My Summer Home

I have a summer home. It holds a family unlike any other I’ve ever known. One unlike I have ever felt.

MLCC FAM: This one is for you.

We have a blogging challenge this month, to post one each week in April. As I was thinking of what to write, I asked a few friends what they wanted to read about. One very special sister said “You should share about how your camp family is family and how they have shaped you to prepare for mission.” “Or how to make the perfect cup of coffee.” *face palm*

Katie–the coffee blog will be coming soon. 😉

In 1996, I attended Mission Lake Christian Camp for the first time. I had no idea the place would become my summer home for the next 20+ years. I had no idea the life that would be breathed into me, the friends and mentors I would meet, or that this place would bring immediate peace and joy to my soul as soon as I was on my way there. I didn’t know that it would become a training camp for me, that it would prepare this path that is now ahead of me.

MLCC doesn’t look like much to the common eye as you pull up the driveway. Some buildings on a piece of property, some that look in need of repair. There is nothing that draws your heart or eye to this small camp in northeast Kansas–unless you’ve been there. While there might not be a lot ‘to do’ at MLCC, that is what has made it such a special place. You have to get to know people, because there’s nothing else to do. There is no doubt in my mind that there is an anointing over this place, and that God will always work in mighty ways there, and through the people who go there.

Going into 3rd grade, my best friend Susan and I went to MLCC for the first time. I don’t remember all the girls in our room, but I remember Karen, Marlo, and Becky. I remember that I didn’t care for Karen much, because she was really bossy. LOL because now Karen is such a good friend who always makes me laugh. Oh, how times change.

At 8 years old, the looks of this place didn’t concern me. I came here to hang out with Susan and laugh and have fun and maybe learn about Jesus some. The dining hall was more than a little ghetto, but I really didn’t care. The chapel didn’t have AC, but I didn’t care. We had a basketball court and a foosball table, what else did we really need? 

My two best friends growing up were there the next summer, both Susan and Ashley. At chapel the next to last night, Jesus was very clearly capturing my heart, and asking me to follow him. I felt him knocking on the door to my heart, and I gladly opened the door. I was uncontrollably crying during the sermon, and a guy on staff named Donnie prayed for me. Ashley felt the same call on her life as well, and so the last day of camp, we were baptized in the lake together. It is a memory I will never forget. That we laid our lives down together that summer.

I counted down the months, weeks, and days to go to camp every year as soon as I got home. I felt a community there that I never knew at school or anywhere else. As I got older, I felt closer and closer to Jesus there. The friends I started making there continued to be there for me far past that one week we spent together each summer.

In high school, I hit some dark times. I wrestled with my identity, my worth, and more. It was at MLCC that God continued to remind me who I was and who I belonged to. That I was His, that He gave everything for me, and that was no small thing.

I could never tell you enough how incredible it was to sing “Sanctuary” a cappella with the girls in the dorm after our night devo, what it was like to hear stories of where staffers had been in life at campfire, the impact of worship during chapel, singing “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” with Sam Schwegler (or the time he made a mash up of JMK), the “coffee snob” club every morning before staff meetings, singing “Praise God, Shame on the Devil, Amen” on the last day of camp, or what it was like to share life with these people every summer. But I hope this gives you a glimpse of what it was like.

My family groups became family. My teachers and leaders became mentors, teaching me and showing me that in the chaos, God is always working all things together for good. As campers, we always laughed when John 11:35 was on the memory work for the week. PLOT TWIST: that verse has gotten me through some of the hardest and darkest times. Because now that I’m 28, I know that verse holds so much meaning.

To the staff who shared their stories of redemption during all of those campfires–my deepest thank you. I didn’t know until I was a senior in high school how terrifying it was to get up and share your story, not knowing how people would think of you after, how people would see you maybe not in the best of ways, but trusting that God would use those past chapters for good, to show how is reckless and wild love can change a heart and life so much. How when we surrender to him, he can use all of those things for the better.

I’ve been a part of this family for just over 20 years now. And I am honored to say that this summer, I get to make a return before leaving for this wild next chapter of my story. I can think of no better place to spend a week than the place that has served as a setting for many chapters of my story. Chapters of peace, redemption, joy. I am honored to serve alongside people who staffed when I was in elementary school, junior high, and high school. People who God used so greatly as characters to impact my story, to change how it would end. Even though He knew the ending from the start. I say it is an honor, because it so much is.

I could go on and on about all of the people I met at MLCC and how they impacted me. For now, I’ll simply list some names, and I know I’ll miss some because there simply are so many.

Sarah, John, Marty, Keely, Mike, Ana-Maria, Kent, Mya, Tia, Faith, Emily, Jake M, Paige, Curtis, Katie M, Rhonda, Jarret, Kirstin, Maddie, Katie K, Courtney, Hannah, Alanna, Eric, Holly, Darr, Scarlett, Shelby, Matt, Marj, Karen, Krystal, Kelly, Morgan, Jessie, Mallory, Geoffrey, Austin, Josh, Becky A, Brett, Carissa, Brad, Jackie, Tori, Jordan, Jessica, Taylor, Carly, Courtney, Tony, Chelsea, Rachel, Josh, Kyle, Megan, Jake, Chelsea, Mackenzie, Mark, Sam, Logan, Kandace, Delaney, Brian, Theola, Charlie, Phil, Kreeestun, Sandy, Heather, Pearl, Rylee W, Rylee C, Liz, Dannon, Caitlin, Wes, Logan, Landon, Chris, Cindy, JAY-ROD, Laura, Jared, Shannon, Tresor (yes, I still remember that you love chocolate chip cookies),  Dustin, Mackenzie, Kat, Josh, Becky “STUD” H, and so many more.

To my MLCC family: you have all been characters in my story, and for that I am so thankful. I could never list out all of the ways you have each impacted me. But know that you are all incredible people and that you will always have a place in my heart and that I am always sending prayers up for you. I am more than abundantly blessed to call you all family. I love you all. Thank you for allowing God to use you and sharing chapters of your stories with my own. I will forever treasure those parts of my story that you were/are in. I am a better person for having known each of you.