by Pastor Wayne Zschech
Fifth grade. That’s how old I was when I went to Camp Beisler for a sleep-away camp for a week along with my sister, who was in the fourth grade. We slept in cabins with bunk beds, swam and canoed in the lake, learned archery, played games, and had more fun each day than I could ever remember from my past summer vacations. My only regret the entire week was not writing a postcard or letter home to mom and dad more than once. Apparently, mom was dying to hear from me since this was the first time we’d ever been away from home for a week, and it was killing her not to hear from her firstborn. She corrected this behavior by having me write to my father every day later that summer when we were at the shore for a week while my dad still had to work at home.
Since Camp Beisler was a Lutheran camp, in addition to all the activities, there were also devotions, Bible study, and worship each morning and night. That might sound boring, but it wasn’t. The songs were fun to sing (and learn the hand motions to), and the camp counselors were so cool in sharing the Bible stories for devotions. And because this was a Lutheran camp, conversations about faith and Bible stories weren’t limited to devotion and worship times. Looking back on that week at Camp Beisler, it may have been the first time I recall being able to integrate my faith into daily life. How did the stories I learned about in Sunday school apply to my life as a boy about to enter middle school? What is it like to live life as a Christian outside of church? What does it mean to have a relationship with God? With Jesus?
This summer, I’ll be going back to camp. Same camp. Different name. Camp Beisler is now Crossroads Camp and Outdoor Retreat Center. I volunteered to be the camp chaplain for the week of July 13-19 (Sunday to Saturday). That week of camp will have campers from grades 2-8 as well as a Leadership Camp for high school youth, grades 9-12. I share this because I dearly hope some of the children and youth from Our Savior will join me. I know the thought of being away from home for a week, from parents and friends, might be a little scary. At the same time, at least your pastor will be at camp with you! You’ll definitely know someone from home. Additionally, the Congregation Council recommended the Memorial Gift Board provide $2,000 in camperships to those attending camp this summer to help defray the cost and not let that be prohibitive for attending.
I can’t believe I get to go back to camp this summer, the same camp that was such a significant part of my faith development and understanding of what it means to live life as a Christian. I hope I’m not the only one from Our Savior attending the week of July 13-19. If you would like more information, you can check out Crossroads on their website at www.crossroadsretreat.com. If you would like to get more of my perspective, I’d welcome the opportunity to chat. The one piece of advice I would give to those who choose to attend is this: Be sure to write home to your parents. They will miss you! Blessings in the Easter season.
