Team Dunlap

This week was Teen Week 1 at Camp of the Woods. It always makes me a little nervous right before the kids show up because there is so much to do, and we don't always know exactly how things will go.  That all changed once they showed up, and I saw their faces once again.  This is the third full summer for me, and some of these campers have become dear friends.  They were a wonderful bunch of kids to hang out with for the week, very respectful, very enthusiastic, just what you need to have a great time with kids.  I got to have some good conversations with several kids, but not as much as I would like.  The weather wasn't very cooperative, and we couldn't go on all our hikes, which is the best time to talk and find out what's going on with them.

This was a special week because Team Dunlap was complete once Will Kiper arrived on the scene on Sunday morning.  That made the team from our little town who had traveled all the way up in the wilds of Canada have a total of eleven people.  I couldn't have been more proud to serve with these dear friends.  They all did a great job at whatever task they had, with each of them tackling tasks ranging from toilet plunging, to signing songs, to preaching, to laundry duty.

Jason did a good job at chapel time, and several decisions were made.  Many of the campers asked thoughtful questions and gave their counselors lots to think about.  This is why being in the cabins with the kids is such a great training time for our young staff.  They have to be able to share their own story, and also to field questions that come from the teachings of the day.  But above everything else, they did an awesome job of loving these kids and shining the light of God's love into their lives.

Mallory enjoying Dawn's company

Harrison with one of his campers



 

Kelsie directing the signs for the song.  Bev has trained her well.

Jason connecting with campers

John and some of his boys

Me leading the charge to chapel

 

Jaren and Jaxon were both great helpers in many ways.

Hanging out at the beach during swim time.  Jessica did lots of
jobs in the kitchen and worked the snack shop.

Will teamed up with Brenna to bring us some evening entertainment.

A Week of Wonders

 

 

It has been a week of wonders here at camp.  The wonder has been the transformation that has taken place.  During this week of "Heart for Missions" camp we had a very full house with groups from Indiana, Alabama and Illinois.  The group from Terre Haute, Indiana, is one of our favorites because some of these people have come every year for the past 3 years and so they are old friends.  As always, by the end of the week we had joined together to become one body in Christ, and we assured them that they were equal partners with us in all that happens over the summer.

 

Some of the transformation was due to the decorations that they had planned, purchased, and then brought up to deck out the lodge and the chapel for "Deep Sea Discovery."  The pictures here are just a small sample of the amazing things they accomplished.

The lodge has become an ocean.

Jellyfish chandeliers in the chapel.

Octopus in the loft.

 

 

Another transformation was in our summer staff.  Adam and I spent the afternoon each day with these young people, sharing our expectations, giving them needed information and the tools they will need to be successful in the coming weeks.  They were very good listeners, asked good questions and participated in all the activities with enthusiasm.  We feel that they are in the process of being transformed into leaders, into people who can guide others in their faith.

 

Finally, there was a transformation in the mission campers who came from the states to serve.  Adam and I shared with them from a series by Andy Stanley called "Go Fish."  We thought it fit perfectly into our theme for the summer, and God spoke to our hearts when we went through it for our Sunday services last summer.  Many of the adults commented on how challenged they were by what they had heard, and I know it gave them lots to think about.  Our prayer is that they will go home and be even more committed to sharing the gospel with those around them and around the world.

 

Teens come on Monday morning.  We are ready.  May God be glorified in all we say and do.

God Winks at Me

Last week I read a blog post by Glennon Melton.  Here is part of what she had to say.

"Yesterday was one of those days. All five of us played in the Gulf of Mexico while the sun beamed down, the breeze whispered by, and the sand warmed our feet. We felt held by all of it.  Right after I took this picture, six dolphins glided by our family. They were so close that we could see their blow holes. We could have reached down and touched them. We didn’t, though, because each of us felt paralyzed by reverence. After the dolphins swam out of our sight- Tish squinted up at me and said, “Mom,  God is FLIRTING with us today!”

Oh, yes. YES. Please hold onto that truth, baby.

Please, please continue to feel yourself so madly and deeply loved by the God of the Universe that you experience everything beautiful and wonderful as a personal gift from The One determined to win you."

You can read the rest of the post here if you like.

I often feel this way at camp.  For the past two weeks I have been walking the camp grounds and praying.  I have been trying to cover every area with prayer.  In doing so, I've become quite familiar with the lay of the land and it's been easy to notice big changes and very small changes around the area.  When I see something new I realize that I may be the only person who sees it, or notices it.  And it makes me think that God put that thing in my sight to give me a "wink" that He is here, that He is near, and that He loves me.  

Here are a few of the things that I've been able to see.

I know they're dandelions, but I still think they are pretty.
They look bright and happy.

A newly hatched egg was in the path where no one else walks.
It was such a beautiful shade of blue.

In all the camp this is the only red flower, a lone tulip.

Birch trees leafing out and touching the sky.

And always... the sunsets.

"The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of His hands.  Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.  They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them.  Yet their voice goes out into all the earth; their words to the ends of the world."  Psalm 19:1-5

What Phil Does

Phil has many duties around camp.  He sometimes cooks or grills.  He cleans and mops and takes garbage to the dump.  He takes people fishing.

He also makes bowls.  He often works with people on staff here to teach them to turn wood and create something to take home from camp.  It has been a great way for him to connect with people.

Today's project was this large bowl made from a white birch burl.  It turned out so beautifully.  He is giving it to the camp, and it will be on display all summer in the lodge.

He always signs his work and writes what kind of wood it is.  On this one he added a special dedication.

John and Fawnda are the ones responsible for our being at Camp of the Woods.  They served here for over twenty years, and have a huge impact on the lives of many people.  They are not able to come this summer, and we already miss them.  We are forever grateful for their friendship.