Skip to main content

CAMP

I am most aware of the uniqueness of my job (working at a Christian Camp) while traveling. Without fail, when I board a flight, the small talk with the strangers in my row will ask the question, "So, what do you do?"
To which I reply, "I work at a camp?"
"Sorry, I asked what do you do? Not what do you do for fun."

I slightly giggle and nod, "I work at a camp."
"Oh, are you a park ranger or something?"
"No, it is similar to a retreat center."
Which always leads to the same question, "So, what do you do when it's not summer?"
Classic. The conversation usually involves me explaining further while met with puzzled expressions and fake nods of understanding while closing with "hmmm, interesting" or "well, that's very nice dear."

There is so much more.
I leave these conversations wishing I could give these strangers a far better picture than my words could ever paint. Yet, how do I truly capture working at camp? How do I describe the adventure of the mountains as your backyard or the beauty of a community who lives and serves beside you? A community whose wealth of knowledge leaves you inspired. From mechanics who can listen to engine sounds and identify precisely what is wrong with a vehicle to a designer who takes his time to explain graphite transfers and the difference in HB numbers from one pencil to the next. How do I explain the joy of working long, sweaty hours in the dish room beside peers who sing from the top of their lungs to the best Disney songs?
How do I describe the beautiful mess that makes up a body of broken sinful believers who work with the gospel as the fuel for their drive? How do I depict a spontaneous knock on the door and an unexpected evening of laughter and breakfast for dinner? Or a room of people singing in worship through the uncertainty of the future?
How do I describe the stars that seem to swallow you up into a fiery city when you look into the night sky or the stillness that comes when one stops to stare at the yellow aspens just a little while longer to soak up the autumn gold before it fades into winter?
How do I share of the life-long friends created? How I ache to see them, counting down the days. How when we are together it is as though no time at all has passed.
How do I explain working for a place which opens the door for the gospel to be shared and received? How do I state the significance of a place which fights for God's Kingdom by giving others an opportunity to be known and loved? A place which lives for adventure and seeks to change the world along the way.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Hampton Court Palace

Today, I toured Hampton Court Palace, an official historic, royal palace. Following are some of the sights I saw, history I learned, and favorites I enjoyed. The guard chamber of King William III. The magnificent display of 2,871 items of armor and weapons displayed a message that William was a great soldier and peacemaker. William's Presence chamber. Only high-ranking individuals were permitted into this room. William would be distinguished by sitting on a Chair of Estate. Those who entered his presence were required to remove their hats and make three low bows to the King, or even his empty chair. I'm grateful to serve an accessible King, who is with me wherever I go. William's eating room. He was expected to dine here on occasions "in front of persons of good fashion and good appearance," in order to display the sumptuousness of his food and to reassure everyone he was in good health. He was served by three servants on bended knee. William's P

Oopsy Daisy

Today I learned a cultural lesson through my daisy chain making. I was just being typical Gennavieve, frolicking in the fields between the rose geranium and picking daisies. I decided to make a chain and, before long, I had quickly assembled a round daisy necklace. I held it for a bit and then one of the workers, Mikeal, came up to our group and I decided to give it to him, so I put the flower garland around his head and it plopped on his neck. Little did I know that my actions meant much more than I had intended. Mikeal's eyes lit up and he screamed in Zulu to his coworkers, proudly showing off his chain. I giggled at first and then after the eruption of laughter from the workers, I realized that I had done something unusual. I swiftly found Pendele, one of the women who I've grown to trust and love who also translates for us, and asked her to explain why the men had been laughing. She began to laugh herself when I told her and after she regained composure she sai

JCR Welcoming Dinner

As part of New College, I was cordially invited to a welcoming dinner in the JCR Private Dining Room at St. Catherine's College. This invitation is considered an incredible honor and, after talking to the presidents, many students never receive the privilege of a formal dining experience in a college hall. The evening called for black tie attire, which meant tuxes for the guys and formal dresses for the girls. Luckily, I packed my sister's pink cotton candy gown. The evening began in a welcoming chamber. We entered and, having been handed a glass of sherry, began making small conversation. After a social bit, we were lead to the dining hall, where we were seated at a table purposely designed higher than the other tables in the hall, symbolizing its importance. The plates had individual name cards, designating seats. I sat to the left of the special, middle head-chair which seated, Deepak Mukhi, our program director. I took one glance at my place setting, noting the multi