Back to Camp

Four years ago, I spent a summer on staff with a wonderful organization called Passporkids! It is a sister organization of the popular ecumenical youth camp called Passport that works specifically with 3rd-6th grade campers. I was the camp pastor and traveled around in a couple of cargo vans for 10 weeks providing camp for hundreds of kids from across the country. I preached a lot, sometimes even every night. I led recreation every morning. I helped to spiritually direct the summer experiences of the college-aged staff. I worked very hard and was exhausted beyond words at the end of the summer. Yet, it was such a wonderful confidence building experience for me that yes, indeed, I would be respected as a woman in the pastorate (I think every young woman needs an time like this in their early years).

Now I'm on the other side of the fence as a pastor on staff at a church bringing kids to camp. It has been a joy this week to watch the bright eyes of excitement from my church kids (see their faces in the picture above). It has been fun to watch the parents who are with me find out how wonderful of an organization Passport is for themselves.

But, best of all, I get to do more of the fun stuff this go around. I'm not the one always running around leading things. My job is just to hang out with the kids and make sure our group is doing alright. I love being on the other end of it. It feels like a great reward after all the hours I put in on the other side of the fence. Today is a day that I can celebrate the fact that it is a good to be a grown up! I now longer spend my summers at camp . . . only a week :)