INNER CITY CAMP 2016 - Week #1
As I sit with my feet up, enjoying the cool air in our family room, I am full of praise to the Lord!
We just finished 5 days of Inner City camp out at Strasbourg Bible Camp.  Walter spoke 8 times in the chapel, teaching on the character of God, the Ten Commandments and how Jesus came to bring us from our separation from God to be in relationship with Him.  He also used the same illusions he had practiced for Silver Birch Bible Camp to illustrate some of the truths, impressing the 8-12 year olds with the simple scarf  and disappearing bag tricks!
The biggest challenge Walter faced during the week was allergies. 
This time of year is bad for allergic reactions and being out in the country, Walter battled the harvest dust and whatever else was in the air.  If he took antihistamines,then he felt drugged and groggy!  So he tried to find the right combination of drugs and air purifier, making sure he had a box of tissues handy in the chapel!  (It didn't help that the old chapel has carpet - when the kids begin to do action songs, they stir up the dust in their enthusiasm !)
I spent the week in the kitchen, with our friends Jim and Shirley from Calgary.  What a privilege to serve with real culinary artists who have done this kind of thing before!  We tried to start our mornings (which started about 6:30) with coffee and prayer.  With Shirley taking on most of the baking and Jim running the meat slicer and the grill, I mostly filled in the gaps with the meal preparations.  Apart from one burned offering of baked oatmeal, we had no major mishaps.
The biggest challenge I faced was shutting my brain down when we took a break.
We lost half a day in the kitchen because of a rental group that was leaving just as we were arriving on Monday.  My mind kicked into high gear to make sure we had what we needed to have our snacks and meals that first day and take out the meat from the freezer for the next day. I wished we could have had more time to organize ourselves and reorder the kitchen as suited us but...by the last day, we had things clean and put in their proper places so next week's cook can see what she has at a glance!  I feel good about how we left the kitchen.
Sleep is not a priority at camp!
On Wednesday night, I was in my pajamas by 9:30 and relaxing in our room. Walter had hooked up the fan and filter system for his allergy control space, and I was working on my crossword puzzle book.  By shortly after 10 pm, I couldn't keep my eyes open.  The kids were quiet down our hall and I so hoped it would be an early night for everyone.
Bang!  "Get up!  Wake up!  Come on, get into the lounge!"
The counselors got their kids up for a night game!  First they had a few fireworks set off across the lake, which we could see from our lakeside room's view.  Then the kids played "find the counselor/junior staff" and "hidden glow sticks".  It was midnight by the time the quiet in the halls resumed!
Thursday night was the famous "Talent Show" which is a highlight for everyone.  The cabins perform some musical number or skit, the staff have a couple classic skits that play a bit of a joke on first-time campers or staff (Great Green Candle).  I've seen it several times and it can get long and drawn out!  I was sitting next to a junior staff who is 17 and had come as a camper.  He laughed at the skit and reminisced how he remembered being one of the "newbies" who had that skit/joke played on him and he totally enjoyed the whole thing!  It gave me a new appreciation for the fun and joy these silly aspects of camp can bring.
At intermission, which was already 10 pm, we served popcorn & juice outside. Then the 2nd half of the show proceeded.  I had to get to bed!  Fortunately, we could sleep in an extra half an hour so I went off to try to sleep.  But it was the last night, so once again, the camp didn't shut down until 11: 30 pm!  The kids had the time of their lives!
As is tradition, when the big bus arrives to take the campers back to Regina, all the staff lines up so the kids can high-five us on their way into the bus.  It was really emotional as a couple of the younger boys cried openly and hugged their counselor.  I choked up once again, thinking of the love and peace the kids experience at camp and knowing many of them would return to tough homes and difficult circumstances.  They might not have the opportunity to hear about Jesus and be surrounded by Christian influence until next summer...
PRAY WITH US as these children absorb and hopefully live in the grace of the Gospel.  Pray for their safety, their spiritual growth, their challenges and their hopes for the future...Pray God will keep them in His care and continue the good work He has begun in each of these precious ones.
Will we go back next year?  Most definitely!