It is summer camp time!! If you have followed my blog at all you know that summer camp is an important part of who I am and my call to ministry. I spent eight wonderful summers going to Camp Calumet as a kid, I spent another nine fabulous summers as a counselor/senior staff person at Camp Calumet. Then during some time off from college I spent three years on the year round staff at Calumet. All very important in my life and I had many life changing experiences at Calumet. I also have a great group of friends from Calumet as well.
It is no surprise that as a pastor outdoor ministry is high on my priority list. Five months into my call I recieved a letter from the Bishop’s office asking me to prayerfully consider serving on the Vanderkamp (local Lutheran/Presb camp) board. After some conversations with colleagues and after some prayer I decided this was something that God was calling me to do.
So I have been serving on the Vanderkamp Board of Directors for about a year and a half, and I really enjoy it. I am able to help formulate positive camp experiences for youth in our synod. I also came back recently after directing a confirmation camp at Vanderkamp for youth in our conference.
But none of that excites me more than seeing my son excited to start his time in camping ministry. This past Sunday we dropped of Cheese wiz at camp for his first week as a camper at Vanderkamp. Now this would not of happened if we were in New England. As much as I am excited for him to experience Calumet and do the same things that I did when I was a camper/staff person. Calumet does not allow kids to come to camp until they are eight years old. Vanderkamp allows kids to come as early as six.
He was counting down the days before he went to camp. We got there on Sunday and he was ready to go. In the picture to the right he is holding his bear so he can sleep with it at night. He packed his drum sticks so he can play in the band, he packed his bathing suit and goggles to go swimming and he was very excited to do some boating.
I had mixed emotions on Sunday. I was sad because I knew that I was going to miss him. But I was so excited for him. I know the lasting impact camp has had on my life and I know that it is going to have a lasting impact on his life as well.
This will be the first of three camp experiences for Cheese wiz. The next will come at the end of July when my parents will take him and my daughter and my brothers children for a week at Camp Calumet. Then at the end of August we will take our yearly family vacation with friends at Calumet as well. Our summer will end Labor Day Weekend when we will be at Calumet for the 90′s staff reunion which I will serve as chaplain.
I hope that my son finds as much joy and excitement as I did in his camping experience. I hope that he sees God working in the camp and in his life as I did growing up. Even if he chooses not to be on summer staff at Vanderkamp, Calumet or any of the other camps that are out there, I hope he holds these memories close to his heart, because I will never forget the look of excitement, wonder, and love that were in his eyes after I dropped him off on Sunday.
It has been a great few days. Only if Katie and Logan were with then it would be perfect. But alas, I am having a great time with my daughter. It still feels weird to say daughter, I am getting use to that. But on the other hand it is great to say it too.
I have met some wonderful people on my trip and I am getting to know old friends again. I wanted to talk about some of the people I have come across along the way.
First there is Wiley — Wiley actually goes to the Y that I go too. On Thursday last week I met Wiley – he never told me his name but he did have his name in big capitol letters WILEY. Anyway, I got done swimming and Wiley was there. He asked if I had good time and I said yes. Our lockers were next to one another so it is not uncommon to have uncomfortable small talk in the locker room following a locker encounter. But Wiley did not want to stop, he was asking what I was doing in the pool and then we continued to talk. He did the most talking at first. He was telling me about him coming to America from the Czech Republic as a little boy and how he always yerned to go back, but he is not sure he can since he is so old now (he looked in his 80′s). Then he changed the subject and he asked what I do for a living. Now I don’t always delvuge that information at first because of people’s reactions. I honestly try and not mention it until I get a good read on a person. Well I could not get a read on Wiley and I was not going to lie so I told him I am in seminary studying to be a minister. Wiley then started to say “praise God, oh thank you jesus” — he did this for about 2-3 min and he said may you be blessed in your ministry. That is the best thing you can ever do with your life. I said thank you and I turned it on him, and I asked what he did and he said “I don’t work anymore but I did work for the Government and I can’t say anymore.” What?!? What did he do? Why coudlent he tell me? by this time Wiley was done getting dressed and he ended the conversation quickley and left. Maybe Iwill see Wiley again and get to learn more about his secret Govenment job.
The Ruso Family–
Needing dinner on our way up to Vermont, Addy and I stoped at a Chili’s. We grabbed our seats and I fed Addyson her dinner of mushed carrots, rice stuff and Children’s Vita-Lea. About half way through dinner the people next to us started talking with me. It was a family with three girls ages ranging from 6 years to 12 years. They seemed nice and they thought Addy and I were on a “date” but I told them we were on a trip from Vermont. They told me about themselves and that they were coming back from a vacation from North Carolina. Very nice family and the girls loved Addyson.
The people at Camp —
I have loved being back here at Camp and I have realized more and more how I have missed it and how much I want to spend more time here. There are people who I have not seen in 4 or 5 years and I love remaking those connections. I have seen kids where the last time I saw them they were 3-6 years old and now they are 8-11 years old and it is crazy how much they have changed. The funny thing is that they still remember me and they still want to see how I am doing. I love that feeling and it makes me feel like my 10 summers here and three years on the year round staff was good ministry even though I was not “seminary trained” and I realize that I was making a difference in the world. I never thought that I was going to never do outdoor ministry again but I realize now that I am going to try and make a more concious effort to get back here more often. Some friends and I were talking about picking a week as “Vacation” together. I love that idea and I would love to perhaps be a chaplain once I come back to New England.
I think one of the great things about my future occupation is that I am going to be paid to talk with people about life and about faith. I am going to be able to be there for them in their high times and low times. I thhink that is one of my favorite things about being in the position that I am going to be in and I thank God for that.
Sitting here early this morning on Jackman’s ridge I feel at peace. All of my worries and cares are not with me right now. They are forgotten because of the wonderous beauty that lies in front of me. I hope to come up here early many mornings. B said that she was going to come up too. If I had someone to share this with — to share your love [...]
“It is not Circumstances that need altering first, but yourselves, and then the conditions will naturally alter.” God Calling I have been up since 4am this morning. To my surprise I am not tired! I am gald I have some quiet time before the day starts. I need to figure things out in my life. J came the other day and I have not gotten a chance to catch up [...]
I have reached one of my goals this summer. I have written something in this journal every day. My EE kids came today and I am already tired. I will write about my first day later. now I need my rest.
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