One of the most exciting things that kids at the big red brick church down the street from the post office experiened was church camp at Siloam Springs Baptist Assembly. Each summer, we counted down the days and prayed for dry weather. I couldn't wait until I was old enough to go and that day finally came in the summer of 1950.
My mother, at 44, was a bit too old to go as a camper. However, she... was just the right age to be a camp counselor. I'm sure it had nothing to do with me being just 10 years old and my daddy being a bit protective.
To say the camp was a bit primitive in 1950 as compared to the beautiful campus and accommodations of Siloam Springs Baptist Assembly now was an understatement. When shown our accommodations for the two weeks, wonderful would not have been the word we would have used. Our dormitory looked like a chicken house but was two story; no windows , only screens all with a few holes to accommodate the flies and mosquitoes. Along the sides were heavy drop down wooden covers that were to be used in case of rain and there were iron bunk beds with thin mattresses. At one end of the long room was a shelf with a bucket and a wash pan, which was the first clue that there was no running water except for a hydrant down a very narrow path. The showers were primitive as well and were located further on down the path and shared with other campers in other dormitories on the hill. Of course, there was no hot water and the water from those showers surely came from a spring somewhere within that mountain.
The experiences of church camp are something, once experienced, will never be forgotten. That summer in 1950 was the beginning of camp each summer for seven years for me. What we learned, the friendships we developed and the increase of our faith in our Heavenly Father more than likely would not have been found at any other venue.
There is just something about summer church camp that changes lives.
" But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." Luke 18:16 KJV
My mother, at 44, was a bit too old to go as a camper. However, she... was just the right age to be a camp counselor. I'm sure it had nothing to do with me being just 10 years old and my daddy being a bit protective.
To say the camp was a bit primitive in 1950 as compared to the beautiful campus and accommodations of Siloam Springs Baptist Assembly now was an understatement. When shown our accommodations for the two weeks, wonderful would not have been the word we would have used. Our dormitory looked like a chicken house but was two story; no windows , only screens all with a few holes to accommodate the flies and mosquitoes. Along the sides were heavy drop down wooden covers that were to be used in case of rain and there were iron bunk beds with thin mattresses. At one end of the long room was a shelf with a bucket and a wash pan, which was the first clue that there was no running water except for a hydrant down a very narrow path. The showers were primitive as well and were located further on down the path and shared with other campers in other dormitories on the hill. Of course, there was no hot water and the water from those showers surely came from a spring somewhere within that mountain.
The experiences of church camp are something, once experienced, will never be forgotten. That summer in 1950 was the beginning of camp each summer for seven years for me. What we learned, the friendships we developed and the increase of our faith in our Heavenly Father more than likely would not have been found at any other venue.
There is just something about summer church camp that changes lives.
" But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." Luke 18:16 KJV
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