Tomorrow begins teen week. Campers arrive between 2-5. Supper is the first scheduled activity of the day. Although some will be able to go swimming if they have arrived in time. Actually on Monday swim time consists of taking the swim test - to be allowed to swim past the rope into the deep end. I remember as a teenager looking forward to teen week. So I know some of these teens have been counting the days until they were able to come to camp again. I know they will have fun and also will hear God's truths. My prayer is that they will see the Lord modeled in my life this week.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
How long have you been here?
This afternoon a grandmother came to register her grandson for a week of day camp. He had come one week last year. She & I chatted while she filled out the registration form.
"How long have you been here?" she asked.
I answered with "about 7 years as full-time staff but I grew up coming here to camp."
"Well this camp must be old then." That statement made me wonder how I looked!!!
I replied "this is our 72 or 73 summer to have summer camps" - I was not too good with numbers this afternoon.
"I figured it had to be old - my sister & I both came & she's 62. I remember there was a little girl (she couldn't have been older than 5 or maybe 7) who followed me around all week. When my parents came on parent day - you remember we used to have those days on Sunday, I believe, I had to explain to them who this little girl was. I think I was 10 - maybe I was only 7." She was not too good with numbers either.
Remembering the memories I have of summer camp & hearing one memory from this grandmother makes me eager for the friends & memories these campers will create this summer. I know they will have memories of silly things that happened during the week. Prayerfully they'll have memories of the staff - both full time & summer - sharing God's love with them.
"How long have you been here?" she asked.
I answered with "about 7 years as full-time staff but I grew up coming here to camp."
"Well this camp must be old then." That statement made me wonder how I looked!!!
I replied "this is our 72 or 73 summer to have summer camps" - I was not too good with numbers this afternoon.
"I figured it had to be old - my sister & I both came & she's 62. I remember there was a little girl (she couldn't have been older than 5 or maybe 7) who followed me around all week. When my parents came on parent day - you remember we used to have those days on Sunday, I believe, I had to explain to them who this little girl was. I think I was 10 - maybe I was only 7." She was not too good with numbers either.
Remembering the memories I have of summer camp & hearing one memory from this grandmother makes me eager for the friends & memories these campers will create this summer. I know they will have memories of silly things that happened during the week. Prayerfully they'll have memories of the staff - both full time & summer - sharing God's love with them.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
On my way out the door...
This wonderful reminder that God always keeps His promises greeted me as I stepped out of the house this evening. This is looking from our house to the cabins. You can see a little of Peace cabin to the right of the picture.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
This place has changed!
As we were finishing lunch this afternoon, a man walked into the dining room. From the look on his face (am I in the right place), I was pretty sure he had come to register a child. This was confirmed as I greeted him. I asked him how old his child was. He wasn't sure if he were 12 or 13. Handing him the summer brochure & registration form, I tried to answer all the questions I am usually asked about the camp program. I did explain that to come to teen week the child had to be 13. He left the dining room. "Oh no," I thought. "I've offended him."
In just a few seconds he returned with a lady. The child was 12. He wouldn't want to be here with the older kids she assured me. I reviewed all the information with her. After we had finished talking, I introduced him to some of the staff. We learned that he was 39 & had come to camp when he was younger. (I don't remember him so he must have not come to teen week). Mrs. B.W. - whom Uncle Martin had named upon her parents' request - had reminded him of the camp here. He had remembered how much fun he had had and thought his girlfriend's son would enjoy coming here also. I sent the form home with the mother so she could fill it out at home.
A little while later they returned wanting to register the teenage son. If she allows one to come, she has to give the other son the same opportunity. He will come to teen week. As they were leaving the man kept saying, "This place has changed! This place has really changed!"
Even though the physical aspect of Bancroft has changed through the years, we are thankful that the truths of God's Word have not nor ever will change. We pray that these children (some of them 2nd or 3rd generation campers) will take home those truths from their week(s) here at camp.
In just a few seconds he returned with a lady. The child was 12. He wouldn't want to be here with the older kids she assured me. I reviewed all the information with her. After we had finished talking, I introduced him to some of the staff. We learned that he was 39 & had come to camp when he was younger. (I don't remember him so he must have not come to teen week). Mrs. B.W. - whom Uncle Martin had named upon her parents' request - had reminded him of the camp here. He had remembered how much fun he had had and thought his girlfriend's son would enjoy coming here also. I sent the form home with the mother so she could fill it out at home.
A little while later they returned wanting to register the teenage son. If she allows one to come, she has to give the other son the same opportunity. He will come to teen week. As they were leaving the man kept saying, "This place has changed! This place has really changed!"
Even though the physical aspect of Bancroft has changed through the years, we are thankful that the truths of God's Word have not nor ever will change. We pray that these children (some of them 2nd or 3rd generation campers) will take home those truths from their week(s) here at camp.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
And so it begins
10 counselors arrived at camp this morning. They all had smiles on their faces and were excited about the opportunities the Lord was going to allow them to experience over the next 9 weeks. Most of the counselors will be here all summer. A few will not be able to spend the whole summer with us.
Usually the first day of counselor training week is awkward. The counselors are trying to get to know each other but seem hesitant to talk to one another. They want to volunteer to do things but are afraid of what others will think. I noticed none of that today. What I observed were young men & women who were intent on learning the "job", getting to know each other and developing their personal relationships with the Lord. I pray that attitude continues throughout the summer.
Usually the first day of counselor training week is awkward. The counselors are trying to get to know each other but seem hesitant to talk to one another. They want to volunteer to do things but are afraid of what others will think. I noticed none of that today. What I observed were young men & women who were intent on learning the "job", getting to know each other and developing their personal relationships with the Lord. I pray that attitude continues throughout the summer.
Monday, May 25, 2009
It's here
Summer has arrived! Some of the counselors started arriving today. The rest will come in tomorrow. We (John & I) set supper out for them this evening. Tomorrow we will fix breakfast - pancakes & sausage. After breakfast John will head out to a local Christian radio station. They spotlight different local ministries & are interviewing John. The Bancroft spotlight will be on the station next week, I believe. The "bug man" will come tomorrow. When I talk about the "bug man" in front of my nieces, their eyes get big and they beg me to invite them to visit the next time he comes. I couldn't understand their fascination with the bug man until I realized they think he's 1/2 man & 1/2 bug. It will not work for them to come tomorrow.
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