This week (July 5-10) I am serving as camp pastor at Camp Friedenswald for 67 enthusiastic 5th and 6th graders. Unfortunately it is a very hot week with temperatures in the 90’s. The heat and humidity seems to diminish some of the enthusiasm and energy of the staff but seems to have little effect on the kids. Fortunately, I have a basement room which is relatively cool. The campfire in Mosquito Hollow feels like a sauna bath even at nine in the evening
The theme for the all the camps at Friedenswald this summer is “Cloud of Witnesses: Sharing Stories: Finding Faith from Hebrews 11:1-12:3. As camp pastor, I work with a worship team to get this theme into the minds of hearts of the campers. We use singing, skits, and various activities to do this. My specific responsibility is to pull the day’s theme together in a 7-10 minute talk at the evening campfire. It has been fun and challenging to speak to 5th and 6th graders who always seem to have an excess of energy. The kids seem to be having a good time and are engaging pretty well with the theme.
I have lots of free time to myself here. Some of the time I have worked on my sermon and worship service for June 11. Other free time, which I would normally use watching TV news and reading newspapers and magazines at home is available to be used for other things. With some trepidation and a little anxiety, I finally decided that I could be away from the media for a week. In fact I knew it would be good for me. In place of all the media, I have been reading a historical novel on Menno Simons. I have wanted to read this book by Myron Augsburger for some time but felt I never really had the time. Now, I am beginning to realize that I really do have the time for reading. Maybe this “media free” week will teach me a little more balance when I get home.
Today (Thursday), the heat has finally broken and it is raining. The rain kind of puts a damper on camp activities but it is really needed. Last night the campers were at “outpost” sleeping in tents. Even though I spent the night in my comfortable bed, I went to the boys campsite for supper and breakfast. Both were prepared over an open fire. For supper, we had pita pizza. Pita bread was cut in half and then opened up and filled with cheese, pepperonis, and pizza sauce and then grilled to perfection on the fire. Delicious! For breakfast we had sandwiches of English muffins, egg, sausage, and cheese heated together over the fire. McDonalds will never taste quite the same again !
It really is fun to be here and see how camp works and get to know the permanent and summer staff. What a dedicated group of people. Soon Saturday will be here and I will find myself back in the routine in Pandora.
