I’ve been thinking lately about all the things I loved about being a counselor at LLYC. Telling my campers about the freedom and forgiveness we have in Christ, studying my bible in my alone time just to be able to answer their many questions. I know I want to approach my time with my son with that same readiness to apply God’s word, but it’s harder to make that happen at home in our daily lives.

I was skimming over some blogs recently and came across this one, written by Jamie Ivey. The title caught my attention: Why moms need to know their bible. The post was really challenging to me- read it!! Though camp is a wonderful place to introduce kids to God’s word, the wisdom and truth that is spoken over them and passed on to them from their moms (and dads) is indispensable.

What would it be like if our kids came home to parents who were as reliant upon the bible as their camp counselors are? Maybe in your house this is already a reality, but for my family it is a goal we are still striving for.

I know what she means; for years, my husband has been trying to convince his three younger brothers to come out to work at camp for the summer… to no avail. The idea of a brand new venture- no matter how meaningful or satisfying- just can’t compete with the dependable comfort that awaits them at home.

It’s hard for me to understand why any potential camper or staffer would pass up the opportunity to spend time out at camp, but perhaps that’s because for me, going to camp is like going home. It’s a home that gives me new appreciation for my everyday life and family.

As a young camper at Echo Valley, I didn’t yet understand what it was to depend on God, but by the time I left the gates I wanted to emulate my counselors who did. Each closing day I would collapse sleepily into my dad’s truck and return home with a new resolve to enjoy and love my family and friends.

Campers arriving at Singing Hills

One of the biggest things God showed me during my month on Work Crew was His command for me to be honest and transparent with my parents. I learned about God’s abounding love for me, a sinner, and it made me want to follow Him. He changed everything.

As a counselor, I recall calling home after every session to tearfully thank my parents for the way they had taken care of me and sacrificed for me as I was growing up. Summers spent gleaning wisdom from campers and other counselors made me realize how much I had right under my nose at home.

What a gift my parents gave when they sent me to camp- a fresh perspective! The “best two weeks” has continued for almost 20 years; each time I return, God teaches me more of His kindness and truth in one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

Behind the Scenes in the EV Kitchen

This morning, as I thought about what to include in my blog post this week, my mind wandered to a familiar topic: food. I thought about the exceeding value of good food, about which youth camp recipes you guys might be most interested in, about what would make something good enough to be considered an LLYC classic.

My favorite camp meal has always been grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup, and I remember eating it for the first time and thinking, “Aaahh, there’s really nowhere else I’d rather be.” Another perennial favorite that makes the grade is lovingly named “Corpus Christi Cake” for the ladies at my home church who make it every summer. It’s a yellow cake topped with enough butter, cinnamon and sugar to form an irresistible crust that, by the way, looks a whole lot like a sandy South Texas beach.

You might be wondering, “Is this morphing into a food blog?”

The answer is no.

However, it must be said that food is a big deal at camp. It’s preparation has been my daily task for several entire summers, and I am convinced that food serves an unspoken and unsung role at LLYC. The first dinner that the campers and staff experience (hopefully) says, “Don’t be afraid. You may feel like a stranger in a strange land right now, but God will meet your needs.” Back in the kitchen we are peering out, hoping that the meal we’ve served is making people feel like they’re at home, or at least like there’s someone here physically caring for them. Breakfast comes after a short, much-needed night of sleep, and the first-year and veteran camper alike are welcomed to the ranch house with a warm, comforting plate of breakfast tacos or pancakes. The food they eat is meant to convey a message: “We hope you have a really great day.”

Bon Apetit!

For the rest of the session, as camp whizzes by and campers revel in the “organized chaos” of it all, the meals remain a time to celebrate together in community. Whether it’s a bottle of root beer after Rodeo or a Medieval Feast, we know that there will always be something wonderful coming from the kitchen.

Jacob's Well

I remember driving through the poverty-stricken streets of Limbe last summer and being completely overwhelmed and shocked by the filth, trash, and an overwhelming smell of raw sewage. We passed one gut-wrenching scene after another of the people who lived in the town and nearby villages, dressed in rags and sitting on the side of the roads. It was the first time I had ever been in a third-world country and witnessed poverty firsthand. When we arrived in Haiti during spring break, everything was different. Not physically, but in my heart. Driving from the airport to Jacob’s Well was a completely different experience where the only thing I was feeling was excitement and joy and thanksgiving to be back (and slightly tired from waking up at 3 am). Yes, we saw the same filth and trash that cluttered the country, but all I remember seeing were the people waving and smiling to us.

No words could ever really describe the love the Haitian kids have for us. It’s completely unconditional. We did absolutely nothing to deserve their love. They loved us from the very second they saw us, the way that we are called to love others. They showed no hesitation of judgment or superiority or fear when seeing us, but immersed their whole lives in us while we were there. The world would describe the people of Haiti as poor, needy, physically sick, etc., but the Christ followers there seem to live by one truth: Jesus is enough. In the self-serving culture that we live in, it is so easy to become dependent on things other than Jesus. But the truth is that Jesus is enough. If we have nothing else, we still have everything because we have Jesus. This truth has allowed the Christians in Haiti to be set free of fear, greed, pride, power, anger, etc. and has allowed them to have deep joy and hope and faith, and most of all, love in Christ. And if living in poverty, rather than in the culture I am used to, allows me to 100% believe this truth, then pack my bags because there is nothing better than knowing Jesus!

Matthew 25:40 says, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Every person mattered to Jesus, he didn’t bypass or overlook anyone. He cared and loved and pursued every single person. Jesus would stop for just one person; therefore, we should stop for just one person as well. Falling in love with a beautiful, malnourished 18-month old, knowing that he may only have a few hours left to live, was one of the hardest things Jesus has allowed me to be a part of. There was a part of me that was frustrated with the fact that I, or anyone else for that matter, had no way of fixing Shardnay’s condition. But throughout the day, Jesus kept reminding me that He is in control and that the only thing I can do is trust and serve Him. It would have been easy to assume there was no hope for this baby, but every life matters to Jesus, therefore, God called us to love and care for Shardnay as much as we possibly could. Even though Shardnay went to Heaven three days later, God used the time we spent with him for a greater plan and purpose.

One concept that I am constantly in awe of is the fact that God can clean up Haiti with just a snap of His fingers. In fact, He can clean up the whole world and wipe away every pain and every evil thing on Earth. He can feed every hungry soul, He can rescue every child sold into slavery, He can heal every person with AIDS. He can do anything and everything without anyone else’s help. But yet, God has chosen to use me to be a part of His plan for the world. He has given me opportunity to reach people that He created and share His love with them. God is so much greater than I will ever understand, but He faithfully continues to love and cherish His children in the most precious ways.

Getting to sing and dance and see the smiles on the beautiful faces of the Haitian kids brought more joy and peace to my heart than I could ever dream of. There is no sweeter sound than hearing so many little voices praise Jesus—even if it is in a different language. I’m so blessed and thankful that God has given me the opportunity to go with LLYC to Limbe and that Jacob’s Well has opened its heart and home to us. Spring break was probably the best week of my life. New friendships were made and there was a ton of laughter and craziness, but most of all, Jesus’ presence was so clearly seen and felt. He reminded me to let go of the little things that hold me back from serving at my utmost ability because He is greater and He is in control. He reminded me again of what it means to fully trust, serve, and love Him. Paul writes in Ephesians 5:1, “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” God is doing incredible work in Haiti and I am so thankful that He has let us be a part of His plan!

Echo Valley Roundup

As a kid, I saw high-schoolers and college kids leaving their inhibitions at the gate and embracing the craziness as well as the worship. It was the first place I ever stood up, ever raised my hands, ever closed my eyes, ever lost my painful sense of self-awareness for long enough to rejoice in Jesus.

There’s a song we used to sing- I think I was 13 the first time I heard it, but I have never forgotten the simple and heartfelt words. They were written by the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 3:17: Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where He goes there is freedom.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where He goes there is freedom.

Freedom from sin and bondage, holy freedom.

I thank God all the time for teaching me those words in a place where I was hungry to learn and grow, and the hundreds of songs that still swim in my head almost 20 years later remind me that He has prepared me for anything and everything that lies ahead.

We’ve come out to camp to be at the staff retreat, and with Ira, my son, sleeping and my husband preparing for tonight’s roundup talk, I’ve decided to go for a hike. On the right, I pass an old lookout point with a rough-hewn wooden cross, where two mentors of mine were engaged. Further on, there’s the spot where my best friend walked face-first into a HUGE spider web (complete with HUGE black spider), and past that the trail turns steeply down into a little creek bed that we used to slide around in back when I was on crew.

I think this weekend is probably the last staff retreat I’ll attend at LLYC. For almost 20 summers I have considered myself part of this place; the last few, the icing on the cake, have been shared with my husband and son. It honestly never occurred to me  that I could feel like an outsider here-  but now there are fresh new faces that have stepped up to take my old place. God is doing new things, and it feels like He’s letting me say goodbye. It’s hard to do.

I am discovering that part of growing up is relinquishing my grip on the things that I love the most so that some young buck can grab hold of them and make them their own. After all, someone handed the reins over to me at one point, and I’ve been holding on for a very long time. Soon, I’ll be the parent dropping their kid off at camp, saying “I remember when the OLD ranch house was still up!” or “I remember when Frog Sullivan was the director!” Then again, what’s so bad about that?

As I round the bend and head back down towards the river and Singing Hills, I think about the joy it will give me to hear Ira telling me his own camp stories someday. What an incredible thing it would be if he could find his treasure here in the canyon.

And so it began. I was thirteen years old, and my mom remembers that she and I had been had been bumping heads a lot at that point. My mom and dad agreed that any positive interaction with adults would be a good thing to encourage.

So almost every June I headed to LLYC for the “best two weeks”, and although they knew I loved my time there, my parents never quite understood what the magic was. It was difficult for me to assimilate into everyday life when I got back, and I wasn’t able to explain what had changed. Since camp was something I did on my own, they couldn’t see that it had become a second home to me- a second family.

My "First" Family

When I was 24, I worked for the summer at Singing Hills and convinced my mom to be the camp nurse for a session. Other than dropping me off or picking me up from camp, it was her first time in the canyon. Each morning before dawn I would make my way to her cabin and we’d drink coffee and catch up on what seemed like years of everyday life that we’d been missing. I think in a lot of ways we became friends that summer.

My mom recalls that one of her favorite memories took place the next year- I was working at Echo Valley and she’d come up for another session at the Hills. I brought a couple of girls who worked in the kitchen with me to visit her in the clinic, and my mom says that when she saw the friendship that God had formed between us, she understood what had drawn me back all those years.

I know as a first session camper at LLYC, the first thing I did when Spring Break was over was to get my trunk out and plan what I was taking with me to camp. It was imperative that my wind shorts and Nike tube socks were coordinated, that my mug for Sugar Shack was clean and ready to be filled with the best soda of all time, Big Red, and that my trunk was covered with an adequate amount of stickers to impress my fellow campers.

As I reminisce, it occurs to me that there were a few things I always forgot; while not essential, they were the things I wished my mom could have sent. I can only hope that this list will help some of you get in the spirit and maybe make you laugh a little:

1. An unusual costume. Some memorable examples come to mind: A giant taco suit, head-to-toe sequins, a huge sombrero, a green-screen jumpsuit. You don’t need to spend a lot of money, just get creative. Don’t be afraid- the more ridiculous, the better.

2. Unexpected and wonderful treats to encourage (not bribe!) the judge of any contest that might come your way. Personal favs: Sour Patch Kids, Rice Krispies Treats, and my mom’s magic bars.

3. Extra pair of shoes in case yours get pranked off your porch. (They’ll be returned eventually…)

4. Extra swimsuit, in case yours should get caked in a disgusting mystery mash on a slip-n-slide.

5. A water bottle with your name on it. There’s nothing worse than losing your Nalgene and having to drink out of Dixie cups until you get home.

6. Something comfortable to sit on. Even as an adult, I usually underestimate what a luxury it is to have even the most basic of camp chairs with me when I go out to camp. It doesn’t have to be anything special- even a lawn chair would work.

Make sure to take these ideas with a grain of salt and have a wonderful Spring! See you out at camp!

One thing that keeps coming up is the profound effect Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7:27) had upon Bonhoeffer. When opposed by friends and enemies alike, he pointed over and over again to the truths offered up in this text. What a beautiful picture of God’s word being a “light unto [our] path”!

It’s not difficult to imagine how God could bring this scripture into our lives as we prepare to send our children to LLYC or head there ourselves. Jesus’ simple words cut straight to our hearts if we let them, and we realize all over again that we who were once excluded because we couldn’t fulfill these mandates are now included by the sacrifice of Christ.

One of my favorite ideas to remember in the summer is God’s willingness to show himself to those who are drawn to Him:

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. ⁹ Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? ¹¹ If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! ” Matthew 7:7-11

What better place than camp to grab onto Jesus’ words and watch Him do amazing things in our hearts?

When I ask him to describe a lasting image from the trip, Austin doesn’t hesitate. He depicts the countryside, lush and mountainous, “the perfect place to go backpacking.” In such a beautiful setting, he tells me it was an eye-opener to see hungry kids living in shacks and streets littered with trash . Maryn agrees that Limbe is incredibly beautiful, but says that the images that will stick with her are the smiling faces of the kids. She is moved by their contentment, “the way they enjoyed passing time with us even though we couldn’t understand each other’s language.” (Since the kids speak Creole, verbal communication without a translator was near impossible.)

Austin remembers one night during a church service that was being conducted in Creole: A young boy named Angli was sitting next to him and rested his head on Austin’s shoulder. “He looked up and motioned for me to close my eyes, and I realized that we were praying. There was something really profound about that moment.” He says his time at Jacob’s Well showed him that his problems are really small. When asked how he’s changed since this time two weeks ago, he replies, “I’m more forgiving, and more giving of myself.”

Maryn had a similar impression, she says, when a little boy approached her to show her a drawing he had made. It showed Jesus in a boat in the ocean, reaching out to a person on the shore. Underneath, it was labeled with the verse John 6:16- the story of Jesus walking on water. In that moment, Maryn describes feeling a sense that the kids were really growing and learning about God. When I ask her if she’ll be going back, she tells me, “I am hoping I’ll go back. It’s really refreshing, a  great reminder that everything we have is by the grace of God. They have nothing, but they are some of the happiest people I’ve ever met. God’s moving there, even when the way they live seems shocking to us.”