Wedding Party

I was in a wedding party this past weekend; it was for my friend Devan.  This wasn't my first encounter with weddings or wedding parties, like some of the younger folks attending; in fact besides being ring boy and father of the bride, I've done all a man can do in a wedding.  I really enjoyed myself this weekend, and in particular I enjoyed hanging with the rest of the groomsmen.  I find it very interesting how a lot of times at weddings you get together with a lot of people you don't know, but there is already a common bond: the wedding couple.  Because of that you often share characteristics with others present because the groom is who he is and is likely to be friends with certain type of people.  So, the same reason that made my friendship with Devan what it is, made it pretty easy to get along with his other friends.  Obviously sometimes a wedding party is very tight because they do hang out together lots aside from the wedding; this was the experience of my own wedding.  The other thing that struck me is how wedding pictures often portray this tight-knit bond, but is usually farther from the truth.  You might have one side of a wedding party very familiar with each other, but to have both the groom and bride's parties tight is rare.  But yet in wedding pictures we portray that we're all friendly with one another.  I can tell you the name of the girl I was "coupled" with in this last wedding, but yet I couldn't tell you another thing.  I wonder how we will come out in the pictures.  The truth is weddings are a wonderful thing to unite people and share good times; it's appropriate to call those involved a wedding party.

Nelson Lake Vacation = rain

It happened again; I'm at the lake for vacation and its raining. It's been this way for as long as I can remember; I don't really remember being at the lake on vacation and thinking, "Wow, it's hot out here!"  When I was a kid, it was pretty epic sometimes.  One time I remember being out in Calgary and it continued to pour and pour.  To make matters worse we were in this wide open field of a campground with the major highway in front of us, train tracks behind us, and planes taking off over us.  When mom and dad finally broke down and decided to get a hotel we couldn't, because it was Stampede week and nothing was available.  A lot of our vacation pictures are usually us soaking wet.  Fast forward many years to today.  I'm at Waskesieu for the week and it's raining, just like it did last year when I was here for the week.  I'm seriously thinking I'm cursed.  Or perhaps the way I walk is a subtle version of the raindance; that might actually be it.  Whenever I got to sit on my butt lots and not do much work; it's gorgeous out.  This is why when I go on vacation I pack alot of books, videogames, or my laptop to find a internet hotspot.  What else am I going to do?  Go fishing, swimming, or just bask in the sun?  I'm a Nelson on vacation, we don't do that.

Torch Trail Day 4

I have found myself encouraged and blessed by the staff here at Torch Trail.  In a short time I have found myself impressed and forming friendships with some of people here.  John the director is someone that I have great confidence in as a leader for this camp, and would have felt much better leaving it in his hands when we all left.  In fact, I might have continued working here if he was at the lead then.  Tyler the programmer, is someone who would have fit in well with our programming staff.  The cabin leaders have a bond and friendship that remind me of my friends.  The last day and half, Rachelle and I have enjoyed hanging out in various locations visiting and being encouraged by these people.  Even though the faces are almost completely different (Tim and Heidi are still here), it's felt like old times a bit today. I wouldn't be surprised if I find myself volunteering here sometime or I would probably jump at the opportunity to speak again.  I would encourage any of the former staff I served with to come check it out as well.

Torch Trail Day 3

I was reminded today of the special faces that often stick out.  An unfortunate thing about working at camp is the countless faces that pass through that will remember you, but you probably will forget about them.  It's understandable; at least 40-50 or more new faces every week for several weeks in a summer, and if you return for other summers it greatly increases.  That being said, there are always ones that create a special impression on you, good and bad, and therefore stick out better in your mind.  Today I had an enthusiastic young man you spoke out very loud, but agreeing with me while I was speaking in chapel.  This young man is autistic, but he is special for his endearing heart and enthusiasm for life.  My mind wanders to many like him that I have had the wonderful opportunity of encountering.  Whether it was a french boy who was way too young to be at camp.  A troubled young man trying to stay out of jail.  A bully who just needed someone to care.  A kid who feels he has no family as he had been bounced from over a dozen foster homes.  Another in Fubu jeans who felt he was always in a fight.  They are memories in my mind, they once felt warm embrace of God in this camp, and while I have no idea where they are or what they are doing, God knows.  Praise God for this place where the sick, the lonely, the outcast can come and feel his love.  Blessed be the faithful servants that are the hands and feet of the God who longs to love them.

Torch Trail Day2

Shut up and preach.  No, someone didn't say this to me, but it was kind of my own self-motto.  Like I said yesterday, coming here has been a bit of coming home, but the temptation with that has been to talk about the old days.  I've been there when someone comes in and props themselves up in authority because they were there before you or had done it before; it's annoying!  Before I came I told myself I didn't want to be that guy, but yet I caught myself yesterday a few times doing just that.  So today I knew it had to be different.  I read this morning the beatitudes where Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit..."  I realized my job this week wasn't to pose as an authority on camp, but humbly present why we need Jesus.  The amazing result has been the opportunity to hear from the people here, who they are, and how they continue to carry the torch of ministry here at Torch Trail.  I preached the gospel tonight in chapel and everyone seemed to listen. Hopefully the campers allowed their hearts to be quiet and listen to God.

Torch Trail Day 1

It's good to be home.  After a long stretch of not being here at Torch, my return has felt like fresh air to my lungs.  That being said, the experience is also surreal.  Picture going away on a long trip and finally returning home; you're excited to be back at something so familiar.  However, something is different.  Instead of the usual faces you associate with home, it's filled with strangers.  This is the feeling I have here at camp.  There are a lot of things that are exactly as they were several years ago (the emergency procedure sheet in my cabin lists Ken and Louise as the directors), and there are some cool new things (wireless internet, hello!)  One of the most exciting things has been to meet the new generation of staff; especially the ones I remember as campers. When you work with youth and children you often don't see what happens to the rest of their life; you don't know if the gospel took root and bloomed in their life.  It's rewarding to meet young adults that loved their experience at camp so much that they kept coming back, year after year, and now want to make it a good experience for others.  Continue to plant seeds, even when it's likely you won't see the fruit.

Let the craziness begin

Summer, a wonderful time of relaxing in the sun; of time off and cutting back on work.  Or if you are like me summer is a crazy time.  This week begins the craziness I call July: I will be speaking at Torch Trail this week Mon 5th to Sun 11th,  July 12th I will be going to Saskatoon to pick up a tux, come home and go to Waskesieu by the afternoon, for 4 days (Ok, that's a bit of a holiday) the weekend after that I get to stand up with my bud Devan as he gets married, then a week at the nursing home, with a Biblestudy and sermon as well.  Then we head to Cypress Hills Camp to speak for a week, come home to work at the nursing home for two weeks, while preaching on the weekends.  That being said it might be slow going at times for blogging etc. But occasionally check in to see what is going on.  I will definitely have updates from what has been going on.  H.A.G.S.  (Have a Great Summer)  I knew a guy who would only sign that in people's yearbooks.