Going to Youth Camp – An Annual Event – Part I

Believers Youth Camp in July.  It’s a favorite time of year for all of us and Russell and I are privileged to be a part of it because we go as workers and since we drive a van load of young people.

Even though this trip was right in the middle of all the commotion of the Goodwin Fire, we could not disappoint the kids but had to get them to camp.

All these young people were not in one van but two vehicles although we would be willing to try to all get in one!

 

Because of the forest fire, we left a day later and left in the late evening on top of that. Poor, poor Russell. He was so tired after working around here during and after the forest fire and then he had a 30+ hour drive to make on top of that. He had to do all the driving because we had a rental van but he did let Wes drive a few hours in the night because he just couldn’t do it. After that, he drove the entire distance. I don’t know how he does it.

For breakfast we stopped at a nice park in New Mexico or Texas – I’m not really sure!

It was a place to stretch our legs and have a little break from the van in which we had traveled through the night.

 

Then it was time to hit the road again.

We were in a contest with the black Sequoia to see who could get the most honks. A friendly game… but then we saw this sign they had written in their window!

…and we got serious.

After driving 24 hours, we stayed overnight at a hotel to get some rest in a horizontal position.

The next morning it was time to load the many bags.

My lovely nieces.

We arrived at camp safely and with no mishaps along the way, like running out of gas(!) but

I felt behind all week. Arriving at camp a day later threw me off completely.

The snack bar was a busy place once again.

Love seeing familiar faces…

…and working with wonderful people.

Andrew… like an adopted son. He’s pretty special.

Awww, these little fellows. They were so earnest in their help. They were the runners and did they ever do an awesome job. Seriously, we couldn’t have functioned near as well without them popping in in the evenings.  That little fellow on the far left was fantastic. He could actually multi-task. Wow! I hope he comes back next year to help.

Girl time!

My brother-in-law spoke to the 10-14 year old’s every morning. I only made it to one of his meetings but I know they were good. He does a great job of reaching the kids and teaching them important spiritual truths that are perfect for them at this stage in life.

Here he was talking to the kids about the wolf nature versus the lamb’s nature.

A little volleyball fun. They even let me play on their team.

Where was I when this was going on? I should have been in the line-up!

Baseball

Indoor volleyball

Friends

Some of our Arizona Castle Keeper girls and long-distance members met up and wore our club shirt one day.

“Bloom where you are planted.”

Pilgrim Progress Skit – Justus was Christian & Wesley was Mr. Worldly-Wise.

My handsome nephew.

Treat time again – lining up at the Snack Bar. Business was always good. haha

Castle Keeper girl, Leah, on the far left, got all the kids involved in her dorm and bought her counselors flowers, lotion and a sweet card. (The other two girls are not her counselors in case you were wondering but were there to help her carry the stash.)

Some of our besties. Love being able to be a part of camp together.

The volunteer kitchen crew has a tradition of singing a song every year.

So it’s kind of a game for the kids to sneak out at night. The night guards are pretty easy with it and it’s all done in fun. When they’re caught they are put to work cleaning up the camp…

… which is great. Otherwise the night guards do the cleaning themselves!

It was on the very last evening that Russell injured himself playing volleyball. Another boy’s foot came across the imaginary line under the net and when my husband landed, after trying to spike the ball, he came down on the boy’s foot and rolled his own.

It’s been over 2 weeks and he is experiencing pain with it. He’s finally consented and is going to see a doctor today.

Another great year and already looking forward to BYC 2018!

Part II of our trip to come…

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