Evendays

Take a deep breath… We’re back. Internet is up for now (several hours on the phone, a new router, a lot of frustration). It’s amazing how dependent you can become on something that didn’t even really exist for us 7 or 8 years ago.

Our big news is, of course, the end of camp. Over 130 youth, ages 7 to 17 gathered for two weeks of fun, spiritual input, and just hanging out together. Before we left on July 16, wife got a call on July 14. It was the organisers of the camp, wondering if Wife would take over as head cook. The normal cook was ill as could be, and they needed someone to save the camp. She said yes, though she had been very much looking forward to spending two weeks with a room of little girls. BTW, she and her team did a great job.

How can one event be your favorite and least favorite thing all rolled into one? It’s true: When I am there, I count the sleeps until it’s time to go home. Then I get a tear in my eye as we load up the VW bus and start the 4.5 hour drive back home. The camp always pushes me to the limit, phyiscally and mentally, yet I know it is good for my spiritual side.

I had a room with nine teens, ages 15-17. My back was sore at the start, but I was still looking forward to trying out my new heart. During my third game of basketball, on day 7, I turned the old right ankle and it swelled up as big as an egg in about 2 minutes. That put an end to my sports participation, but there were always other things to do. No running or hiking for me for a while. No good news there. What with the ankle pain, my back feels better.

But the classes went well. The singing was beautiful. The evening discussions were uplifting. I learned to appreciate our youth, and those who make great plans for them. God is at work. What else can you ask for? (besides your own bed at night).

Thanks, everyone, for the welcome back!

There are now two separate dining areas at the kids’ camp. We used to jam 140 people into one area. Gone is that very first meal when the sound reverberates in your ears, and you’re wondering how you’ll survive another 40 meals in that environment. Welcome to camp.

No buffet style here. No lines. Meals are served family style at tables of 10. Most start with soup or end with salad. There’s always a starter along with the main dish. At lunch cheese is served (no wine) before desert. Fruit counts as desert.

We drink water fresh from one of the sources of the Loire River. (We even bathe in spring water… Thus, my soft skin… Did I tell you about the time the main blew on the pump at the source? 3 days without water for the whole camp… Quite an adventure!)

On American day we had hamburgers, hotdogs and French fries. On other days we had quiche, stuffed tomatoes, vol au vent, spaghetti, lasagna, chicken wings and egg rolls, Mexican food, fried fish and rice. Always some veggies. Often potatoes. Bread from the local bakery. Few kids went to bed hungry. Leftovers got eaten by staff after the midnight meetings.

A big thanks to the cooks who started the day at 6:30 and finished at 21:30.

A bit of a surprise, I know, to those of you who’ve heard me “whine” about youth camp in France. Two years ago, I melted down after only two days. There are constant pressures, and the pace is way too fast from early morning till, well, early morning. Government restrictions keep us busy at all times. And many of the youth come from very troubled homes.

But this year things just seemed to click for the 57 teens ages 13 to 17. The teaching went well. My room was cooperative (most of the time). The activities well-accepted (we have different activities and crafts for each day, and they take a lot of effort to prepare). The group games were spectacular. The meditations were very moving.

Two of the youth from Geneva were baptized into Christ. Two others from Marseilles were also added to the Lord.

Wife did well in the kitchen, as did Son 2 with his responsibilities with the 63 kids ages 7 to 12. Daughter enjoyed her last year as a camper. She has made good friends with many of the teens her age who attend this event annually.

All this time Son 1 was at home in Lausanne. Having just finished exams, and knowing he would have to prepare the two upcoming tests, he couldn’t risk needing a week of recovery. BTW, he has passed everything with flying colors. Just two more to do, and those he’s preparing with a buddy from Basel.

Thanks for dropping by.

Our two-week kids’ camp starts today. Do not wish wife a good vacation. She’ll be with 3 others and cooking for 160 hungry people.

I’ll have a room of teenage boys and classes, the choral, afternoon activities and policeman during the nights. You know what it’s like.

Son 2 will have a room of boys ages 7-9. He’s got a volcano ready for "activities".

Daughter will be a camper for the last time.

Son 1 is still taking and preparing exams. (Great fun.)

So I’ll be away, but thinking of you, of course.

 

On today’s slate, and already 4 weeks late, are the activities I’ve got to offer for the upcoming camp (July 16-30). They’ve given me detailed forms that need to describe the events and activities I’ll lead, thus giving teens unforgettable joy and making them want to elect me best camp counselor of the century.

I’m trying to find activities that will justify the purchase of some new Mac equipment. I’ve put film-making and digital portraits on my list. If I could just find a way to justify a 24” screen or a color laser printer…

There’s got to be a “nature” activity. Does capture the flag played in the forest count? I wanted to pin beetles to a piece of wood for display, but conscience got in the way. And I’m not too sure about mushrooms. (“Sure it’s edible. I think.”)

For the outdoor activity we’ll make water-balloon launchers with old jean legs and surgical tubing. We’ll shoot at the kids from the 7-12 year old camp.

I’ve got to find an outside game for 24 kids. Any ideas? What did you enjoy doing when you were at camp (besides painting ceramic fish), that did not include TP, explosives, or the display of under-garments?

Come on. Help me out here.

The first time I went to camp, I was about 8 years old. I was in Uncle Wes’ cabin. He’d been a camp counselor for years and was a big guy with a big heart, a central valley farmer who’d been through the ups and downs that only farmers experience.

He would wake up all the fishermen wanna-bes at 5 am. At the beginning of the week, we’d be 12 or so, and he’d spend all of his time untangling line and pulling hooks out of various body parts. We rarely caught any fish. Wes NEVER caught any, although he carried his pole with him to the creek.

By the end of the week we would be only 3 or 4 little ones with dreams of hooking a big one. Wes would talk us through fishing technics and even believe us when we told him about the ones that had got away, consoling us when we came back from a short slide into the icy waters.

He’d let me lay on his bed during the afternoon rest times, sometimes using his stomach as a pillow. He made the week enjoyable, and I was a sad camper when I learned the following year I had graduated into an older cabin, away from Uncle Wes.

But he’d still take me fishing.

Remember Wes in your prayers. He’s in the Hospital now, his body worn down, a little uncertain of what the near future holds for him. But certain of eternity.