Ten Years of SGYC

     This morning ten years ago, somehow I forced myself to leap into the Great Unknown. Where I actually leapt into was Mr. Gundersen's van. It was a new adventure for nearly all of us - Grace Bible-Tulsa hadn't sent anyone to this church camp before, though a few of the girls had been before with friends from other churches. 

     See, Marie had talked Josh and I into going with her, and then she backed out at the last second. (I want to say her family went on vacation two weeks before camp started, but I'm not sure.) FFH's "I'll Join the Rocks" was one of the songs stuck in my head on the way to southwest Missouri.

     What happened? I met my teammate Daniel the first night - he'd been here before, showed me the ropes. The next day I met a guy named Matt, who had also never been there. As the week progressed, I met twins Marshall and Madelyn, and a lot of other people, including Taylor, Shari, Jojo, Jake and Ashton. I met counselors like Terry, Tim, Brother Larry, Robin and Janet C. I learned how to square dance, and while doing so met Ashland. I also learned how to play volleyball. 2008

     The next year the fire-remodeling was happening, and SGYC was a relief from the stress. Daniel and I had started emailing each other regularly, and his advice and encouragement was something I benefited greatly from. It rained often, and I learned how to play ping pong and met Jed, Jon Jessica and Amanda. 2009

     Sam and Dylan had joined the GBC youth group by our next trip. Tim wasn't there because of his brain tumor, which made for an odd week. It was a strange year of camp in general. I taught Dylan how to throw a Frisbee, and this was the first time that Ashland and I were teammates, on Black (the Panthers). 2010

     2011 was eventful. The White Cubs were terrible at the Tournament Challenge sports, but we worked really well together (mostly our team was composed of Tulsans and Hankinses). Sam and I did a duet of Carrie Underwood's "Temporary Home" for Talent Share, and that didn't go so well. Bennett kept the guys cabin in stitches. 

     2012 was also eventful. It was just at the end of senior year, Jeff Johnson was the camp pastor (he wasn't great). Miss Kathy led the singing, which was amazing. Our Blue Bison team won the Tournament Challenge. Jessica and Amanda came back for one more year of camp. Ashland and I made Mrs. Boyer a sympathy card (her dad had just died).

     I was a counselor in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. I've helped with archery, Bible Jeopardy, and volleyball, and led softball. I've made friends with most of the counselors, but the past two times I've felt like things were just too routine, something was off. I don't know what, exactly, but I hope that it can be fixed.