You may remember that Mrs. Potato Head was in the hospital two weeks ago to have a rotten spot removed.  Well, I am happy to tell you that she has completely recovered and her doctor even gave her permission to go to  Camp Nawakwa last week. 

Mrs. Potato Head went to Family Camp alone.  Now, you might think that one person alone is hardy a family, but let me tell you, Family Camp is for everyone, because, you see, Family Camp doesn’t just mean you BRING your family.  Family Camp also means you ARE family with all the other campers when you arrive!  And you can tell that is true, because on Saturday morning, after seven days of living together in Christian Community, there are a lot of sad good byes and family-like hugs!

“See you next year!”  Mrs. Potato Head said to Mrs. Gerbrich as they hugged goodbye.  “I’ll e-mail you that recipe we talked about.”

So, here is Mrs. Potato Head in her apartment with all her stuff that she needs to put away yet from camp. As she sorted through her things, she found the bracelet that one of the campers made for her.  See, isn’t it pretty?

And here is the handbook with all the camper’s names, and here is a necklace she made in the Craft Hall.

One of the things that Mrs. Potato Head noticed most about camp was how great the counselors are!  She watched as the Craftie counselors used much patience and care as they showed the children how to paint their ceramics.  She watched as the kitchen helpers carried out the heavy trays of food everyday.  Mrs. Potato Head stood up to applaud when the kitchen help brought out the camp famous peanut butter pie! 

She watched as a big college aged counselor helped the little children who were at camp from the city of Harrisburg.  It was their first time in the woods, maybe their first time away from family overnight.  The counselor had a flashlight and they walked in the darkness together to the athletic field where their tent was for their campout.

Mrs. Potato Head watched as one little girl in the “zero to two’s” age group wandered off from the playground and a counselor found her right away and brought her back to the rest of the group.

And when one little boy fell on the trail during the Gold Rush activity, a counselor carried him to the nurse and the nurse washed his cut knee and put a Band-Aid on it.

As Jesus traveled about the countryside, many people came to him to hear his words and to feel his healing touch.  Jesus looked at them and had great compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.  Jesus is our Good Shepherd.  Jesus leads his people through the darkness, he finds them when they are lost, he prepares a table before them.  He heals them.  Jesus teaches.

Mrs. Potato Head watched as the counselors led the Bible Study lessons for the children. 

“These children are like sheep and these counselors are like shepherds” she thought. 

Mrs. Potato Head thought about what an important job being a camp counselor is.  And she thought that “some day” Barabas and Elizabeth would be wonderful camp counselors.

Did you know that sometimes Camp Counselors grow up to be pastors and other church workers?

Maybe some day, YOU will be a camp counselor.     THE END

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