I keep seeing photos from our days at Camp Selkirk. We were appointed to the role of divisional youth leaders in 1990. I was 34 and had a lot of energy, so being on 124 acres of land for the summer was really beneficial for my physical and emotional health.

In the five years we were there, we developed new camp committees for many of the camps, developed a plan for further property and facility development, cut trails through the trees, set up a boardwalk through the creek area, sold the old cabins, built eight new 1800 sq. foot cabins, built pine lodge. We set the staff into more modern wear for work, bought new equipment for the camp, We were able to greatly increase the pay of the staff to attract older candidates. We did devotions with them, walked with them, talked about real life and the importance of the transition from teens to adults. We instilled Hebrews 10:25 into their thinking.

It was a grand time for us. It was a stressful time. Our boss didn’t like us, made life difficult most of the time, refused to really provide the support we needed. So with 6 months to go before his retirement when he fell and broke his leg, I whispered the prayer “LORD, we thank thee.”.

I did three weddings in the following years of those camp staffers, was able to stay in touch with many, even today, and came to wonder how could thirty years go by so quickly. Today many of them have some kind of leadership role in the church and though some have had struggles it is interesting how they stay in touch with each other.

Rodney recently has been diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour. It is his Salvation Army friends who have rallied around him, and many go back to these days.