Our 65th year on Chautauqua Lake is upon us! What a year this has been. God has been so
faithful and true through all the transitions and planning. We are thrilled to be meeting the campers and their families as they arrive!!
This summer we have been looking at Matthew 22:37-40 where Jesus is beating the pharisees at their own game. “One of the ‘experts of the law’ tested him with this question: ‘Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’ Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with your whole mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.’” It is so very simple, Love God & Love Others. Yet, how many of us struggle to meet our neighbors, then remember our neighbors’ names & then recognize when they have a need? Camp is an awesome place to teach these lessons.
[frame_right]
[/frame_right]We, by nature of the camp environment, live in a temporary community. It is a microcosm of life itself. We get to live life together and experience firsthand the struggle and the joy of living life together. We begin recognizing the joys and the pains of the people around us. We step outside of ourselves and notice the needs of others. We become “Souled Out” to the message of Jesus commanding us to Love God & Love Others. Here is a story of how this plays out at camp:
“During one of our sessions this summer, we had a camper who was bound and determined to go home. This camper packed up everything and sat down in the front circle waiting for mom to arrive. Only mom would have nothing of it. After a phone conversation with mom, the camper reluctantly returned to the cabin and settled in for a second time.
At this point we were not sure what would happen. How would the camper respond? How would the rest of the cabin-mates respond? Much to our delight, God did a work, and by the next day the camper was laughing and playing with friends. Later in the week this same camper who had wanted to go home, asked to serve the rest of the cabin a snack…and then in chapel…chose to step forward as a public sign of their commitment to Christ.”
Camp is a transformational place! If you haven’t signed up yet, there is still
time for you and your family to join our camp community for Labor Day Family
Camp. We hope to see you here! Blessings!!
Bryan T. Muecke, bryan(at)missionmeadows.org, Executive Director
&
Britt Dahlstrom britt(at)missionmeadows.org, Ministry Director