Newsletter Here
Summer Camp
Were you able to go to summer camp as a kid? I was so excited when I got to go to church summer camp for the first time when I was about 10 years old. I was excited because they had horses. Horses were an important part of our family history because my granddad was the Chicago Silver Spurs Champion of 1920. That was where my grandparents met and they were both from horse country areas. In their family all of their sons got horses, while the girls got housework. Growing up and hearing their stories I just couldn’t wait to ride. Mind you, they had us learn all of the parts of the saddle and the horse because they were people of good character.
That was where I met a horse named Lizzy, a beautiful Appaloosa. I got to ride her most every day that first camping season, so when the next year rolled around, I was anxious to see Lizzy. But, Lizzy had to stay in the barn because she had recently foaled. I was so very disappointed, but I rode another horse just fine. One day one of the hands had a surprise for me and brought Lizzy out. I was absolutely overjoyed! We set out at a slow pace, and then we moved into a trot, but Lizzy had other things in mind. She and I were off like a shot at a full gallop with me trying to slow this horse down. Holding on to those reins for dear life, we darted around the curve of the trail, I finally pulled hard enough on the reins with as stern of a “Whoa, Lizzy” as I could muster. Lizzy reared up, stopped and then one of those hands was there to catch ahold of her. How I stayed on that horse I will never know. Lizzy’s riding days were over that summer and mine came to stop the minute I told my mother what had happened. You may safely assume that I went to a different church camp the next summer – one that didn’t have horses. Still, every summer when I hear about camp I think about that Appaloosa, Lizzy and have to smile. I think Grandpa would have been proud that I held on.
Times have changed over the years and few camps offer things like horseback riding today. Gee, I wonder why? Still, as I look back, camp was like nothing else. Swimming in the morning, crafts (and riding) in the afternoon and campfire evenings singing songs about Jesus. No, I didn’t meet Jesus on the back of that horse, but I did give my life to Christ at one of those campfires. This fall our Lake Michigan Family Campground will again host a confirmation camp retreat weekend for ages 11+ at a cost of $75 where they can learn about Jesus. If you would like to host a child for Confirmation Camp this fall, please let me know. This is available to any child within the Michigan Conference. Happy Camping everyone!
Pastor Bev Williams
Leave a Reply