Highlight #1
Highlight #2
At the end of May 2004, we received a call from our 'boss' basically asking us if we would drop all of our plans, pack up and go to The Salvation Army camp in Madawaska to be camp Directors of the Rainbow Program (camp for teens) for the summer. We were surprised at the call, the request and the reason for it. However, after giving it some thought and prayer we decided we would. It was a very timely request being made of us for reasons I will not mention. Let's just say we needed the change of scenery.
It was one of the best decisions we ever made for our family and it definitely will go down as a highlight of my life.
Madawaska (for all you non-SA readers) is a huge piece of wilderness bordering Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada (not sure of all the facts) and is literally in the middle of no where. It is unspoiled land with unspeakable beauty involving, water, trees, wildlife, and majestic skies. It is God's Country.
When I first arrived I felt completely out of place, awkward and unneeded. There was a large staff, and everyone had a job to do and I felt like I was just 'there'. I had my three kids with me so I basically had to be with them all day. After some time, a light bulb went on and I realized I had the perfect opportunity to enjoy the scenery, enjoy my kids and build relationships. So that's what I did.
The kids had the time of their lives. They still speak of it and the people they met. They had the whole summer to be outside swimming, hiking, camping, exploring and biking, not to mention seeking and receiving attention from lots of people. What more could a kid want.
I marveled at the sunsets, the shoreline, the starry nights, the peace, and the wilderness. But most of all I got to know some people that will always have a place in my heart. People that I built relationships with. People that I miss, a lot. In a setting like that, friendships just happen because you are with people all day everyday, living a sheltered life together.
We took a lot of pictures but not enough. I have randomly picked a few to share.
Unfortunately, something is going screwy on me and there are a lot of pictures that will not post...ARGH! These will have to do.
5 comments:
my parents cottage is in huntsville, close to the park. we use to go and visit at the park a couple of times a year as well, it's absolutely incredible.
Are those bug bites on your daughter? Ouch!
Yes tey sure are! the bugs were insane!
Madawaska is very close to Huntsville...we used to go there on our day off!
I LOVE camp and the all the bonds people make when spending a summer together.
miss you too (sniff) (sniff)
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