Camp Agape

Camp Agape……………

This weekend has been quite interesting once we have begun to get ready go on the venture to the “Life For Youth Ranch” in Vero Beach, Florida. This has been our 11^th time going to help out at this Camp Agape. The word “agape” means unconditional love in Greek. The Camp Agape was created by the founder Richard Stimson many years and I cannot recall how many years when he has founded “The Special Gathering” many years ago.

The Camp Agape is geared for the members of the outreach ministry The Special Gathering for the mentally challenged. The Camp Agape is consists of chapel worship, fun hours, water slides, and mainly fellowshipping and supporting of the various groups of “The Special Gathering” members from different places like the Cocoa Beach, Indian River County, Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, Deland, Walterboro, South Carolina, and Melbourne. There are about the average of 200 plus camper throughout the camp ground doing different activities throughout each day of the weekend.

The day begins with the people waking up and going to have some breakfast. Most breakfasts were consisting of wholesome food like egg, bacon, grit, biscuit, toast, and cereal. When the campers are done with the meal, they walk over to the chapel building for the morning worship. The morning worship consists of music and singings, Many campers have the heart for worshipping the Lord, Jesus Christ. After the worship, the various leaders take turns preaching from the Bible as if they were in the church. The campers do pay attention to those who are speaking about Jesus. They hang onto each word spoken. Before they leave the chapel, they close in united prayer.

Next came the fun hour where many campers can go to choose different activities which are open throughout the camp ground such as archery, putt-putt-golf, boat rides, arts and crafts, go-carts, and game-room. Most campers enjoyed the boat rides which are one of the highlights of the Camp Agape, and the go-carts being the second highlight. Sometimes, the fun-hour would last up to 2 hours, they everyone would settle down for the lunch hour. The campers eagerly wait as they lined up to the door after someone say the blessings for the food.

When the lunch hour has finished; many campers would go to their cabins to get into bathing suits so that they be ready to go swimming and/or go water-sliding, which is later in the day. So there was time to start another fun-hour for the campers to get them preoccupied for the afternoon, and this usually lasted another 2 hours till it was time to go swimming. First, the campers find their partners before they’re allowed to go in the lake to swim together. Most got their chance to swim in the lake with a partner. That would last about a half-hour before getting ready to go on the “Super-Water-Slide” like those you see in the water-park. Most campers are excited to go on this water-slide. Many of them are eager to go climb up the steps while they waited in line for their turns to go slide down the slides. This is one of the biggest outdoor activities. Many have cited that this is one of their favorite activities.

Then, the campers returned the yellow mats in the mats bin, they all went back to their cabins to shower and put on dry clothes to get ready for the evening dinner. After they have put on dry clothes, many would wander back over to the cafeteria line to wait. Most of the camper would fellowship and share their days with one another. Then, someone says the blessing letting each group of people into the cafeteria.

Then, in the evening about an hour after finishing dinner; everyone goes back to the chapel for the evening worship. Most are enthusiastic when they sing and clap their hands after the opening prayer. Then, there was either the leader preaching from the Bible, a puppet show, or a musical. This year there was a puppet show with is really nice and these people has come from Wisconsin to minister to this group of Special Gathering.

After the closing prayer; the campers would either go back to their cabins or go to the picnic area. Those that went to the picnic area would purchase a few snack items from a small store and relax for the few moments with their friends before they would go back to their cabins.

Then, this routine repeats itself on the next day, with the exception of the chapel service being longer in the morning. Many campers do enjoy the camp experiences while they were there.

Next year, the camp duration would be a day longer like they were used to before the school calendar has caused the changes in the schedule mix-up, which had made the camp weekend shorter and on a different month.

This year has been an interesting year for both of us since we have helped with this Camp Agape for over ten years. Only 2 years we have gone twice. The theme for this year is “Who’s Your Friend?” There are different kinds of friends that each members of the Special Gathering has considered, best friends, mutual friend, family friends, co-worker-friends, and distant friend, name just a few. Each member has his or her own circle of friends. Some of these friends may or may not consider another circle of friends as their friends. It’s an interesting topic to discuss among the campers as they mingle with one another. There have been some interesting interactions between some friends. Some would share personal items, others would buy a can of soda for another friend, and still others would just by another friend and just talk about their days.

Also an interesting character named “Rover-Comer” has visited Camp Agape and greeted each camper as he has made his round throughout the camp ground. Rover Comer was wearing a sign that says, “Who’s Your Friend?” Some camper would say this or that camper or volunteer or a leader, and many of them, would say, “It’s Jesus!” Indeed, Jesus is the friend for all.

Ken and I have really enjoyed the camp this year as we have helped with the campers with some of the things like counting the money for their snacks or showing where their cabin is when they got lost, or share their stories. Many of the campers do recognize us by our first names.

We were assigned the game-room this year, and I have provided the music using my Zune mp3 player. Most campers were surprised to see such a device being so compact to hold so much music. I have not gotten through with all the 12 years worth of WoW Hits albums. Most would expect to see a typical tape or CD player. The most popular game to play in the game room was the billiard table. I’ve seen camper played various styles of pool. There were 2 billiard tables and one of them kept losing the balls. Anyway; we have no problems with any of the campers playing the various forms of table games. I’ve spent most of the times during the fun hours in the game room to keep an eye on the game players so that they were playing fair with one another as long as they’re done in fun. Sometimes, Ken was there to help, and sometimes, he would disappear to find the large dog, which happened to be named Rover-Comer. On Friday night, Rover has gotten lost 3 times trying to find his way back to the dog-house. (Hmmm, is there something wrong with his sniffers?).

Anyway; the camp for this year has been good for most campers as far as I know. So most are looking forward to coming back to camp next year and this time, it will be in May of 2008.

So may God bless you and take care. I’ll see you later on.