Camp Deer Run Deer

Yesterday I took my 3 year old son Riley to the zoo. We go to the zoo fairly often, and we always have a great time. For some reason on this trip, when Riley would see a deer he would say, "Look dad, it's a Camp Deer Run deer!". I have no idea why he would say this, but all I could do was smile. I know he has never seen a deer at Camp, for I have only seen deer a couple of times at Camp myself. Tonight after it rained, my wife Sarah said that the smell made her think of Camp. I had to agree. I always like when random moments during the day make me think about Camp, and makes me remember a good memory from my time out there. This week allow yourself to to be reminded about Camp and there wonderful things that God has done for you through Camp Deer Run.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

Bacon and Eggs

Here lately I've found myself eating bacon and eggs for breakfast just about every morning.  Of course in doing this, I have been reminded of my favorite out camping meal...breakfast in a bag.  Of course, my turkey bacon and scrabbled eggs are not exactly the same as what I remember eating at out camping, they still provide me with a a good memory.  If you are unaware of what breakfast in a bag is, let me educate you.  

First you take a brown paper lunch bag, and poke some holes in it so that you can hold the bad up with a stick over a fire.  Then you tear a strip bacon in half, and lay the two halves beside each other in the bottom of the bag.  You then hold the bag over the fire for a while and let the bacon cook.  I don't really understand how it works, but the grease from the bacon form some sort of barrier on the bottom of the bag, so that you can then pour your egg into the bag without it dripping out.  You then put the bag back over the fire and cook it until the eggs are done.  Then its time to eat up.

I don't know if it is because I was always hungry or what, but I loved this meal.  I always thought it was so tasty.  I never was a big snake bread kind of guy, but many people preferred eating it to the breakfast in a bag.  Either way, it was a good meal, as long as you didn't catch your bag on fire.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,
Sparky

I know that many of you have been wondering about when this year's Men's and Women's retreats would be so that you can start planning on attending them. As of right now I don't have any concrete dates for either retreat, but I know that planning for both is ongoing.  Pray for the planning of these retreats, and that they will be a blessing to those who attend.  Last year the Men's Retreat was canceled because of a random East Texas blizzard.  Hopefully this year the weather will work out better and we will be able to get all of the CDR men together for a good ol' time.  The Women's Retreat went off without a hitch, and I know that all the ladies who attended had very blessed time.  As soon as I have dates for the retreats, and anything else planned for Camp, I will make sure to get on the blog and let you know.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,
Sparky

Camp Weather

Unless you have been somewhere on the other side of the world for 4 months, and had no idea what was going on in Texas, then you are aware of how hot it was this summer in East Texas.  Only one of the hottest summers every, there have been many problems around East Texas caused by this summer's heat.  Coupled with the extreme heat, a long drought has made all of East Texas very dry and vulnerable for fires.  I know that for the first time since I can remember, campers did not get to see fireworks on the 4th of July because of a burn ban.  For the past few weeks there have been hundreds of fires burning in East Texas, but thankfully I don't think any of them have threatened Camp.  Pray that God can bring East Texas a whole lot of rain, because without more rain, the fire threat will continue to linger.

The dry summer has caused other problems besides fires.  There are numerous dead trees in the woods of Camp right now and this can cause problems as well.  Last spring, I was out at Camp visiting with Ty Ford, and we were walking around in the woods, and I remember seeing dead limbs and trees everywhere.  There had been a bad storm or two that had blown a lot of them down.  There is a pavilion out in the woods that large tree had fallen right beside.  Another 2 feet and it would have fallen directly on the pavilion and would have demolished it.  Falling trees and limbs are going to be a problem at Camp for a while, so pray that God can make sure he protects the Camp Deer Run in the physical sense. Hopefully no damage will be done to anything structurally at Camp.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,
Sparky

Camp Donuts

So a couple of saturday's ago, my wife Sarah sent me this picture.  She decided she wanted to make Camp donuts that morning.  I was a little upset because she decided to do this on a day when I wasn't home.  I love Camp donuts, and was pretty jealous about her getting to eat them.  

Donuts are always the breakfast served for the Cheuks and Wenaches during their morning for outcamping.  I thought that other people may want to try cooking some Camp donuts at home, so here is how you do it.

Step 1...heat up some cooking oil, keep it under a boil.
Step 2...open up a can of biscuits.
Step 3...poke a hole in each of the biscuits to form your donuts.
Step 4...put the biscuits in the oil until the  donut starts browning, then flip.
Step 5...take the donut and dip in a mixture of 2 cups sugar and a quarter of a cup of cinnamon.
Step 6...Eat the donuts while thinking about Camp.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,
Sparky

The Hermit

I few days ago I had somebody ask me if the Hermit was alive and well at Camp Deer Run.  I can report that he is.  The Hermit has been a very mysterious inhabitant of Camp, and one that all of the campers seemed very intrigued to and curious about.

The Hermit has been a fixture at Camp for many, many years.  He lives out in the woods all by himself, and is a man of many different faces.  Sometimes he can be lonely man needing some nice cards written by the PeeWees to cheer him up.  Other times, when the Chueks or Nashamies need a little bit of a scare, he can be a grumpy kind of mean man.  They are told that sometimes he will sneak into Camp and get some clothes when he needs it, and will even grab some food out of the Mess Hall when needed.  But for the most part, he is content to live in the woods by himself and not cause any problems.

(Just in case you are unaware, I am not talking about a real hermit.  A staff member dresses up and goes out to to where the Hermit "lives" and plays the part of the Hermit.  He will stay hidden to where the campers cannot make out that he is a staff member that they see everyday, and sometimes he will let the campers ask questions about him.  Many times the staff takes their campers to see the Hermit to let them try and encourage him and say good things to him...a good time to show how Christians are called to build people up with the things they say.)

So yes, the Hermit is still at Camp.  He has become a fixture of Camp, and I am sure he will be for many more years.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,
Sparky

Labor Day Weekend

Every one always talks about Labor Day Weekend being the "official" end to the summer. Obviously this is not true for Camp Deer Run. The summer has been over at Camp for several weeks now. But just because summer is over, Camp Deer Run isn't over. I know that I often times think that Camp is just a 10 week experience that happens over the summer months. While it is true that this is the true "Camp Deer Run Experience", its important to remember that Camp Deer Run is a year round functional camp.

While things obviously slow down during the off-season, there are still many activities that are going on during this time. The first obvious example is how Camp serves as a place for retreats. Over most weekends during the year, groups from all over East Texas come out to Camp for their retreat. These can be youth groups, church classes, or family reunions. Camp is a good place for retreats because it offers plenty of activities, and also has several places to meet together as a group. It is also a pretty cheap facility compared to other camps around the area. I have spent several weekends out there for retreats and had a wonderful experience each time. If you are wanting to put together a retreat for a group of yours, call the Camp office at 903-629-7165.

Even though the summer of 2012 is still 9 months away, I know that preperations have already begun to make next summer the best Camp Deer Run has ever had. The Director, Ty Ford, has already started planning on when he is going to recruit the staff, what the theme of the summer will be, and what improvements need and can be made to Camp. Ty will also go around to churches during the year to speak about the work being done at Camp during the summer, and will also be working to raise funds. Scarecrow, The Maintenence Supervisor, is always working around Camp to fix whatever was broken during the summer. It really is a full-time, year-round job. If the small stuff wasn't worked on during the year, Camp wouldn't be able to function as well during the summer.

I want you to know about all of this so that you can start praying for next summer. Keep all of the work that will be done between now and then in your prayers, and ask God to give the decision makers wisdom and knowledge, so that they can make Camp Deer Run a place where God can do His work, and the campers can grow closer to Him. Great things have been done at Camp, and this will continue to happen for many more years.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

Supporting Camp Deer Run

I know that everyone who reads this blog has supported Camp in some way throughout the years. It may have been by sending your kids as campers, or spending time in prayer for the success of Camp. I want to encourage to think and pray about supporting Camp financially. One of my favorite things about Camp Deer Run is how affordable it is for one or two week sessions. Other camps around East Texas charge upwards of $1,000, whereas a week at Camp Deer Run costs $225 for one week sessions and $425 for 2 week sessions. Camp can be so affordable because of the people who support Camp with yearly or monthly donations. When I began working on the staff, we were paid $100 dollars a week. Fortunately the staff is paid more now. I never wanted to work at Camp for the money, but it was always nice to be able to get a pay check for working during the summer. I know that there are many other options for college kids to do during the summer, and for Camp to be able to hire the best staff possible, the the salaries have to continue to be competitive. The Board, as well as Ty Ford the Director, are always thinking of ways to improve Camp, and donations are needed for these improvements. 2 years ago the new pool was built, and it has been paid for by your donations. The next big project in mind is a new Mess Hall. The Mess Hall has been outdated for many years, and things have finally reached a point where a new one is looking like a reality in the not too distant future. But it is going to be a big project, and will need lots of support to be able to complete. On top of all of the things I have already mentioned, there are day-to-day expenses that Camp has to take care of. Camp is in good shape financially right now, but it can always be better. This summer Ty mentioned how there were about 25 people/families who contribute to Camp on a monthly basis with many more who contribute throughout the year. If you feel like you would start supporting Camp, I would suggest you do it monthly. It helps to know what amount of money is coming in each month, and allows for easier planning. I encourage you to spend time in prayer and think hard about supporting a place that has obviously had an impact on your life. You can go to www.campdeerrun.com to find out more about supporting Camp.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

Back to School

Tomorrow is a big day for most of this summer's campers, and I wanted to make everyone aware this. Its back to school for all. It is an exciting time, but also a very hard time for the campers. After spending time at Camp this summer, being reinforced with God's word, they now have to face the temptations of not only being in the "real world", but being at school where it can be so tough to be a follower of Christ. Pray for all the campers tomorrow, and ask God to put a protective shield around them, keeping Satan away. Pray that God can help the campers make smart choices, and that they can remember that examples set for them by the staff this summer. I know that God can do good things through the campers, and that our prayers for their help will be answered. The campers aren't the only ones going back to school. The staff will be heading back to their college campuses soon, and will face many of the same struggles and temptations, and will need God's protection to fight through. The staff of Camp Deer Run is looked upon to be leaders in all they do, and that includes their lives away from Camp. Pray that they can continue to grow their relationship with God. Finally, there are many former Deer Runners who are going back to school tomorrow as teachers and educators. I'm one of them. I know that teachers in schools have a huge responsibility in how the students' lives are shaped, and that there are many great Deer Run teachers who will work so hard to be a positive influence in the lives of the campers. Make sure to spend time during the day that God will be in the schools, and that He will work through the Deer Runners.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

Old Pictures

A couple of weeks ago my father-in-law, Billy Ray Dean, gave me some pictures that he found that were of Camp Deer Run from the very early days. He thinks that these pictures were from the first couple of years that Camp existed. Its amazing to look at them and realize that Camp was around over 50 years ago. Billy Ray asked me to post these to the blog and see if any of you could identify the people in the pictures. He knows who some of them are, but was curious to find out who everyone else was. If you know who these people are, please tell me who and which picture. You can either leave a comment at the end of this post, or you can email me at cdralumni@gmail.com .

Enjoy the pictures.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

Footsteps

When I was camping at Camp Deer Run, I remember being at Cross Devo and being emotionally moved watching the reenactment that the staff put on of Jesus' crucifixion, then seeing the delight of Thomas and the other apostle's at when Jesus appeared to them. I remember that after this reenactment someone would come out and give a short little talk about what we just saw, and reenforced the message that we were taught throughout the session. After this, the staff would walk up as a whole, in front of the campers, and form a line so that they could give all of the campers one last message. This message was a song that was supposed to be the final word of encouragement, and for me I know that it was. It was always very powerful to hear the staff sing "The Lord Bless You and Keep You". When I was done camping, I was blessed to be able to be on staff for 5 years. We would do the same thing at the end of each session. It was always a great message to send to the campers, but as time went on, it became obvious that "The Lord Bless You and Keep You" was a very difficult song for worn out college kids to sing late at night, and that the song might be hard for campers to hear and understand. So during my third year on staff, someone came up with the idea of changing the final song of Cross Devo. I know that some people were not in favor of changing this tradition, but everyone agreed that "Footsteps" would be a great addition. The song ties in perfectly to what the staff wants to campers to take away from them and their time at Camp. Here are the lyrics.

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful.

May the fire of our devotion light their way.

May the footprints that we leave,

lead them to believe,

and the lives we live inspire them to obey.

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful.

What a great message for the campers to hear from the staff. I hope the campers are thinking about the example that the staff gave them, and are spending each day living for the Lord.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

The Last Night of the Summer

I know that many of who read this blog are former staff members, so you understand what I am about to say. Those of who didn't have the chance to work at Camp, understand that working at Camp Deer Run is a completely exhausting experience physically, emotionally, and mentally. It can be a grind getting through each session. This may come as a surprise, but there have been campers in the past who have been able to wear on his or her counselor's patience. But all of the exhaustion, all of the sleep depravation, all of the blood, sweat, and tears is worth doing God's work. I know that at the end of each summer on staff I felt a big sense of accomplishment for making it through the summer, having touched the lives of many young people. I also would look back at the memories that I made with my fellow staff members, and think about the good times we had.

When I was still on staff, and as far as I know this still happens, on the final night of each summer, the staff has a night of celebration and reflection. It is a night that wraps up the summer that was, and gives the staff one last chance to be together before everyone heads off in their separate ways. It was always such an emotional night, because everyone was completely worn out, excited, yet sad that Camp was over. We would eat dinner together, then watch the staff slideshow made up of pictures taken throughout the summer. It was a great way to look back on all of the craziness that is Camp Deer Run. To cap the night off, the staff would sit in a big circle, and have one final Goodbye Devo. Every Thursday night during the summer, each group has a Goodbye Devo just before Cross Devo, when the staff would give advice for the campers to take home with them. The Staff Goodbye Devo was basically the same along with the staff talking about their experience at Camp that summer. It was always such a wonderful time to hear each staff member talk about how God impacted them that summer. I really enjoyed hearing that even though we all experienced the same summer, God touched us all in different ways. But to me, the best part was the singing. I always loved singing as a staff, and when we would all be circled up, facing each other in the Rec Hall, there was nothing like it. In my mind, it was always the perfect way to end a perfect summer.

Last night, this summer's staff spent their last night of the summer at Camp. I know that this was a very trying summer for them, the hottest summer in over 30 years. But I know that all staff members were all blessed, and that God worked through them. Only 43 weeks until Camp Deer Run 2012.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

Super Stealth Mode

Wednesday at Camp is Capture the Flag Day. In name, it doesn't carry the same mystique and intrigue that Indian Day, or Sadie Hawkins Day, but if you were to ask every 9-13 year old, especially boys, which day was their favorite day of the year, most would say Capture the Flag Day. I have heard 11 year old boys talk about how they planned all year a certain strategy for Capture the Flag. The amount of camouflage being worn around Camp on Capture the Flag day is amazing. Personally, I have never spent a day hunting, but I had a camo shirt, pants, shorts, and probably even a camo bandana, all because of Capture the flag. It was always fun to see how seriously the campers took the game of Capture the Flag, and was enjoyable to watch the campers play so intensely. As you can, the campers and staff go all out to blend into the the Piney Woods of East Texas to win a game of Capture the Flag.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

Prayer Request

One of my goals when starting this blog was to be able to pass along prayer requests to the entire Camp Deer Run family. If you are reading this then you are a part of that family and know first hand how powerful God is, and that he listens to our prayers and answers them the best way he sees fit. I want to pass on a prayer request to all of you. Some of you may have heard about this, but others haven't. I suggest you click here and read what Jaymie has written about the situation with Kanyon. Kanyon is a tough little dude who is a joy to be around, and I have always enjoyed seeing him around come out to Camp when he is able to. He can really use some prayers right now. Everybody who has been out to Camp in the past has been impacted by Jaymie and her family. (Jaymie's parents are Jay and Gay Spencer.) Right now is a time that we can come together and lift Kanyon up to God in prayer and ask him to take over. God can do amazing things, we just need to ask him to do them.

As you are prayer, also pray for God to protect the campers and staff this week, the 6th and final session of Camp. As it has been all summer, it is going to be a very hot week. Pray that God brings some cool relief, and makes this last week the best week of the summer.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

Friday at Camp

Today was the last day of 5th Session. Fridays at Camp are always an emotional time for both campers and staff members. After taking in Cross Devo on Thursday night, and not getting much sleep afterwards, Camp is in a different mood than it is any other time. Everyone is exhausted, especially in 2 week sessions. Friday morning has a since of finality to it. Instead of the excitement of the next great Camp moment being on everyone's mind, everyone knows that Camp is over. Cleaning up Camp becomes a priority. Right after Flag Pole Devo, all campers and staff member make a huge line that stretches all over Camp, and then walk across Camp picking up every piece of trash they see. Next, each cabin has to go to their camp improvement site to clean it up as good as they can. After all of this, then the campers finally have to go and pack up all of their stuff to take home. They have to clean the cabin, and make it look like it did when they first arrived. Sometime late in the morning, the campers start to see their families show up. The campers are both sad for having to leave Camp, but also excited because they get to see their family again. Finally the hardest part of Camp has arrived...having to say goodbye to so many good friends. The relationships that are established at Camp are unlike any other. The campers get to know each other so well after living close together for one or two weeks. The campers developed a strong bond with the staff that they have learned from and looked up to. Today it is much easier to for the campers to stay in contact with each other during the year, especially with email and Facebook. But it is still hard to say goodbye to so many good friends at once. As a camper, I know that I hated having to leave Camp, to go out into the real world. Campers today felt just like that. It is so easy to live the way God wants us to live when we are at Camp. It is much tougher to live like that in the real world. Today, just like most Fridays during the summer, campers have gone through the Camp Gates, and are back in the real world. They are fighting the Devil, and hopefully use the things that they learned during their time at Camp to defeat him. Friday's can be hard for the campers, but they also can signify a start to a life that serves God.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

Mellow Night

Last night was the third and final Mellow Night of the summer at Camp. I always loved Mellow Night because it gave me a chance to dress up in something ridiculous and also gave campers and staff members a chance to show off some off their talents. I don't know when or why Mellow Night begin, but it is basically a Camp talent show. Everyone dresses up, usually in some sort of hippy attire, and has a very Mellow Night. I hope you enjoyed the pictures.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

Pray for the Staff

Its hard to believe that the Summer of 2011 is almost over. There are only 2 sessions left, just 3 weeks. I know that all of the campers who have come through the gates so far have been very blessed with their time at Camp. I have asked many staff members how things are going and they always say that it has been a great summer. The staff has a huge challenge in front of them for these last 2 sessions...to present the same Camp experience to the campers of the last 2 sessions as they did for the campers of the first 4 sessions. As a former staff member, I can speak to the fact that by this point of the summer the staff is tired and worn out. Pray for the staff. Pray that God can give them the energy and excitement that the campers deserves. Pray that God gives them the clear minds that are needed to lead the campers. Pray that God gives them the knowledge they need to teach the campers what living a life for God is all about. It has been a hot summer, and I know that the staff has been working harder than ever and they need all of the prayers they can get. God has done many great things this summer, but the summer isn't over. There is still a lot of work left to be done, and God's kingdom is growing because of the work of the staff. Keep them in your prayers and in your thoughts.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

A Great Sunday at Camp

This Sunday was another wonderful day of worship at Camp Deer Run. A crowd of close to 600 gathered for worship, and stayed throughout the day for a great hamburger lunch and fun games and activities. The activities included a fun carnival with wacky games for both the campers and their families, followed by the Camper/Staff Football Game. But I think the watermelon that was served during the game drew more attention than the actual day. There were many CDR Alumni who made the trip to Camp. I know for many of them that it was the first time they had been out to Camp in several years. They talked to me about how they couldn't believe they went that long without being at Camp, and how it felt so good to be out there again. I kept hearing people say things like "good memories", and "happy to be out here". I am so glad that we are able to have days like Middle Sundays where we can all gather together and fellowship with old friends.

If you have been wanting to visit Camp but haven't been able to yet, there is one more Middle Sunday left in the Summer. July 24th is 5th Session Middle Sunday, and will be the last one of the summer. I encourage you to come out and spend the day worshipping the Lord with old friends and relive your time at Camp.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

4th Session Middle Sunday

Just a quick reminder that this Sunday is another Middle Sunday, and another opportunity for you to make a visit out to Camp. 2nd Session Middle Sunday was a great success, especially with it being the first time that everyone stayed at Camp. Worship was wonderful as always, and the rest of the day went great. Class starts at 10:00 world time followed by worship at 11:00. There will be a hamburger lunch that costs $5.00 a person. Afterwards there will be fun games and activities for all to enjoy.

I love Middle Sundays because it gives me a chance to get a small taste of Camp. I haven't been on staff in 8 years, but every time I get the chance to go out to Camp for a Middle Sunday, I get the same feeling as I did when I was a camper and staff member. I see old friends, I sing familiar praises to God. I hear God talking to me and know that He is right there. There really is no better place to be near God. So if you are contemplating coming out, I highly encourage you to do so. It will be well worth it for you. For 2nd Session we had almost 500 people at Worship, let's see if we can get to 600 this Sunday. Hope to see you there.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

Staff Weekend

This morning, Junior Cox posted this on Facebook...

"Woke up to 35 college kid spread out on every piece of floor we had in the house. We always love having the CDR staff come in."

This blog post is inspired by that. Even though Staff Weekends aren't technically a part of Camp Deer Run, they are a vital part of what makes Camp Deer Run what it is. I have always said that God does amazing things through the staff of Camp Deer Run, and the time that they get to spend together on staff weekends makes staff closer and stronger. I remember 10 years ago that I was one of the college kids sleeping on Junior and Christie's floor, and I can remember so many memories that I made on all the other staff weekends I was on.

When the Camp Session ends on Friday, the staff heads into Winnsboro to start off the weekend by eating as much pizza as possible at Pizza Inn. Then for some it is off to do laundry or run errands or head to whichever city in East Texas everyone is spending the weekend. It could be Longview or Paris or Sulphur Springs or Dallas or Holly Lake or somewhere else. Sometimes all the staff stays in the same place, sleeping on the floor or even outside. Sometimes, like at Holly Lake, the staff would stay at different host families houses. One of my favorite times was when the entire staff would go worship together at church of the town we were in. It was wonderful seeing the support that we got from that church. Every staff weekend was different, but all were wonderful experiences for me for me. I'm sure they are equally great now. I made so many wonderful memories, and spent wonderful quality time with my best friends. Staff weekends help the staff to fellowship outside of Camp, and develop a strong bond that allows them to work exceptionally well together at Camp. I love how the staff is able to show the campers how young Christian men and women interact with each other, and how they are able to love each other and love God. The staff weekends play a big part of that.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

Camp Deer Run Wedding

Yesterday two former Deer Run Staff members got married. Andy Garner and Kara Keith both worked at Camp Deer Run for the past few summers, and actually met at Camp. This was a true Deer Run wedding, even with CDR Directer Ty Ford performing the wedding. These are not the first 2 Deer Runners to be married, and surely won't be the last. Many couples over the years have met at Camp and developed a relationship that led to marriage. Camp is a great place to meet someone you could fall in love with, because you really get to see the real person. There are not many other places that you can impress the opposite sex by doing things such as mud sliding, or serving dinner, or playing Capture the Flag 6 times in a summer. At Camp, you see the real person, and you can see how committed a person is to God. Its a great way to start a friendship, and maybe that friendship becomes a romantic relationship. Obviously this doesn't happen for everyone, and it shouldn't, but Camp can help teach people what they need to look for in a spouse.

Whenever there is a Camp wedding it has become tradition to have a Camp picture taken with everyone in attendance from Camp.

And of course a silly picture is taken also.
Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

Follow The Leader

The first 2 Week Session of the summer came to a close today. The campers will be going to their homes and will think about the great memories that they made during their time at Camp. They will think about the games they played and the laughter they shared. But hopefully what will stick out most in their minds will be the lessons they learned from God's word taught by the wonderful staff at Camp Deer Run. The campers were blessed by having a staff that led them this week, taught them what it means to follow Christ. This summer's theme is "Follow the Leader". It is based off of Luke 9:23 which is, Christ said, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." Now the campers are away from the comfort of Camp, where it is easy to "follow the leader", and out in the real world where following the world is more appreciated. We are all like the campers leaving Camp today, we live in the real world, and need to make sure we are following the true Leader. Make sure that the way you live your life is the same way that Christ lived his life. He showed us what it meant to take up His cross. Are you taking up your cross daily? Its a struggle, but its a fight that we have been told will have a glorious prize at the end. Take time to look at who you are following, and if its not Jesus, then you need to take up your cross and follow Him.

The first 2 sessions of the summer are over. Pray for all of the campers who have come been at Camp so far to continue to work hard to fight away Satan, and all to continue in their walk with Christ. Pray for all of the campers yet to come, ask God that their hearts be open and prepared for the many blessings he has prepared for them. Finally, pray for the staff, ask God to keep them full of excitement and energy, ready to do His work at Camp Deer Run. The first 2 sessions have gone well, and God has many great things left for the summer.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

2nd Session Middle Sunday

This past Sunday was the first Middle Sunday of the summer, and was a wonderful day for all involved. It was a day of fellowship, and worship. A day of laughter and joy. It was a day of parents getting to spend time with their children. Friends were able to catch up on old times. Most of all it was a day for Christians to come together and enjoy spending time with each other.

For the past 4 years or so, when people pull up to Camp on Middle Sundays, they are great by this lovely face, always with a smile and instructions on where they should park and what the should do next. As always, well done Andrew Panter.

The morning started off with Bible classes for all of the campers and guests, and then was followed up with everyone gathering in the Pavilion for Worship. The singing was great as always, and Scott Busby did a terrific job bring the lesson to us.
For the first time, everyone was asked to stay at Camp for the day, instead of going somewhere else to eat. In order to feed everyone, several guys came out to Camp early with their grills, and cooked up some hamburgers for everyone. It turned out to be a great lunch.

After lunch, the first ever Festival of Games was held. This was a carnival type activity where the staff members were in charge of different games that the campers and the guests could compete in throughout the afternoon. There was also a competition going on amongst each Camp Group, and the group that won the most points got some sort of special reward during their cookout.

I hope you can tell from the pictures what a fun day this was for everyone at Camp. I hope you can make it out to one of the other 2 Middle Sundays this summer. You will have a blessed time.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky