A Funny Thing happened on the way to camp -- 21c - STAFF TALENT SHOWS & ENCOURAGING CAMPERS

Staff Talent Shows:          Every week the staff would put on a talent show.   At Calvin Crest we called it “At No Expense” and at Westminster Woods we called it “Time Out.”   There were many significant programs. 

One that was most moving to me was when a group of six or eight staff would sit around a table.   They had spoons tied to long pieces of wood.   It was obvious they could not feed themselves with these spoons which extended out about two feet each.   The drama occurred when one of them decided to feed a friend across the table and in turn that person would feed the other person.   The message being clear that as we help each other we will be satisfied.   If we are only interested in feeding ourselves we are often left hungry. 

 Encouraging campers:

 Our staff had to be creative when dealing with campers to keep their interest and attention.  We had a Coordinator on staff down at Sherwood Forest who was a very creative young man.   One week it was raining a lot.   We could not feed the campers outside in Sherwood.   They needed to come up to the lodge to eat.   We decided that we would alternate the Junior High campers meal time with the Sherwood Forest campers meal time.   As we were waiting for the campers to come up to main camp, which was quite a trek from Sherwood, we heard singing.   The Coordinator had them all singing “It’s a happy day, and I thank God for the weather!   It’s a happy day, and I’m singing it for my Lord.”  Pretty amazing to get a camp full of juniors hiking up a trail and  singing so enthusiastically that way in the rain. 

Choosing to Make Life Work – 20L – HOW ABOUT THANKSGIVING ALL YEAR!

            This week we have been reminded over and over again to be thankful.  We just celebrated Thanksgiving day.  When we turn on the news, however, we are bombarded with things not to be thankful for.   As we accept the gift of grace in Jesus Christ we are ushered into a new way of thinking.  We are new creatures.  We could just stop there and say, “thank you.”

            We trust God is with us in all circumstances.  God enables us to live the abundant life and to humbly enjoy the good times.  God empowers us to walk through hard times step by step and discover the good that is available that comes through the struggles and sorrows of life.  We learn to open our hands and hearts and receive the gift of God’s revelation and relationship.   As we reach out to God, we can overcome our fears and open ourselves to God’s promises. 

            A reminder!  Each evening before you close your eyes and go to sleep, thank God for at least one good thing that happened that day and for one good thing you experienced with a friend or a loved one.   Each day intentionally identify the miracles, small and large, that you have experienced in your life.   Happy Thanksgiving for the opportunities given to us in our lives and gratitude as we prepare to enter into the Advent Season.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Camp – 20c – CAMP MUSIC AND STAFF MELODRAMAS

The Lead Counselors with their Coordinators would create some kind of melodrama that they would play out throughout the week.   It included a villain and a hero and ended with some kind of positive result by the end of the week.  For instance, in Sherwood they would have an “evil Sheriff “ trying to get rid of Robin Hood and Sherwood Forest.   He would play all kinds of tricks on Robin and then by the end of the week, the Sheriff would have a change of heart and turn into a good guy.   The campers would cheer and embrace the sheriff.   One year one of our staff drove the camp’s tractor into the town meeting threatening to mow down the forest.   Pretty dramatic to say the least.   That only happened once.

            At one of the campfire times in Railroad Camp for Junior Highers, the staff was play acting their melodrama.   This particular night the good guy and bad guy were having a “fencing duel.”  Some how they got their hands on two authentic fencing blades.   In the act of fencing one of the swords came loose and flew out from the handle.   Could have been scarry.  These were the kinds of stories the staff would prefer I did not hear about.  

Campfire Music:  A significant activity at camp is the singing.   Campers loved to sing at the top of their voices.  They would love to stand up in front and help with the singing.  Our song leaders worked together to plan the singing times.  Song leaders were very enthusiastic and created all kinds of hand motions during many of the songs.  They began the evening with fun type camp songs and lead into the devotional songs in preparation for the camp speakers.  Music set the tone of the morning and evening gatherings.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Camp – 20c – CAMP MUSIC AND STAFF MELODRAMAS

The Lead Counselors with their Coordinators would create some kind of melodrama that they would play out throughout the week.   It included a villain and a hero and ended with some kind of positive result by the end of the week.  For instance, in Sherwood they would have an “evil Sheriff “ trying to get rid of Robin Hood and Sherwood Forest.   He would play all kinds of tricks on Robin and then by the end of the week, the Sheriff would have a change of heart and turn into a good guy.   The campers would cheer and embrace the sheriff.   One year one of our staff drove the camp’s tractor into the town meeting threatening to mow down the forest.   Pretty dramatic to say the least.   That only happened once.

            At one of the campfire times in Railroad Camp for Junior Highers, the staff was play acting their melodrama.   This particular night the good guy and bad guys were having a “fencing duel.”  Some how they got their hands on two authentic fencing blades.   In the act of fencing one of the swords came loose and flew out from the handle.   Could have been scarry.  These were the kinds of stories the staff would prefer I did not hear about.  

Campfire Music:  A significant activity at camp is the singing.   Campers loved to sing at the top of their voices.  They would love to stand up in front and help with the singing.  Our song leaders worked together to plan the singing times.  Song leaders were very enthusiastic and created all kinds of hand motions during many of the songs.  They began the evening with fun type camp songs and lead into the devotional songs in preparation for the camp speakers.  Music set the tone of the morning and evening gatherings.

Choosing to Make Life Work – 19L – GROWING IN FAITH

            God loves us so much that Jesus gave his life for you and me.  Growing up in the faith is a long process.  It is a day to day commitment to learn to be more like Jesus each moment.    Every Friday as campers and counselors were preparing to go home from their week’s experience, they often shared that they loved it at camp.  They were learning to be content in their faith.  Some even made faith commitments.  They had a “mountain top experience” and were reluctant to go “back to the valley.” 

            We would remind them that they did three things everyday at camp.   They read and studied the scriptures every day.  They prayed on their own and with others everyday.  They had fellowship with other Christians every day.

We encouraged them to do the same when they went back home.    

When we think our growth is slow we become discouraged.   Don’t give up when you are not everything you think you want to be.  When you look back you will recognize the different ways you have grown.  It’s like our physical growth.  Slow and steady with bumps in the road.  Sometimes our health slows us down and we feel weak and unable to do all we want to do.  We need to be committed to doing our exercises.  As we take one step at a time, we begin to feel better and continue on the road to recovery. 

            God knows our strengths and weaknesses.  God will enable us to live a whole new life that we never knew existed before.   God ‘s work was accomplished through the years as individuals stepped out in faith and believed God.  They were not perfect people.  All it takes is one person.  Noah building the Ark.  Abraham and Sarah going to Canaan.  Joseph saving Egypt.  Lydia taking in strangers.   We could go on and on.  We need to do our part.  We need to do our spiritual exercises.  Trust that God is doing a good thing with you as you are faithful to your commitment to God.  Recognize what God is doing through you each day and express your gratitude!

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Camp -- 19c – BEHAVIOR MIRRORED

A memory I have is of one of the older volunteers who lived on the grounds and helped where needed.   I told this story at every staff Orientation through the years.    I would walk back and forth from the dining room to my apartment and other places on the grounds.    Every time he saw me he would gently come up to me and rub his finger on my forehead and said something like, “do you know your frowning?  A smile on that face would look better.”   He would do this each time he saw me.   I would get so angry, I would walk the other way if I saw him coming towards me.  

            One day, when I saw him, I thought, “You know, Noreen, he is your friend.   Do you really want to look like you are stressed out and unhappy?   The Lord has given you a friend who is serving as a mirror for you.”  It was a God thing!   That thought was like a light out of the darkness.   From then on I was happy to see him because he reminded me not to frown but to have a pleasant countenance. 

            I often used that illustration in seminars and talks.   It was an effective story out of real life to learn how to be grateful for those around us who are mirrors of who we are.    Gives us the opportunity to choose how we want to project ourselves to others.