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| Autumn 2002 | Number 26 |
Basic Stats: 446 campers; 7 weeks of overnight camp; 1 week Leadership Training ("CEY Camp"); Labour Day Wknd Family Camp; Canoe Trip: 4 staff & 6 campers. 120 recorded professions of new faith in Christ (112 in 2001). Pictures
1) I greatly appreciated the help I received from my Assistant Programme Director, Carly Vieira.
2) Marilyn Shaver was again of great help to me in the office side of my duties.
3) Robin Harbron's help enabled me to have a relatively computer-problem-free summer.
4) Despite severe shortages in volunteer staff even as late as June, a good number of people responded to God's call to serve with us - resulting in, I believe, a very effective and enjoyable staff team. To each of you who gave of yourself in this way: thank you.
5) The leadership training week (led by Rebecca Wright & Elaine Kalnbach) was a great success.
6) The Staff Wind Down Days were a wonderful, relaxing way to end the summer.
However,
7) The 2nd last Sat. of Camp I suffered a morning of confusion and memory loss.
Thank you
Katie for ratting on me to Marilyn who took me to the hospital. (Thanks).
My CT scan results say that my brain is unremarkable (no stroke). Some people suggest
stress (although I was far more stressed out at that time the previous year) or sleep
deprivation (a possibility) to account for my symptoms.
8) We need a new Site Manager as the Hamblys have moved on to Galilean Bible Camp.
9) The Admin. Assistant position remains unfilled. Charlie's Exec. Director time gets taken up by bookkeeping etc. and I am distracted from Programme matters by Registration and so Keith has to take time from Mgr of Ops stuff for Programme. (Keith & Charlie also now have Site Management tasks such as snow ploughing to take care of). We need someone to take on these office tasks. And perhaps 7) indicates that I can not carry on this way much longer.
10) Please pray also for my Dad's physical and emotional health as he recovers from the amputation of his remaining leg and a staph infection.
11) I would ask for continued prayer regarding our drop in camper numbers, (2001: 525; 2000: 584).
I believe it's not just the shortage of volunteers that accounts for this, but also the lateness of filling the gaps. It becomes difficult to promote Camp to potential campers. It's unclear to me what we (Admin.) or the volunteers themselves can do to change this situation.
On the Monday of Staff Wind Down it took me a while to figure out why extra people - eventually including my parents - were showing up for supper. It was a surprise party for my 31 years at camp. Thank you to the planners and to all who attended and thank you for the gifts. I had hoped to be able to report here, but at this point I'm still working on how I will spend the money. Pictures
Thank you, Dave & Jo Anne Toews, for hosting me during the week. Most of the time I just relaxed by reading, watching TV, eating and sleeping. I did have coffee with cabin leader Carla Gibson in Hamilton and looked around St. Catharines. I still have some holiday time left to take before the end of the year, but have no definite plans made yet. As well thank you, Dad, for your air miles.
"Keeping busy?" people ask. Of course, that's not the point of life. My busyness may in fact have interfered with the most valuable parts of life and I hope to change that. But it's a conversation starter and so here's a brief summary of what most people are trying to ask about:
I will continue with my record-keeping, Programme planning, "Web Authoring", helping Patrick Cain (new Inter-School Christian Fellowship staff) and music ministry, along with any Camp things that come my way.
I am also official photographer for Cambrian Players' Nov. production. I did make it to the final three for the male lead, but wasn't cast. I still get to attend rehearsals and now I see that the role might have been too much for me. I'm told there's a good chance for a part in the Spring.
(By the way, the family crisis I've mentioned to some for prayer has still not happened and thus still looms ahead).
Thank you for your prayers and interest.
Richard
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