Silence in the Noise by Mandy Schmidt, Tilikum camp program director
October 2013
NW YM connection
Vol. 6, Issue 4
The day marks the halfway point of the summer. Two weeks of staff training and almost four weeks of over 200 campers a week converging on these 93 acres. It is our weekly staff solo time: an opportunity to sit still and bask in the serene silence before organized chaos ensues. It is my first year on the job as program director at Camp Tilikum, so there is a lot I don't know. My brain is constantly running with check-off lists, to dos, and logistical concerns. I start back to the office, thinking maybe I’ll be able to catch up a bit, but then I stop. “I don’t have to walk the same well traveled road; I’ve got time to follow that little path by the lake-
Tilikum staffer “Chai” and campers getting ready for a canoe ride.
side.” I turn around, cross the bridge, and enter the quiet woods. Correction: not so quiet woods. My brain is still swirling, watching for poison oak; ooh, that’s a toenail-catcher stick across the path, should have brought my clippers with me; this trail hasn’t been traveled…does the staff know it’s here? I should tell them what an awesome path this would be for their nature hike time. As I go deeper into the woods, the nature rhythm takes over. I slow down a bit, yet still mentally checking off what I need to do today. The path turns toward the lake, discarding the soothing ferny shade for an early morning sun, already warm, reflecting off the water. In the grasses next to the water, sprouts of color appear—purple, deep pink, yellow. Wildflower. That's my camp name. “Maybe I should at least sit and contemplate my namesake today.” So I sit among the wildflowers and take a deep breath. Continued on page 3
Tilikum staffer “Boombox” at the base of the slide.
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Silence in the Noise (Continued from page 1)
I sit. In silence. But not really silence. A dragonfly flits by. Birds call in the forest behind me, three to four distinctly different tunes. A crazy hummingbird buzzes near me. Back and forth, its wings sounding like a kid blowing a raspberry. I start thinking about the lilies of the field, about how they don’t worry, God takes care of them, yet they only last for a season. Whoa….camp only lasts for a season. This group of people, this moment in time, this opportunity to make a difference in a kid’s life, in a summer staff person’s life. My opportunities Mandy Schmidt is the camp program are fleeting. I wonder if that’s what Jesus thought as he director at Tilikum Center for Resat on the mountain talking to those gathered near him, treats & Outdoor Ministries located sharing his ideas of being peacemakers, meek and humble. in Newberg, OR. She and her family recently moved from the Central I finally settle into the silence. The never really silent Oregon high desert to live, work, and silence. Out in the forest or sitting in open worship, I serve together at camp. Good coffee is her love language. strive for quiet and peaceful centering. But life doesn’t happen in a vacuum. These quiet times are needed, are special, are necessary. But I need to hear God’s voice in the day to day, centered in the midst of chaos. How do I maintain the “breathing deep the breath of God”—in and out—in the midst of “I forgot my lunch,” “the calf is sick,” “there’s a water leak in the craft room,” and “what are the contents of reusable ice cubes…one of my first graders just drank it?” It comes through appreciating moments: watching my summer staff giving big crazy hugs after having not seen each other for 12 hours; seeing a kid conquer huge anxiety issues and have a blast being pulled 30 feet up into the air on our Flying Squirrel; at the end of the week loving the problem camper who has now become my favorite; in a quiet evening after camp has ended, being grateful for the unexpected turn of events that God orchestrated to land me and my family in this beautiful place. Creator, give me eyes to see your handiwork in all situations and in those around me. Teach me to breathe in your peace in moments of stress and chaos. Thank you for your goodness, even when I can’t see clearly. Amen.
Connection • October 2013
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Reaching the Summit Together by Ken Beebe, Twin Rocks executive director I am deeply impressed by Friends’ camping ministry here in the Pacific Northwest. It is inspiring to recognize the breadth and diversity of our camp properties spread throughout the region. From Quaker Hill Camp in the resort community of McCall, Idaho, to Twin Rocks Friends Camp on the Oregon coast, Friends are blessed with a slate of pristinelysited camps which showcase God’s wondrous creation and offer optimal locales for personal and spiritual growth for both youth and adults. Add to these Twin Lakes Friends Camp on Hayden Lake in North Idaho, Quaker Cove Camp in the San Juan Islands of Washington state, and the peaceful lakeside environs of Camp Tilikum near Newberg, Oregon, and it becomes apparent that Northwest Yearly Meeting (NWYM) has been entrusted with five incredible camp properties. Recently, at the prompting of Youth/YAF Superintendent Rachelle Staley, a selection of staff and board members from Ken Beebe is executive these camps began gathering for regular “Camp Summit” retreats director of Twin Rocks to foster increased communication and collaboration among the Friends Camp and ConFriends camps. Also invited were representatives from NWYM ference Center, where he and his wife, LeAnn, boards of Christian Education and Discipleship, and Youth and have served with joy for Young Adult Ministry. the past 19 years. Rachelle states, “When I first started working for NWYM I was surprised how disconnected our camp programs were. Getting everyone together in the same space to network and collaborate has benefited our relationships and helped each area become less isolated. As I have attended the Camp Summits, I’ve been grateful for the humble wisdom shared among such important ministries.”
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Camp Summit retreats occurred twice in 2012—in the spring at Tilikum, followed by a fall gathering at Quaker Hill. A third event is scheduled for this October (2013) at Quaker Cove. Much of the Camp Summit programming is geared toward sharing with one another: unique program ideas, safety strategies, administrative tools, and the simple joys, headaches, heartaches, and ministry successes which typically accompany camp. I always come away greatly encouraged by the thoughtful listening, seasoned words of wisdom, and heartfelt prayer which accompany the summits. And a side blessing has been the sharing of resources—nearly $5,000 was saved in 2013 due to creative, collaborative purchasing! While all of the camps continue to operate independently with separate incorporation, boards, and leadership (thus ensuring strong local ownership and overall success) the Camp Summits promote a healthy, important, and enjoyable interdependence between us. Like Dennis Littlefield, executive director at Tilikum, stated: “It has been so great for us to meet together as camping leaders in the Northwest. We should have done it years ago! We care for each other and it is extra fun to share ideas and resources.”
Connection • October 2013
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Campaigning for Camps by Tami Ankeny, Newberg Friends This winter I had the opportunity to spend a few months working at Quaker Hill Camp (QH) in McCall, Idaho. During my time, a phone call came from the bank about a piece of property QH has been trying to acquire as part of their long-range plan— property that a few years ago sold for 1.5 million dollars. It holds 18 acres that would be clear-cut, developed, and create potential safety issues for campers. The property was being offered to the camp for $200,000, but we needed to have the money and a plan within a couple of weeks because another buyer was interested. I remember sitting in the office with other QH staff, all of us feeling overwhelmed with what to do. The $200,000 was Tami loves finding herself in a steal for the property but we didn’t have the money. In that places of community, good moment, I had a strong sense that we had to at least try! We food, books, and wilderness would never know what could happen unless we reached out adventures. She attends Newberg Friends Church and to our community and supporters and invited them to share works as the director of staff in this story with us. development at Word Made Flesh. We decided to use Facebook as our communication avenue. We began a two-week fundraising campaign through social media. The word spread from the small QH community to people who knew nothing about the camp except for what their friends were posting on Facebook about our campaign. Within the initial two-weeks we had $100,000! The campaign continued until, a little over a month after the initial approach from the bank, QH received $200,000 in gifts and pledges to purchase the property. What an incredible story of God’s faithfulness and a community’s response to a need! My life has been impacted greatly by QH. Some of my best memories and childhood friends came from camping experiences at QH. I had the honor of learning from amazing camp leaders. God used my time at QH to shape my spiritual life and, later on, decisions about my education and career. Being a part of this fundraising experience offered me a glimpse into the impact that QH and camping ministry have had in so many people’s lives; a tapestry of stories woven together with threads of spiritual growth, relationships, fun, a love for the outdoors, and more! Quaker Hill can move forward towards the future boldly, not only dreaming big with 18 new acres, but also with the confidence that they are surrounded by God and people who are committed to the camp’s future. There are many years of impacting campers’ lives ahead! 6
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Wellsprings of Spiritual Life By Mariah Bell, Anthem Friends Twin Lakes Friends Camp changed my life. It was not only where I gave my life to the Lord, but it was smaller milestones as well, such as my first week sleeping away from home and my first job. This camp has been instrumental in the way I have grown up and the way I now lead my life. My times at camp have been some of my best— what with the incredible food, the team challenges and night games (always a camp favorite), and, of course, the inspiring speakers. In all of my more than ten years at camp, I don’t believe I have heard the same guest speaker twice. Camp is a wellspring of spiritual life for those Mariah Bell has been involved in TLFC since she was five years old helping who are involved. A huge part of this is not the her mom lead crafts. Now 18, she still food or activities or the speakers, but rather the counsels every summer. Mariah would overwhelming attitude of family that exists and like to thank her church family for investing in this camp and for investing in her thrives up in those woods. personally and now hopes that she can I was a bit of an oddball growing up, never being do the same for others. the most popular on the playground. And yet every year I still attended camp, and I found myself surrounded by love and support. This amazing atmosphere taught me to be bold, not with anything that I could (or couldn’t) bring to the table, but rather to be bold in the name of the Lord, my God and Savior. This miracle that happened to me by God’s hand at this camp then prompted me to later become a counselor for Twin Lakes Friends Camp. Yes, technically this was my first job, but it didn’t feel like a job. Everything about it just felt so natural and right, in the most peaceful sense of the word, because I knew I was doing God’s will. I have learned as a counselor that only when you rely on God’s strength can you have that life-changing attitude of love and support permeate through to every single person at camp, and that is what makes all the difference. This camp changed not only my life, but I have been blessed as a counselor to see it change the lives of countless others. Praise God for Twin Lakes Friends Camp!
Connection • October 2013
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KEEPING CURRENT WITH LOCAL AND GLOBAL OUTRE ACH
International Camping Ministry by Gary Fawver, Newberg Friends
How would you like to canoe with hippos or crocodiles? Believe it or not, some youth campers do that in Africa. Throughout the world, in at least 47 countries, Christian camps offer unique opportunities for young people. Most camping programs were originally “exported” from the United States to the world. The first wave went through YMCA camps, some as early as the turn of the twentieth century. Then, American missionaries carried Christian programs with them in the years following World War 2. The exception—Russia—where in the early twentieth century Lenin saw the scouting philosophy in England (minus religion) as a means to advance socialism. Russia then built more than 30,000 camps in their 11-time-zone nation, and communists used them to indoctrinate children for 70 years. In 1991, churches began Christian camping programs using some of the abandoned camps. Today Christian camping associations exist in Canada, Mexico, Jamaica, Latin America, Brazil, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, Russia, Southern Africa, Ukraine, India, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, South Korea, Japan, and the United States. Camping is successful with kids around the world. Gary Fawver looks back over a career Often with no Christian background, they come to in Christian camping, having worked camp because it sounds like fun, is outdoors, and offers at or visited camps in 15 countries. a non-threatening escape from their normal environment. International camping programs emphasize evangelism and become a wonderful spiritual tool for the evangelical church, especially when staff model Christ’s love. Initially the program and activities imitate those from America, but the camps quickly make cultural adaptations—lion tracking in Africa, for example. Archery was a big hit in Russian camps where equipment was brought in from other countries. Americans took all day to teach the fundamentals of softball, an unknown sport at the time, but the familiar football (soccer) was the sport of first choice around the world. To be sure, the longer programs have been established in any country, the more they take on the cultural flavor of that country. And that is as it should be. Campers might sleep in yurts in an inner-Mongolia camp, eat borsch for lunch in Russia, or spaghetti on toast for breakfast in Australia. At one China camp, young campers bring a pail and hangers to do their own laundry because they have only one or two outfits. In a Zimbabwe camp, campers bring their own cup, bowl, and spoon. Activities may vary, but presenting the call to follow God will be important in all of the camps.
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KEEPING CURRENT WITH LOCAL AND GLOBAL OUTRE ACH
Some international Christian camps have developed very interesting ministry niches. In Amman Jordan a camp became a center for Iraqi refugees, serving 5,000 meals daily and feeding more than one million people. A Salvation Army camp in Zimbabwe existed to serve AIDS-affected orphans. Handicapped orphans were the campers of choice in one Chinese camp. In St. Petersburg, Russia, one camp serves severely physically disabled children, while another brings street children and abandoned youth to camp. Pray for these international camps; they have many ministry opportunities. And as you are able, support them financially.
G.O. Spotlight Healthcare and the Gospel
Hello, we are the Williams family. Yes, one of those related to the Macy clan. We have some exciting news about where God is leading us, but first let me do some introductions. I am the son of Dwaine and Becky Williams. As a child I grew up on the mission field in Peru and Bolivia with Northwest Yearly Meeting. So, I guess The Williams family. you could say missions has always been in my blood. Carol, my wife, grew up in Battle Creek Friends in Michigan, and my home church growing up was Spokane Friends. We both graduated from George Fox. I have always wanted to go back to the mission field. This journey has led me to where I am today, a pediatrician heading to Ecuador with HCJB Global. God’s vision for our ministry is using healthcare to reach the lost by meeting their physical needs, thereby preparing their hearts for the message of Jesus. This vision materialized in Shell, Ecuador, with a mission hospital/clinic as well as mobile clinics called the Medical Caravans. The mobile clinics provide healthcare where it is limited or non-existent. I will be dividing my time working in Shell and with the Caravans. To give support and learn more about our ministry visit us at www.jonathanandcarol.com Blessings, Jonathan, Carol, Eilam, and Myla Williams
Connection • October 2013
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On Our Way Rejoicing by Becky Ankeny, NWYM superintendent Years ago, we elders had three great candidates for leadership development, and we could choose only two to send to the program. After we agonized for a while, I said, “Let’s cast lots and trust that God will make things ok.” We did, and no one felt happy with it. We continued to talk over the merits of each individual. In a recent conversation with someone about a troubling and contentious issue we were facing, that person said, “Why not just cast lots? That’s what they did in the Bible," Who can argue with that kind of exegesis? I said, “You go first, and let me know how it turns out.” She said, “I think you need to take it more seriously than you’re doing.”
Becky Ankeny
So I cast lots, and I didn’t like how it came out, so I did 2 out of 3, then 3 out of 5, and so on, until I gave up. Did God reveal anything to me through that? I don’t know, but it settled nothing in my spirit. What I did learn was what I have faith in.
Because Jesus promised to send us the Spirit of truth who will lead us into all truth, and that truth will set us free, Jesus expects us to use discernment for how we can move ahead, rather than allowing us the comfort and safety of either laws or “lots.” Discernment among Friends is both individual and congregational. At 23, John Woolman (1720-1772) felt called into traveling ministry among Friends. For each journey he placed his sense of call before his local meeting to see if Friends were in unity with it. Later, he wrote his thoughts about slavery down, showed them to his father, then set them aside until his 33rd year. Finally, “the publication of it rested weightily upon me, and this year I offered it to the revisal of my friends, who…directed a number of copies
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thereof to be published and dispersed amongst members of our Society” (ch. 3). It was authorized and sent out by Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. Individually, Woolman discerned early in his life that he could not be a part of any behavior that depended on or condoned the enslavement of other human beings. This arose partly from his inherent gentleness, but also from his belief that the Spirit sent by Jesus guides us to everyday behavior that serves a coherent larger vision of truth, namely that Christians ought not own or trade slaves, that slavery itself is evil. On his journeys, he spoke or not as he felt led in each meeting. He found himself ill at ease when hosted by slave-owning families. He “frequently had conversation with [the slave owners] in private” about the heavy burdens they placed on their slaves (Journal of John Woolman, ch. 2). He also declined to write wills in which slaves were part of the inheritance (ch. 3), though it pained him to go against the wishes of older Friends he respected. Sometimes they changed their wishes and made provision to set their slaves free. Woolman’s gentleness meant that he was careful about relationships when he spoke his convictions. He took a great deal of care when speaking to those older than he, even when he was explaining why he could not write their wills because of the slaves. He was humble enough to submit his leadings to his local congregation and to his yearly meeting. The thing about discernment is that each of us must listen for the overarching principle. I am responsible to behave daily in line with that principle. If I have the light someone else needs, respect and humility and love need to characterize my interactions with that person. And when someone else has light I need, it will be easier to listen if gentleness governs how they communicate that light. Woolman also discovered that folks needed time to hear God’s spirit themselves. I want our yearly meeting members to give each other time. We are trying to be faithful to share what God has given each of us as truth, and we do not agree with each other. However, if we speak our truth to each other humbly, gently, respectfully, and lovingly, we may find God making a way forward for us together.
Connection • October 2013
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Christian Education Corner By Shawn Leonard, NWYM Board of Chrisitian Education clerk
My Dad Wore a Tu-tu at Camp For many, the camps of NWYM leave a lasting impression and I am no exception. There I am, riding in a van/bus with other kids on our way to camp. We are all very excited and can hardly contain ourselves. Something happens inside my stomach as we round Garibaldi Bay getting ever closer to camp. Our driver, Bill Ellis, was never harsh to us even though he could tell we were getting more and more excited and probably a lot louder. We would yell out, “look, there’s the G on the side of the mountain!” The big smoke stack would pass by and the next thing you know we are at camp, finally. O ne of the most memorable years was when my dad was the camp pastor. I don’t exactly remember if it was Junior High Jamboree, MidWinter, or Surfside, but I was so proud and felt so special. I was exploding inside wanting to tell everyone, “That’s my dad, the camp pastor.” Somehow I kept my composure and didn’t explode. My dad is a bit of a nut…no, not a nut, more like a clown. One year, Harry Selby and my dad where at the same camp (what were the camp directors thinking? J). They ran around 12
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Shawn Leonard
together acting goofy, talking silly, and making funny faces. The details are a bit fuzzy, but somehow Harry came out on the losing end with the kids and one of his legs got shaved clean. Yep, a leg did get shaved. It’s all probably for the better, because I believe shaving half a mustache was in the works also. My dad, well, we think he was in a play (we’re praying he was in a play) and showed up wearing a pink tu-tu in the dining hall up front at the microphone ready to pray before the meal. He prayed and instantly dove and slid across the top of a table on his stomach, somersaulting onto the floor, then standing up goofy style proclaiming “ta-dah!” The whole place erupted in chaotic laughter and bewilderment. What a joy! Does anyone remember? I am so thankful for camp. There are many people throughout the yearly meeting who I first met at camp. I have a friend I met at Family Camp over 35 years ago; we have been the best of friends ever since. The blessings that have come through the camps are innumerable; I hope and pray it is the same for you.
Connection • September 2013
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Updates, News & Announcements Looking back •• Focus Conference: Pastors gathered in Hood River for fellowship, play, and to look at the topic of transitions throughout the career of a pastor.
Looking ahead •• Samuel School I: October 11-12, 2013, Quaker Hill Camp. Samuel School I is a spiritual retreat for seventh and eighth graders. Students are selected by their local church elders for their openness to the Spirit and their potential leadership skills. This is not a laid back junior high retreat; instead it offers a strong challenge and spiritual development. More info: nwfriends.org/samuel-school-i. •• Bible Quizzing: The 2013-2014 season will kick-off on October 19, at Newberg Friends. To register your team and get further information please visit nwfriends.org/bible-quizzing. •• Youthworkers Training Conference: November 1-3, 2013, Hood River, OR. This is a gathering for all youthworkers and those who care about ministry with young people throughout Northwest Yearly Meeting. This weekend is structured to have engaging material presented with a balance of time and space for renewing spirits. The topic this year is Working with Students in Crisis, and our speaker is Dr. Kris Kays, a clinical psychologists with years of experience with YoungLife. Whether you have a large youth group or no youth in your meeting this will be an important resourceful time together. More info: nwfriends.org/ywtc. •• Call to Ministry Conference: December 27-29, 2013, Hood River, OR. We are excited to invite you this year to join us for our Call to Ministry Conference. If you are pursuing a leading or feeling a stirring around traditional or non-traditional ministries, we want you to come join us as we look at what God is doing in our yearly meeting. More info: nwfriends. org/calltoministry. •• MidWinter: January 17-20, 2014, at Reedwood Friends. MidWinter is a camp for Northwest Yearly Meeting high school students and their friends in the middle of winter…and…it’s awesome! It’s a chance for students to gather and learn about things close to God’s heart. More info nwfriends.org/midwinter. •• Midyear Boards: January 24-25, 2014, Newberg, OR. Representatives and board members of Northwest Yearly Meeting gather in Newberg, to discern what God is calling us to. Please be praying for those who will be travelling and the discernment process they will undertake. •• YC Teams (YCEW-NW (formerly YCLS) and YCEW-Global): Applications will be open for high school students and leaders November 2013. Be watching our website for more information. YCEW-Global will be going to Ireland in the summer of 2014.
Pastoral/NWYM Staff transitions •• J Rourke has joined Eugene Friends this fall as their youth pastor. •• Haley Krueger (Matt) has been called to be Lynwood Friends' youth pastor. Jospeh Krueger (Katie) transitioned out of youth pastoring at Lynwood to welcome his third baby, due this December, and return to full-time teaching.
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•• Leslie Murray (Nathan) has resigned at North Valley Friends to attend seminary full-time, and Jennifer Dalziel has taken an interim youth ministry position. •• Lauren Engelfried (JJ) has joined the NWYM staff for the year as our youth intern. She will be working with the youth programming alongside Rachelle Staley. (photo right) •• Gar Mickelson has begun a ministry as a domestic missionary, working in the Coeur d'Alene area. You can see some of what he's doing by checking out Kaleidoscope on Facebook. Gar is raising his support independently, and if you want to support him, please send donations to NWYM marked for Gar. He is also available as a consultant to NWYM churches, and he will be paid for these services by the local church that retains his services. We're excited to see what God will do with this grand experiment.
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October
Calendar of Events
11-12 Samuel School I 11-12 Twin Rocks Couples Conference 19 Bible Quiz Meet #1 25-27 Twin Rocks Seminar by the Sea
November Youthworkers Training Conference
George Fox University Friends Leadership Program application deadline
6-8 Bible Quiz Meet #2 27-29 Call to Ministry Conference 11 Bible Quiz Meet #3 17-20 MidWinter 24-25 Midyear Boards 14-17 Junior High Jamboree Connection • September 2013
December
January
February
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Inside this issue… Silence in the Noise................................. 1–3 Reaching the Summit Together...............4-5 Campaigning for Camps.............................6 Wellsprings of Spiritual Life........................ 7 International Camping Ministry.............. 8-9 G.O. Spotlight..............................................9 On Our Way Rejoicing.......................... 10 -11 Christian Education Corner................... 12-13 Updates, News & Announcements...... 14-15 Calendar of Events......................................15
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