church camp

Tomorrow Elliott will experience church camp for the very first time.   He's excited.  I'm excited for him.  I have such fond memories of going to church camp growing up.  Below is a picture from my very first week of camp.  This was First Chance camp - had to be going into 4th grade to get to go. 

I remember sitting on the bus on the way to school one morning (we had an hour long ride) going over the brochure with my friend, deciding which one we were going to go to, what we were going to bring, etc.  It was a big deal to finally get to go to camp!

Looking at this picture brought back memories that I had stored away.  I can't remember even half of their names, but so many of the faces in this picture left an impression on me. 

The older gentleman in the front row had fashioned salvation walnuts for each of us - glued ribbon pieces together (one of each color for the salvation story) and somehow rolled them up inside walnuts and there was a handle on the outside where you could roll the ribbons out, one color at a time to share the good news with someone else.  What a labor of love.

The guy in the tie toward the top was the hip young fun counselor.

I remember the girl in the white v-neck dress at the very top.  She was one of the dorm moms.  I don't remember anything specific, but when I look at her face I just get this feeling of true compassion, so I'm sure that she showed that to me in some way during my time there that week.

It's not from this week of camp above, but let's relive my funniest memory from any week of camp (yes, Amber, I will tell it again!).  My sister and I went to one of the older camps - junior or senior year of high school if I remember right.  It wasn't often that I went with her cause she was two years behind me, but we got to go together this time.  So, one night, the leaders tell us that we're going to play this game where we are blindfolded and go in pairs all around the grassy area near the softball fields trying to stay away from the "demons" (who were other counselors who just stood there for the most part and wouldn't move away from you).  In order to get away from them, you had to say "DEPART!".  Simple enough.  So it's Amber and I traipsing around the yard, blind as bats, trying not to run into a tree or wander off into the cornfield or trip on anything.  And the first time we happen upon a "demon" she starts freaking out yelling "DEPART!!DEPART!!DEPART!!!", running and pulling me to who knows where - so guess where all the "demons" head?  Yep, to the scaredy cats.  I'm laughing out loud just thinking about it.  I think I laughed the whole time and it did not deterr her one bit - the freaked out screaming continued until we were out of the game (thank goodness)!  Oh my goodness, that was good stuff - wish I could go back and do it all over again!

So I'm glad that Elliott gets to go and I pray that he will have as many fond memories as I do!