Week 6 - 2 camps, 1 didgeridoo & a lot of dishes

It’s been a hot second since we sent out an update! After two full weeks of camp in Bellvue, CO, we took a few days to recharge by a lake before heading back into the mountains for another few weeks of camp in Winter Park.

We absolutely loved our time at Camp Good Buddy. The team has worked so hard over the years to create such a unique space, and after hearing about it for so long, it was pretty sweet to finally see it all in action.

Camp wrapped up with a BBQ, story sharing, and plenty of toasts. And then, seemingly out of nowhere, one of the guys pulled out a collection of didgeridoos (indigenous wind instrument) he had been gifted over the years. Naturally, a few of the guys had to give them a try.

By the end of the evening, Logan had somehow been generously gifted one of his very own to take with us on the road. You better believe a good chunk of the following week was spent listening to Logan attempt to figure out how to make a pleasing sound come out of it. We’re still waiting on that particular breakthrough.

After camp, we spent a few days set up by Lake Carter in Loveland before making our way back up into the Rocky Mountains. For the next three-ish weeks, we’ll be serving with Timberline Ministries, one of 23 centers around the world that are part of an international organization called Torchbearers. Torchbearers offers short and long-term Bible school programs. I’ve had the opportunity to be involved with three of the centers over the years, both as a student and volunteer. In 2023, I moved to America to volunteer with Timberline, and within my first month of living here, I met Logan in town. Timberline runs a nine-month, live-in gap-year Bible school during the school year before shifting gears in the summer to host family camps.

The timing of our visit has worked out pretty perfectly. Not only do we get to jump in and help during some of the busiest weeks of the year, but we also get to celebrate a friend’s wedding and be part of the lead-up to it.

On Sunday, we were able to attend the church we went to while living in town. We also got to reconnect with the lead pastor and our old house church pastor. We’re hoping and praying that if there are ways we can serve the church community while we’re here, word will get back to us.

This week, I’ve predominantly been helping in the kitchen. Family camps are hectic for everyone on staff, and the kitchen definitely levels up from the school-year routine. It’s a familiar space for me to step into, and I genuinely love getting to work behind the scenes to put together good food that gives people something delicious to gather around and enjoy.

It’s also been so much fun to work alongside and catch up with familiar faces I lived and worked with for the better part of two years. And having Logan here this time around, getting to meet and connect with some of the guys, has been especially sweet.

On the flip side, Logan had a much less defined role coming into these next few weeks. We had told the team we were happy to jump in wherever we were needed, which initially translated into LOTS of dishes for Logan.

But then word got around about his experience with vehicle mechanics.

Suddenly, Logan was inundated, in the best possible way, with cars and vans that needed looking at. I literally watched his face light up as he started using his skills to solve problems both big and small, from helping staff get around town to making sure guests could safely make it home.

As I write this, the staff are wrapping up turnover and preparing to do it all over again on Sunday afternoon.

While we’re here, we really hope to bless the staff with a few extra pairs of hands, a mechanically skilled brain, and plenty of good food. We hope and pray to utilize this time well as there is plenty to do.