Blast From The Past

It was so awesome!!! Sunday evening I met up with a former camp counselor.....and when I say former, I am talking like 14 years ago!!! Marcia, or "Myna" as she was referred to as at camp, was in Mass. for the week from Illinois. We have been able to keep in touch, for the most part, since I was 15 years old. I had the opportunity to have Marcia as my counselor the second week of my two week stay at New England Camp Cherith, a Christian girls camp in Maine. I was immediately drawn to her strength and desire to serve God. A mere college student herself at the time, this young high school girl looked up to her and so desired to catch whatever it was she had. When that great week of camp came to an end, it was SO hard! I didn't want to leave....I suppose that is the case when most youths end a week of camp. I immediately began writing to her as the summer went on, she had new campers to take care of so I wasn't expecting daily letters. I prayed for the next few weeks that God would open the door for me to be able to go back to camp for another week before the summer ended. Would you believe, my prayers were answered. I got a call in mid august from one of the camp administrators asking me if I would like to come back for the last week to work on the work crew in the kitchen. These were volunteer positions that high school campers could do and in return got to spend the week at camp for free. You better believe I high tailed it back there in no time. At this camp, all the high school age girls were in adjoining cabins, so even though Marcia wasn't my counselor that week, she was just on the other side of the door. When I arrived there was a sweet reunion, you would have thought I had not seen her in years...when in fact it was only about three weeks. As all things do, the week eventually ended once again. This time, it was super emotional. We had a camp fire on the last night and I did all I could do to hold back the tears....God had blessed me with such an amazing summer, and a great new friend. I was something of a basketcase and was just dealing with my emotions in the crowd of all the other girls feeling the same way. Marcia found me, and embraced me, and told me that she will do her best to keep in touch with me....she assured me that this wasn't goodbye, it was like she new why I was sad and absolutely beside myself.
The summer ended, school started, and the routine of everything was back in full swing. I wrote Marcia weekly, and for a while she got a letter daily. Looking back on that, life would have been easier with the internet and e-mail, but neither of us had become savy with such technological devices. Occasionally she called and we would spend over an hour on the phone. I was in the midst of those awkward teenager/high school years yearning for some attention and a Godly example....she fit it perfectly. I think I lost her for a while when she went to Mexico for year to do some missionary work...I hated that I had no way of contacting her, but as time went on I eventually was able to deal with it better. There were nights I would cry myself to sleep wishing and praying that I would hear from her. I knew that she was doing the Lord's work and that had to take precedence over other things. A few years went by without any word....I had moved on, God had seen my need and placed some very Godly ladies in my life when I needed them. On occasion I would wonder how my dear "Myna" was doing...I always knew that the Lord was using her greatly.
Finally, when the internet opened a world to me, I began trying to find out how I could get in touch with Marcia. I found the e mail address of the camp director and she was able to give me a mailing address so that I could write Marcia. A few weeks later she wrote me back and enclosed a picture of she and her new husband on her wedding day. Again, life got busy and keeping in touch was not easy for either of us. I went off to college....but often still thought and prayed often for a reunion with her.
And then, the dawn of a new age....Facebook! I got on around 2006 and would check monthly to see if she had got around to creating an account. It wasn't until the spring of 2009 and that finally I had found her. We have been able to chat a few times, exchange e mails, and arrange a meeting up when she came into town.
Tim and I drove to Mass. last Sunday evening....it was so awesome to see her again and to meet her husband and beautiful children. The time was short, but oh so sweet. She continues to be such a Godly example....Thank you Marcia for being that amazing friend and always remembering that young girl from camp. I never forgot you.

My new nephew Boden Cale....Arrived August 11 at 2:33am. 8lbs 12oz, 21.5 inches long. Mommy and baby are doing well.

This is my new cousin Emma Jane. 8lbs 15oz, 21 inches. Born 8/9/09 before the sunrise :)
Congrats Jen & Ben

Praying for Dorothy & Michelle