“Rah Rah! Who are we? Youth Camp kids, can’t you see? Well are we it? Well I should smile. We’ve been it for quite a while! Whoooooooooooooo!”

Ahhh, camp. I love this place. This was my 14th year “on the hill.” I was a camper for 3 years. Then I counselled for 6 years. I’ve only made short visits for the last 4 years. Babies have kept me busy. 

Camp is part of who I am.

Tuesday 7:30p.m.
I got to the campgrounds just in time for the night service. I picked the right night to visit. Jerry Davis preached. Pastor Jerry was my pastor during high school. He was the minister at my wedding.

10:30.p.m.
I spent devotion time in my friend Nicole’s room. She is counselling the handful of campers I still recognise. Most of the kids I remember have grown too old for camp. The only ones left were just little guys when I was there. They make me feel old. I remember Ben as a 10 year old… he is a tall, good looking counselor this year. I sat by Paige during devotions. I was once her junior camp counselor. I remember her as a brilliant 8 year old. She’ll be a senior in high school this fall. In one year she’ll be moving from California to Springfield, Mo. She plans on attending Evangel University. Of course, I’m really excited about that.

Wednesday12:30 a.m.
I climbed onto the top bunk of a creaky metal youth camp bed. I doubted that the rusty springs would hold me. They did. I imagined that the cardboard holding my mattress up would be uncomfortable. It was. I worried that the bugs would devour me in my sleep. They did. In all my years at camp, I don’t think I’ve ever had such an uncomfortable bed… Maybe I wasn’t tired enough, maybe I’ve just forgotten what it was like, maybe… just maybe… I’m old.

6:15 a.m.
Morning already? With a bed like that, morning is something you long for… and dread.

7:20 a.m.
Cecil Hall rang the bell early and often. I think he rang that bell for 10 minutes. Our room was on the back side of the girls dorm and the sound of box fans muffled the ringing. We were spared. We laughed, knowing that Nicole’s room was closest to the bell. That incessant ringing must be rattling her very soul.  Sure enough she walked by our room in a groggy, indignant rage.  Her voice cracking as she insisted that Cecil had rang the bell too early.  Hehe, some things at camp never change. I love Nicole.

Thankfully some things at camp do change.  I got a nice hot shower even though I got up late.  And the water pressure was amazing.  It used to be a cold trickle.

8:00 a.m. – Breakfast.
I got to pass out the sausage… which is a very popular item with campers.  I was a little surprised.  It’s always nice to be serving the popular items.  It takes a strong person to withstand the rejection that comes with serving something like “mixed vegetables.”

Counsellors Meeting
Brother Fred E. Didn’t speak at the counsellors meeting on Wednesday.  I was a little disappointed.  I wanted to hear him give the “feed my lambs” talk for the 10th time.  One of the greatest joys at camp is hearing him say the same thing every year… And then doing ridiculous impressions with Arthur, Joel and Susan.  Unfortunately, none of them were there.  Maybe it’s better that Bro. Fred didn’t speak. I would have been doing the ridiculous impressions by myself… and you know that’s not funny…it’s just insane. 

I enjoyed hearing Cecil speak though.  He reminded me of what I used to believe in. I still believe those things.  My mind is an e-mail in-box.  Newsletters, spam and work requests often push the important messages to the bottom of the page.  Perhaps I should set up more filters, un-subscribe from some trivial lists, and delete the junk mail.

Butterfly
While the campers were in class, Kelly and I went on an impromptu butterfly hunting expedition.  She actually stacked up 3 milk crates and stood on them, looking for the renegade butterfly.  Finally the little bugger held still long enough for me to take a few photos.  Actually, it let me get close enough to touch it and didn’t fly off until I told it I was done…. yes I was talking to a bug.  Sleep deprivation will do that to a person.

12:00 – Lunch
I saw Miss America 1968 working in the kitchen.  I think she would probably rather be called Debbie though.  I wonder if it is a burden being known as Miss America 1968?  I’m sure she’s accomplished quite a bit in the last 4 decades… But does anyone mention that when they introduce her?  Nope.  They just sing “Here she is… Miss America.”

12:45 p.m.
I said good bye to my friends and left the campgrounds. 

2:30p.m.
Home again.  I gave my babysitter all the cash in my wallet.  It was worth it.