It seems that with everyone away at Junior & Senior Youth Camps things would be a bit quieter around here. HA! But it has been a good kind of “busyness”.
During the first part of the week I was occupied writing a number of prayer letters and putting together some tiny gifts to pop into each envelope and during office hours I was slowly working through the compilation of 21 Team Evaluation packages. Each one included a copy of our 2017 Team Photo, a composite letter to all the Team Members and then a handwritten individual evaluation letter, all of which takes quite a long time, as it is important to pray and ponder over each one.
Monday evening some dear friends, who are also neighbours, came for dinner and the weather was just right to eat on the deck! Another friend was supposed to come Tuesday but due to a household problem we postponed to Wednesday. Meanwhile in every spare moment I was assembling an ever-growing pile of objects to take on my day trip to the Camps!
After much “to-ing and fro-ing” my ride was finalised for Thursday so that day I was up super early, scooting through chores and the Wil Walk in order to be ready for pick-up in the late morning.We ended up with a full car (excellent conservation of fossil fuel!!) with Chris (a Youth Pastor going to SYC to lead a Workshop), his 13 year old Godson, Ezra, who was coming to see what Camp is all about with the possibility of attending next year, myself, Wil and Sarah (who had just missed her bus and was going to SYC as nurse for the last few days of the week). Sarah was able to take the Metro back into NDG from the bus station so we looped around and picked her up before heading onto the highway for the 2-hour drive to Camp in the Eastern Townships. Despite a full car (or maybe because of it?) the ride was truly pleasant with everyone sharing in the conversation and with Wil being the perfect gentlemen. He lay in the middle of the back seat with his snout on the armrest between the two front seats. Apart from Chris occasionally elbowing Wil’s snout and waking him up, the trip was pretty peaceful and we arrived at SYC with 10 minutes or so to prepare for our workshops. The Ninja Stress Balls workshop went really smoothly. I had such a nice group of 7 Campers none of whom complained when, upon arriving at the craft hut we found the table covered with the staff children’s rock painting materials including a HUGE amount of loose glitter!! They all pitched in and cleaned the table and soon were busy making stress/juggling balls! They also ALL stayed to clean up afterwards and as I collected my bags and baskets to hurry over to the Worship Hall for the Liturgical Dance workshop I left them happily juggling outside by the lakefront 😊.
Wil was settled on the blanket I had brought as 2 Campers and 2 Staff, along with our visitor, Ezra, arrived to learn the Liturgical Dance. I had chosen to choreograph, this song, which I wrote about in an earlier post and which I felt fitted very well with the 2017 Camp Theme- “Bigger Than Right”.
Ezra took the role of “sound tech” since he would not be staying until Saturday’s Closing Service and everyone worked hard for an hour or so until the piece had come together nicely. Syndi Belle was entrusted with the dance notation file and agreed to arrange short practice sessions over the next two days, in readiness for Saturday’s presentation. Last year Timothy recorded part of the Closing Service Dance, I wonder if he will do the same today? I do hope so. It is a bit sad to work with the group and then never see the result but since it is a worship offering it is much more important that the Lord sees it and that the congregation is able to be part of the experience. As I write the Service is already over but I was praying this morning that everything went well.
And so after the dance Wil and I packed up again and soon were climbing into the Huyer’s van that they had leant to me so I could drive over and visit JYC. It was a beautiful late afternoon and the light on the summer fields and hills was so lovely!! The (shortcut!!) drive on mostly dirt roads only takes about 20 minutes and I was soon turning in among the pine trees and slowly driving down the familiar track into Cedar Lodge. I calculated that I have visited that site almost every year for 37 years!!!!EEEK. In the early years Cedar Lodge was the location for Focus Weekend held on Labour Day Weekend, a Retreat for CEGEP and University Students. Focus is no more but JYC has also used Cedar Lodge for about 20 years, ever since both Camps relocated from sites we rented in the Laurentian Mountains North of Montreal. Wil and I were given a hearty welcome at JYC with hugs for me and lots of pats for Wil. We headed down to the big boardwalk by the main lodge, overlooking the lake and I got to visit with several dear friends on Staff and also with my Godson Tighe and his siblings. Tighe is only 5 years old and thus a Staff child, but his brother and sister are both Campers
this year.
As everyone at JYC was getting ready for heir special “banquet dinner” Wil and I quickly ate the picnic we had brought and then headed back to SYC. Supper had finished there and an outdoor game was in progress so we sat on the stairs outside the Staff Lounge and Wil snoozed while I knitted and enjoyed the lovely cool evening. Janice soon came out too and it was super to have a little chat with her as next week she heads to Toronto to begin as an IVCF Staff worker at York University. We will all miss her very much but Toronto is at least not quite as far away as Regina, where she interned last year😊
Once the game was over Chris, Ezra, Wil and I said our good-byes and hit the highway for home. Chris dropped us off shortly after 10pm, a long but very special day. I was SO thankful to have had the opportunity to enjoy time with two other Ministries of CTM and to spend a long day welcomed with so much love into their Camp communities.
Sorry this is a very looong Post but so much goodness has been fitted into the last 7 days that I did so want to share it!
Yesterday was mostly catch up on Office and other work with a bit of sewing time as I finished up the Birthday gifts for my eldest Godson, William, who will turn 8 (EIGHT!!!) next Thursday. The Huyers will be breaking their journey here tonight as they travel from Camp back to Ottawa so Victoria will be tucking my gifts into her luggage to give him on the big day!
Well before I head off to do some baking for a small tea party happening here tomorrow, I thought I would share the recipe for the main course I served my friends last Monday Evening. So here goes….
- 12 oz. Soba Noodles (I used both plain and Green Tea Noodles)
- 4 boneless Chicken Thighs
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 garlic scape (or clove), minced
- 1 tsp. powdered ginger
- 2 Tbsps. each Tamari soy sauce& rice vinegar
- 3 Tbsps. olive oil
- 2 tsps. sesame oil
- 2 medium carrots, julienned
- 8 oz. fresh green beans, trimmed and halved
- 4 cups finely shredded green cabbage
Place the chicken thighs, stock, garlic and ginger in a shallow pan, cover, bring to the boil and simmer gently for 10 minutes, or until cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan with a slotted spoon and set aside to cool, then shred. Reserve the cooking liquid in a small bowl or measuring cup. Cook the noodles, adding the carrots and beans during the last 2 minutes of cooking time, drain well and cool to room temperature. Place the shredded cabbage in a large salad bowl, add the noodles, vegetables and chicken and toss gently. To the reserved cooking liquid add the soya sauce, oils and rice vinegar. Whisk well and pour over the salad. Toss again and serve at room temperature. Serves 4-6.
