This page is about my teen years and the
fun times,
that I had at Church Summer Camp.
It
was back in the 50's, when the good times were
happening.
This is some more of my good
memories.
We had so much fun each summer in
August.
Our Churches owned Camp Sugarpine,
which
is on the way to Yosemite National Park.
We would
meet so many nice and fun friends.
Then we would
spend all year writing to them.
When school was about
to dismiss,
for the summer, the fun began.
The
anticipation of who would be coming,
and who we would
go around with,
really could bring on the jitters.
lol
Yes we called it going around in those days.
I
was so shy and I would never ask a boy,
to go around
with me, not me.. never...lol
But I always had one
ask me to go around.
Well I am not good at staying on
track,
but that is the fun part of doing these kind
of pages.
The kids would come from all over
California.
They would ride on the church buses for
hours.
That is unless they were real lucky,
they
could just have someone drive them.
I lived close
enough, that I didn't have to ride the buses.
Camp was from
Saturday afternoon to the next Saturday.
When we
first got there, we would stand around
waiting,
looking for our good friends, to see if we
could spot them.
Coming from certain towns driving
down that dirt road,
then up the hill, then down the
hill, way off of the highway.
Oh...My... Goodness...
He... Is... Here... lol
We hugged each other and the
giggling all began.
We had one adult in each cabin
with 6 girls.
Well in the boys case a man with 6
boys.
Now I do want to make this very clear
though.
It was a place to go and have good clean
fun.
And to learn about the Lord too.
We did have
Chapel and we had Bible study.
We had crafts, and all
kind of sports,
and yep even swimming !
Yuk....
You know, the green ole ponds?
The tire
hanging from a tree, sit in it, then jump in the water.
The boys would tell us that they had seen
snakes,
and that is all it took for me, forget you I
thought.
I never would go into that ole swimming
pond.
I still to this day wouldn't.
We got into
our cabins that we were assigned too.
We had bunk
beds and we had to take sleeping bags.
And a lot of
blankets to keep warm.
Oh, and let me tell this one
thing before I forget.
I was in the same cabin
with our Pastor's Daughter.
Her Mom bought her the
biggest bottle of Pepto Bismo
and told her to share
if anyone got sick.
Well that first night Kitty
and I...
climbed up on the top bunk and,
she would
take a swig of it, then I would take a swig.
We both
loved that stuff so much.
Kitty and I drank that
whole bottle the first night.
Well at least we didn't get sick
all week.
That was the talk around the whole camp
that week.
Well needless to say her Mom was very
upset with us.
Our going around with someone was for
a whole day.
This was from breakfast until after
evening Chapel.
and the camp fire and testimony
service each night.
Then we would say our
goodnight,
then get another one for the next
day.
This way we got to know that person
well.
Most of us had someone in mind before hand.
We did have rules to go by though.
And if you
did something bad, you better watch out.
There was one
Pastor for the principle for the week.
We didn't
really have much problems in those days.
Most all
were really nice young teenagers.
Now it cost $ 8.00 for
the week for us to go.
I think it is close to 300.00
or more now.
That is if they still have summer camp
at church.
I wanted my kids to do this so bad.
but
that was ole fashion fun to them.
We had to do KP
too, and also clean our cabins.
Well kind of clean
them, what we could do.
When we were eating if
someone caught with their elbows
on the table.
OOPS....
We yelled out their name and we
sang,
while they were running around inside, the mess
hall.
Then they had to run outside all around the big
dining room.
And they had to sing, "Going To The
Garden And Eat Some Worms".
Well that was sure a lot
of fun to us.
My kids have just laughed at me, when I
told them about our fun.
Oh well, I just don't mind
at all, as it was their loss.
We had a list to add
our prayer needs for lost ones to pray for too.
Or
anything or anyone that needed prayers.
I added my
Brother-in-Law, Tommy on the list.
Now Tommy didn't
want to go to Church and
him and my Sister Sue, had 4
little Girls all 1 yr apart and so cute.
We got to
invite family on Friday night for evening Chapel.
Now
this was the chance that my Parents had been waiting
for.
Tommy agreed to come and bring Sue though on
Friday Night.
But he did make up his mind to not let
anyone talk him into being saved.
That is true... We
had a good service.
Bro. Chappell preached that night
about going to Heaven.
I was watching Tommy wiggle
and look around.
He said he was looking to see if
there was a door to get out of,
or maybe one he could
make. lol
I began to pray and I know my parents were
too.
Bro. Chappell was watching Tommy and many others
too.
But he had Tommy on his list big time that
night.
The sermon ends, and then came the invitation
to come to the alter to pray.
We sang the fist verse,
second, then the third verse.
Tommy hung on that
seat in front of him.
His knuckles were white.
I
prayed for God to not end that service.
Tommy
couldn't stand still or let go of that seat in front of
him.
Looking for that door.
But, No door.. he
could get too fast enough.
Finally I remember Bro.
Chappell saying just one more verse,
then you can all
go on home.
I thought Oh, Lord send Tommy down to the
alter.
I went to talk to Tommy and finally right
before,
the last verse was over, down to the alter
Tommy came.
Sue was right behind him.
The tears
were streaming down Tommy's face, and were all
crying.
That night Tommy became a changed man
forever.
A Daddy to 4 little sweet Girls, a Loving
Wife.
Now this song that you are listening
too,
has always reminded me of Tommy.
Tommy is a
Ordained Southern Baptist Deacon.
He has taught
Sunday School many years.
And he loves the Lord with
all of his heart.
He does love to tell everyone about
Jesus.
And what Jesus will do for you too.
He said
he is so happy that there was no door close by.
He
has done so much in the churches that they have belonged
too.
Tommy and Sue have been married for
53 years.
They now are retired and live in
Oregon.
Tommy and Sue have many Grandchildren and
G-Grandchildren now.
Tommy this song is for you....
Thank You Lord for giving Tommy a new life.
I
will meet you in Heaven Tommy...
Becoming a Christian
changed Tommy forever.
He is not perfect, just
forgiven.
"Just An Old Sinner Saved By
Grace".
I Love You Tommy & Sue...
