Other sights, sounds & smells

Some other sights, sounds & smells of this week:

• waking up Friday morning to see the boys at the pool - going for their polar bear swim
• campers' excitement when they won cabin clean-up
• brownies baking
• campers excitedly taking parents around to show them where they spent the week
• the learning of memory verses
• day campers eagerly helping put the syrup on the table for pancake & french toast breakfasts
• a mother & son spending time together walking through the daylilies
• the mud pit activity followed by a slip and slide
• one day camper's anticipation of leftover spaghetti - she loves spaghetti
• mothers calling to make sure child is okay
• mothers calling to let us know child is afraid of storms
• counselors letting off steam (pent up energy, frustrations, etc.) after campers had gone home
• counselors and staff in prayer for this week's campers
• counselors and staff in prayer for next week's campers
  

Sights, Sounds & Smells

There are certain sights, sounds & smells one expects to encounter while at camp. The one smell I distinctly remember is the musty smell the clothes would take being in the cabin. It seemed that the smell was just leaving the clothes when the next time to be at camp would come along. The sights & sounds I remember are campers having fun with all the activities, quoting our memorized Scripture verses in chapel & then the quiz following the verse recitation. Our counselors had prepped us all morning & afternoon on the chapel sessions from the previous evening & that morning. We had to be prepared for any question that may be asked from those two sessions.

Despite the fact some things have changed here at camp - cabins upgraded, indoor plumbing in all cabins, hot water with which to take a shower, etc., there are some things that still remain the same. The campers all go home with the musty cabin smell attached to all their clothes. The campers still enjoy the activities.

The one outstanding sight of this week of camp is seeing the boys sitting by the side of the pool. Not because of discipline but because of the weather. Every time the boys get to the pool, the thunder starts. They get out and very shortly leave the pool area because of lightning. We pray they will be able to swim tomorrow.

We are thankful for the rain. We know the boys are disappointed that they cannot swim. That is the all time favorite camp activity.

Going to the chapel...

Our regular chapel speaker had a prior commitment so one of the counselors led the chapel service this evening. He spoke from Psalm 1. He illustrated verses 1-2 in such a way I don't think the campers will ever forget what the counsel of the ungodly, path of sinners & seat of the scornful are.

Before chapel started I was talking to one of the campers. Greeting him by name, I asked how he was. "Excuse me," he stopped me. "How do you know my name?" "Well you were here last year," I said. "I know," he said. "I don't mean no offense but you're old." Smiling to myself, I said, "Old people aren't supposed to have memories good enough to remember names are they?" "No," he answered. "My grandmother is like 92 and she doesn't even know my name."

Campfire Service

This week is day camp. The day campers are given the option to spend Thursday night at camp. Almost all stayed here tonight. Since camp is now ending on Friday evening, the campfire service was tonight.

The chapel speaker had a prior commitment tonight so the activities director(?)not sure if that is his correct title spoke. He spoke on God's love & how it is shown. He focused on God's love is shown to us through His creation and through our family & friends. Throughout his devotional, he gave the campers the opportunity to share different ways God loves us. They also touched on ways our parents love us. One of the ways our parents love us is through discipline. An example given by one of the rowdier boys who was sitting on the back row was, "if your mom tells you not to use your dad's chainsaw you'd better not".

After the devotional ended, the campers were given an opportunity to share a favorite activity of camp. (The day campers campfire service is a little different than the overnight campers) Some of the activities shared were the zipline, bucking barrel, crafts, chapel, rest time, swimming. One little quiet boy sitting on the front row said the food was great. He especially loved the ham. And then going back to the example given about parents discipline, he said he ate that ham like a chainsaw eating wood. It was that good. We adults got a kick out of that (no pun intended).

It's boring

One of the local churches is hosting VBS this week. Some of the day campers are involved in that also. Can you say tired little campers? Today I asked one of the little campers if she were going to attend VBS this evening. She shrugged her shoulders. "How do you like Vacation Bible School?" I asked. "It's boring," she exclaimed rather loudly. I guess if you've been very active at camp all day and then have to go and experience less activity at Bible School it would be boring! :)

I'm so tired!!!

Yesterday as I was leaving the office to help serve lunch, little W was on his way from his cabin to the dining room. He was way behind his cabin group. The last two counselors were trying to go as slow as he was, but that was hard for them. I greeted him and asked him how he was. "I'm so tired," was his reply. I had to get up at 6 this morning. I came all the way from and he named the area he was from. I chuckled to myself and wondered what he would be like on Friday morning.

This morning his parents called letting us know he wouldn't be there. When they awakened him he wasn't feeling well. They let him crawl back in bed. He fell right to sleep. I told the mother that when he woke up if he felt better she could bring him on. I figured he must not be feeling well because this camper is always ready to come to camp. We pray he is feeling better tomorrow & will be able to come. We also pray that these children will not get tired of hearing the truths from God's Word and will eagerly listen to the stories they are hearing and be able to apply them to their little lives.

Thank You!

Little A was new to the area last year. Through a friend from a church they were visiting they learned of our summer day camp program. A's family started sending A to camp. She came the rest of the summer.

Today A came for the first day of summer 2009 day camp. She is one of the ones who have signed up to come all summer. When her parents brought her today they commented how much A had enjoyed herself last year. If we didn't offer day camp all summer they would have to hire a babysitter & were afraid A would be in front of the TV all day. Here she gets to run, play, make crafts, swim & most importantly learn God's Word. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We so much appreciate this summer program you provide.

Will you pray for little A and the rest of the children who are coming for day camp? Will you pray they are attentive during the teaching of God's Word and that they will grow in their relationship with our Lord & Savior?