Tomorrow the last Closing Services will be taking place for Day Camps 2016. Oh my!
Regular readers are no doubt sick and tired of my constantly harping on about how quickly the 6 weeks fly but…well they DO!!! And here we are at the ending. Today Team 1 is travelling back to Montreal by bus, tomorrow 3 Teams return by plane or bus and Monday the last 2 Teams come back via plane or train. Then Tuesday is the annual Team Leaders Evaluation Meeting (TLEM) and Thursday the Prayer and Praise Gathering followed by Staff Pre-Camp next Friday and Saturday!
This will be the last “Postcards” posts so without further ado, let’s get started.
Team 1- has spent the week at CFB Bagotville, near Chicoutimi, which is 6 hours Northeast of Montreal. It has been quite a small Camp averaging about 9-11 Campers but the Team has been made to feel very welcome, staying with Padre David and his wife both of whom are totally involved with the Day Camp and keen to make things work. They are tired but happy as the end is in sight.
Team 2- is still in Toronto, this week working with Brenda O’Connor (Training Team Leader and former Committee Member) at the Church of the Transfiguration, where she is Children’s Pastor. This is the first time they have used our Program and with over 20 children attending, I think it has been a positive experience for everyone. The Team is looking forward to a “proper” Sunday Closing Service after which they will hop on a Megabus to head home.
Team 3-Team 3, (apart from starting off the week minus the very important ukulele) has had a lovely final week with Rev. Warren in the town of Dysart, Sask. Emmanuel was so excited when he last called because they were going to get to “RIDE HORSES”, a real treat for big city teens! Rev. Warren is just super, as is the coordinator, Amy, and they had worked with upwards of 40 campers all week, but with plenty of eager helpers. It is a blessing that the Team is able to end on a positive note. They have met some big challenges over the 4 weeks, (without complaint) and I think the challenging places have proved very special to them as well, because they have seen how their being in the communities does make a real difference in the lives of the Campers, which has been a source of blessing to the Team.
Team 4- has been leading the Day Camp at Pense First Nation, just outside Regina, Gillian, their Leader, keeps forgetting to phone because they are “having so much fun”!! This week they remained at last week’s billet in the Rectory of St. Luke’s Regina, as the two churches share ministry. I think this has been special for them as they really hit it off with Father Michael and have been made to feel so welcome in his home, sharing in musical jam sessions, and group “reading aloud” as well as home Services and times of Prayer.
Team 5-Team Leader, Myles, has always been first to call in this week as the church they are at in the Parish of Kent, NB opted to just run an extended half-day Program (starting earlier but ending at lunch time). Although is has been a small Camp, Myles reports that the community has not been disappointed. This Team also has been made very welcome in the Rectory and were even taken, last evening on a little excursion to a local zoo!! They too will be able to offer a Sunday Closing Service as their train does not leave Moncton until Sunday Afternoon, arriving back in Montreal on Monday morning.
Team 6- Oh my goodness! Team 6 has had another week full of challenges, again met without a word of complaint. Last evening David phoned to say the day had been particularly difficult after a Camper has accidently knocked David’s laptop off a chair, shattering the screen. The child was terribly upset and so was David! But it turns out that it is just the screen that needs to be replaced and I immediately told him the Day Camps would find the money to pay for this, as he should not have to bear that burden as well. The community they are in includes a number of children from very difficult home situations and some in foster care but David reports that there have been some special opportunities to bring Jesus’ love and healing into these young lives and the Team has witnessed changes in behaviour even in this short time and so are encouraged about the Camp. This Team also will be able to make a small presentation within the Sunday Service. They fly home, Monday, from Saskatoon.
So there you are, the final week. Please pray with us that the many many seed sown by the Teams this summer will be well watered and nurtured in the months ahead so that they might bear fruit and that we might have carried out fully CTM’s Mission Statement: –
“Helping People of All Ages to Become Strong Disciples of Jesus Christ”
Before I sign off a quick coda on what the week has held back at home base:–
Invoicing, travel arrangements & billeting plans, baking for Pre-Camp, prepping evaluations and prayer letters, a bit of sewing, a bit of gardening, several visitors (both expected and “un”) and the imminent demise of our 30 year old fridge, meaning that the fan screams day and night, said fridge
is located directly below my bedroom!!! Just a quiet week at the Taylors’ (ahem).
And lastly a recipe for the Orange Ice cream I’ll be serving to the Team Leaders, come Tuesday, in homemade cookie ”Ice Cream Sandwiches”. I make large sugar cookies or ginger snaps to use for the sandwiches.
Orange Ice Cream
- 2 limes
- 1 large Valencia orange
- 2 ½ cups heavy cream
- 1 cup icing sugar
Grate the rind from the limes and orange and place in a large mixing bowl. Squeeze the juice from the fruits and add to the grated rind along with the icing sugar. Stir well to dissolve the sugar. Add the well-chilled heavy cream. With an electric mixer, beat the mixture until soft peaks form. Pack into a shallow 2 quart container and freeze overnight until firm. Before serving, transfer to the fridge for about 30 minutes to soften. Makes approx. 1 doz. Ice Cream Sandwiches.