Gilmont, we believe everyone deserves a place where they can grow closer to God, creation, others, and themselves. Great Gluten Escape provides that space for children and youth who often feel isolated by their dietary restrictions. We are deeply grateful for the community of supporters who make this ministry possible. Because of your partnership, campers like Sophia find more than safe food—they find friendship, confidence, purpose, and a community where they are fully welcomed and loved.