I confess: I post on Facebook far more than I blog here. Is it the ease of the single line post? Maybe I should Twitter (or Tweet) too? That said, there is something to say for the longer written word. As one trained in journalism, I should know this!
I'm writing from Victory Bible Camp, Mile 95 of the Glenn Highway toward Glennallen. We're somewhere north of Sutton, in a place where I get decent Internet connections but poor cellular service. Ah, technology.
It's the annual Lutheran Summer Camp week here at Victory. We rent out the camp and the staff support us during the week. Our cookie plates at our tables in the cafeteria even say "Lutherans" on them. It's a nice touch.
Victory is nestled in valley. If you hike up, like I did today, you can see sweeping views of both sides of the valley and the Matanuska Glacier in the distance. The trails are shadowed by aspen and spruce and I picked blueberries and raspberries as I hiked.
The camp is divided by age groups: grades 3-6 are called "Alpine" and 7-9 "Koinonia." We share meals in common, as well as opening worship and evening campfire. Attendance is lower this year; we have barely 50 campers, I think fewer. But we have at least 20 high-school-aged counselors. About half of them are youth from Central's Drop-in-Center.
I can't remember if I've blogged on this before but it is incredible to see those young men at work. They've not been confirmed, I think most are unbaptized. But they've grown up at Central's neighborhood Drop-in-Center, then came to camp on scholarship, then as counselors. I would never expect those punk-looking kids in black hoodies to answer my questions about where to see God (in other people, one announced today) or help kids open up Bibles and encourage them during worship. And they do all the hand motions to the camp songs! It's a testament to all the people at Central who have nurtured these kids over the years. I'm really proud of them.
It's early evening now. The younger kids are doing Bible study, the older ones are playing Capture the Flag. There's a light breeze blowing across the lake. It's almost time for campfire.
Our theme this week is "Love to Serve," and today's theme was "Called to Serve." We talked this morning in worship about how camp is a holy, set away place. I wonder how God will speak to these kids this week. God must be saying something. They keep coming back, year after year. I pray they will hear God this week. I pray we all will.
