I wish I could adequately put into words what our month at Saranac was for me. I've had my share of bad/hard/long/difficult assignments. I have truly never enjoyed an assignment as much as this one.
rest: Ben worked hard and very long hours and I do not consider him rested. I stayed up way too late and got up early. However, it was good to be away. It was good to have one purpose (being mom and wife). I did not have a gazillion other things on my mind. I rested mentally, physically and spiritually. I had great and consistent quiet times - the picture below is my view from the dock most mornings. We were fed three great meals a day and the kitchen in our house was stocked with food. We attended events or we didn't. There was great freedom in just being. I came home with some clarity on some things and a hope for things renewed.
- ministry: Everyone there was working for one goal and one purpose - changed lives (campers, work crew, summer stuff, and us personally on the assignment team). It's amazing to rally around something so big and exciting all together.
- like minded people: Everyone on our assignment team are people doing the same thing that we do at home. Ministry is often hard and frustrating as well as completely rewarding and awesome. Everyone gets that. We will never live in the same town as some of our best friends because most areas can't support multiple staff. Assignments are precious times we get to spend an extended amount of time together.
- fun: One of my goals this summer was to be present and play with my kids. And that's what I did. Although it was often among their friends and other moms, we played. We made a lot of memories and it wasn't me behind the computer or pre-occupied with chores or a to do list or work.
- the assignment team: best ever. Hands down. We laughed together. We played together. We worked hard together. No one was worried that someone else was doing more or less work. Everyone helped each other along the way. We truly enjoyed being with each other. A good team is an enormous blessing. This was a team of rock stars.
- the property staff and interns: some of the best people I've ever met. They made us feel loved and cared for as families and as team members. They were incredibly kind and so much fun. They welcomed us into their homes and their lives and were an absolute joy to be with.
- friendship: Old friends and new friends. Different life stages. Different gifts and passions. Different parenting styles. Different personalities. Great friendship.
The A-Team Ladies
Nikki, Susie, Laura, Carrie
Sally, Allison, Allie, Leigh, Ali
*missing Lori & Morgan
Drees, Ben and Phil
42 All
the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to
fellowship, and to sharing in meals, and to prayer . . . 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had . . . 46 They
worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s
Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— 47 all
the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And
each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. (Acts 2)
I feel like this is what a Young Life assignment it. We share everything we have: food, kids, fun, toys, hardships, living space, bathrooms, colds, stories, washers and dyers, finger nail polish, craft supplies, scooters. We worship together, we pray together and share a lot of meals together. (And late night snacks.) We watch God work in kid's lives and our lives. We are part of something much bigger than ourselves.
Our Team:
Camp Director:
Scott Berg & Susie, Emma (13), Mary (11) & David (7)
Camp Speaker:
Mike Cramer & Lori (see under head leader)
Head Leaders:
Lori Cramer, Brittany (17), Ashley (14) & Cooper (14)
Ben Tuel & Laura, Ted (10) & Sophie (8)
Program:
David Drees & Morgan
Phil Parker & Sally
Summer Staff Coordinators:
Brad Bucklad & Leigh, Miles (7), Evelyn (5) & Jameson (2)
Alli Chambers
Work Crew Bosses:
Sean McCartney & Carrie, Grayson (6) & Hattie (1.5)
Alex Eckard & Nikki
Jake Johnson
Allison Korson
Allie Smith
The Bergs
The Cramers
The Eckards
The Tuels
The Bucklads
The Parkers
What it takes to make Jameson laugh
Work Crew bosses minus Sean
Jake, Allison, Allie & Jake
Phil, Jake & David
Sam Post & Mike Cramer - hilarious!
The Guide House - our home away from home
13 bedrooms
7 private bathrooms
2 community bathrooms
2 laundry rooms
2 play rooms
1 kitchen
1 great room
The view from the 103 year old boat house
my morning views (and the one below)
The Game Room
The Club Room
The cabins campers stayed in
Things I want to remember:
a-team bible studies • fishing • berg scouts • ladies boat day • running out of gas • the boat train • the interns loving our guide house parties • skinny dickies • beautiful weather • low country boil • consistent quiet times on the dock • lake placid • no grocery shopping or cooking • chase rice • sharing colds • beach dinners and seagulls • obstacle course • fruit smashes • that one time we sat in the living room instead of around the kitchen counter • paddle boards • kayaks • tubing • parasailing • the water wienie • the slide (and when Ted did it 22 times in a row) • wiffle ball • hammocks • family business • goody goody's • hiking bakers mountain • tableaus and dancing kids • the enormous bruise on my leg • Ted
& Mary's experiment with zombies • jumping off the
pontoon boat and tommy's rock • admin training days • the fire alarm b/c of the fire place at
2:30 am • the camp fire alarm • the guide house parties • the pre and post guide house parties
• woodman's games • the optional tournament sell • say so's • the harvey johnson radio show • glen pineapple • the captain • living down the hall from your best friends • the property staff and interns • the ropes course • UHS, MHS & CBHS coming week 4 • the Maorie's • the wild center • the indoor carousel • the glow stick party for the a-team kids • phil teaching the kids the opera finale dance• the sam post memorial swag way derby
