Mission 1

A great man by the name of Waite Phillips once said "Achievement consists of doing useful things that most people say cannot be done." As I think about the importance of goals in my life, I think of Waite and the impact he and others like him have had on my life. Even though they have been gone for years. Which comes to Mission 1 it is a goal like others it is large in scope. It has a goal that is important to "help the younger and weaker..."

Now what is mission 1? Well straight from the website it says...

Nov. 1-11, 2011... ONE UNITED CHURCH on a shared mission for 11 powerful days to feed the hungry and confront food-related injustice. This is MISSION: 1

The United Church of Christ wants to do this several ways.

• In 11 days, the United Church of Christ will collect more than 1 MILLION ITEMS OF HEALTHY FOOD and other household items for local food banks and outreach services.

• In 11 days, the United Church of Christ will make an extra-special push to gather online contributions of more than $111,111 DOLLARS for Neighbors in Need food-related ministries, offerings that will be shared for hunger-action purposes with agencies of justice and compassion throughout the United States; and $111,111 for East Africa famine-related ministries.

• In 11 days, the United Church of Christ will offer more than 11,111 LETTERS to Congress asking our government to reform U.S. foreign assistance in a way that more effectively benefits hungry and poor people worldwide, helping to provide a major final push to Bread for the World's 2011 "Offering of Letters" campaign.

I say that this is important because what if it were you who was hungry wouldn't you want someone to write a letter or send you food or money for food? Its important because we all need to do our part to help the people of world we live in because we aren't just citizens of a city or a state or even a country we are citizens of the world and it is our duty to help those who need it. I believe this is what Mission 1 is about. It doesn't matter if you care about this mission but I suggest you look into it more and help out because together we may all be one.

http://www.ucc.org/mission1/

Pura Vida

My reflections of summer camp

This summer like last I spent it working with the youth of Kansas and Oklahoma and with Adults with Physical and Mental disabilities. Most of the youth are from churches in the United Church of Christ but there are a few who aren't. This summer we also had a group from Germany who shared a week with us. This summer I learned a lot about love and compassion.

Everyone in the conference knows the importance of the youth in our congregations however I would like to speak about the adult camp. I consider most of these campers to be some of my greatest teachers. If you listen to what they have to share you will learn that they teach us how to be better people. That you should enjoy life slowly and that every day is a gift. However I didn't until this summer realize what impact camp had on their lives. You always hear how camp is their vacation and how camp means a lot to them. I would agree with all of this except I believe camp might mean more to them than it could to any young person including myself.

I say this because we had a camper who passed away this summer. I remember him from when I was a kid and I remember him from last year how he would joke around and be a light to the world. A few of us from the staff went to his service. We were greeted as if we were important people. They delayed the service several minutes so that our second car load of staff could get here and most of the service they shared about camp. It was humbling to know that a week out of someone's life was something he looked forward to come January 1st. It was nice to be treated like this however it didn't feel right. It is true the camp provides a service for people which is to let them have the greatest time possible. But we do that by treating the campers as people and not as a defected product. These campers have hearts and love to play games and learn just like you and me. So next time when you see someone who is different from you I say give them a smile and see what you can do to make an impact on their life, because you never know what impacts your actions have on others. "Not all super heroes wear tights and a cape."

Pura Vida

"We All Fly Like Eagles"

I have the best job in the world, it isn't the easiest job in the world but I have the best job there is. Here is why, I work for a place where I get to meet people who are different from me. They encourage me to do great things and I learn more about someone else's culture than anyone else possibly could. I am lucky and its funny how much changes in a year it always makes me smile to see how far life has brought me.

This weekend a group called Wisdom Keepers came out. They have been coming out for years they share native american ways with others and their ways while some times might be strange to others are important to the future of man kind. They teach us how to treat our fellow man and to live a more simple life.

The title "We All Fly Like Eagles" is the title of a song sang tonight. As I reflect on the song it makes me realize I once was in a dark place but now "Flying so high," my wings are "Circling the universe, On wings of pure light." That light is a path of hope that is lit for others who were are where I once was. I truly hope I never see that darkness again but I know that I have the best friends in the world, some maybe old but a lot are new. New or old it doesn't matter because with out good friends I wouldn't survive in life for long.

Pura Vida

How I woke up yesterday

Because of the snow I spent the night at Sara's house. The next morning I woke up to the lights to the room being flipped on I thought beings I was in the living room it was just someone getting something and it would go off soon. I opened my eyes and in the middle of the room is Lucas Sara's 5 year old son. I was a little startled by "The Children of the Corn" approach but said "whats up buddy?" Lucas then precedes to tell me a story about his brain knowing its time to be up. I don't remember all that was said just that it sounded crazy and I was struggling to keep my eyes open and something about my brain being "backwerbs."

Lucas is a funny kid and I enjoy having conversations with him. The way he looks at the world is just like I did when I was a kid, so I can relate with him and the cartoon world perspective. I wish more people could live with out a care in the world. A place where we work together to achieve our goals and not say hurtful things when it isn't going our way.

Pura Vida

I AM CAMP

This is a poem that was found among some of Harry's camp stuff. We asked him for a copy of it and he said "SURE..." This just emphasizes the idea that Big people are big for a reason. Life is a funny thing but some times you come across people who you wish you could be like. Harry is one of those people for me I've never met a person other than myself who is so excited when it comes to camp.

I AM CAMP.

I AM SUNLIGHT, a sheen on the water, a mist on the mountains and stars.

I AM A DOORWAY out of the common place into a new adventuring experience.

I AM A PLACE where youth learns the joy of play without a string, of fellowship without regrets, of creative effort that wearies not, of a good time that leaves no headache - or heartache behind.

I AM A NEW PURPOSE for life that will make the years different.

I AM NOISE - and silence with a thrill in it.

I AM LAUGHTER - and quiet resolution that seeks the comfort of ths hills.

I AM ENERGY - and the touch of loving service.

I AM YOUTH - and the slowly emerging habits that make matured experience worthy.

I AM TODAY - and also the TOMORROW that is being shaped.

I AM A GIVER OF GIFTS - that pass not away, that time will not chill, that poverty will not quench, that riches will not deceive. I am Habits, Ideals, Ways of Living, Confirmed Attitudes in the Soul of Youth.

BECAUSE I AM ALL THESE, and more - I invite youth into fellowship with me.

I AM CAMP.

(by Percy R. Hayward)

Harry Kasitz

I met Harry back in October during the Kansas Oklahoma conference annual meeting. He told me some stories about camp. I got his brother's information and today we got to meet up with him and one of his sons. This is something I've always wanted to do, to be able to meet the man who started the place I love the most.

I learned a lot about Harry today, that he is 90 years old and in May almost passed from double ammonia. The world is extremely lucky to be able to finally hear his stories of camp, I just hope we aren't to late in hearing what he has to share. His wisdom from this first interview amazes me and gives me hope for the future of White Memorial Camp and Conference Center.

He told a story about how camp was originally going to be around where Ceder point is now. So I am guessing that the original plan for where camp was going to be is now under water. He talked about the though of camp was that it was supposed to be what I have always thought of camp. That it was the nucleus of the conference. A place to get away from your daily life and for the youth to learn about Christ.

One story that touched everyone in the room was about a boy who was the camp ping pong champ every year. The boy was born with no arms and he would sit the edge of the table. Then he would put the ping pong paddle in one foot and throw it from one to the other based on where the ball was in relation to him. According to Bob Kasitz Harry's son who was there the boy "...would wip your butt."

I'm really excited for my experience today I'm glad I got to meet with Harry and Bob. I got to learn about my past and confirm stories about the man who came in the air plane to camp and learn about new stories. To finally learn about Indian camp that it was a camp for older people. People who were 60+ years. You couldn't get that type of age group out at camp now. I'm glad Harry is my friend and I look forward to meeting with him in the future. I truly believe in God and he puts you in places because you need to be there to find out about your past because no one else will.

Pura Vida

"The Past is Always Present"

I have regularly attended and help out at various activities at my church camp in Council Grove KS. It is a very special place to a lot of different people from a lot of different backgrounds in Kansas and Oklahoma. On the way to Council Grove there is a sign that says "The past is always present". On my drive home I pondered this statement and the week I had just lived with some amazing people, as well as the year I have just lived.

I came to a conclusion I have thought of may times. Our struggles are always with us they define who we are. They turn us into who we ultimately are and our past never leaves us, no matter how hard we try to ignore it or let it go it will always be there. The trick is to learn from our struggles and to over come the negativity. It doesn't make us "Monsters" It doesn't make us super heroes. If we learn from our past we can be a beacon hope to those who are younger and weaker than we are. I was at the place I love the most, I could have done tens of thousands of other things. But I got to help one person out and hopefully their situation will change for the better. I'll never forget last night because I learned a valuable lesson. I will always be there for the people of my camp because they have always been there for me in my weakest point.

Pura Vida