The “saints” who’ve gone before us
Tim Bock lounging on the porch of the motel
Two people I met at Delanco Camp are among the names that come to mind.
The first was a fellow camper and baseball lover who, hard to believe, has been gone now almost as long as he was with us. Many of you know the Hallahan family well because Josh and Dave have been heavily involved in programming at camp in the past decade. I knew Josh, Dave and Mark as Dustin’s little brothers, which is strange to think of now considering Dustin was 16 when he went home to be with the Lord. My memories of Dustin have faded over the years much as the memories of many of my fellow campers, but I will never forget the way he rejoiced in the Lord in his illness knowing that God would use him mightily even in death. I am one of many many people who God used Dustin to reach and while we weren’t close friends (two years is quite the age gap when you’re a teenager), his courage, his strength and his faith inspired me in ways I never had the chance to share with him personally. I can’t walk on the grounds of camp without thinking of Dustin and thanking God .
The second was a name you might recognize from the offerings we take during the summer for the scholarship fund in his memory. Tim Bock was a staff member when I was a camper and was about as genuinely unique of a person you will ever meet. My first introduction to Tim was during Camp Meeting when he was teaching a class in the lounge and showed us all photos from his motorcycle accident. Not of the accident, but of all the scabs, bruises, cuts and scrapes he sustained. Tim was kind of like the Steve Martin of Delanco Camp. He had a dry sense of humor and was known for doing his “Boy born with a megaphone for a mouth” skit during talent shows. Tim continues to have a huge impact on my life and my older brother Mike because he paved the way so many years ago and set an example of how you can be creative, original and unique and use those things to glorify God.
What “saints” from Delanco Camp are you remembering and thanking God for today?
Life is Worship
Hello, I’m the new writer on Delanco’s blog. I’m sure you all know me in some way or another from Delanco Camp. This morning I woke up pondering something C.J. Caufield spoke about during the Memorial Day retreat, which I wanted to share.
The theme for the weekend was “Life is Worship.” C.J. preached about how our lives are meant to be a form of worshipping God. In other words, we as Christians are meant to live our lives as if they are a constant ongoing worship service in God’s honor. One of the passages C.J. read was Psalm 95, which reads like a praise and worship song, calling us to come and worship and to bow down before God.
How many times have you been in a situation where you aren’t making a God-honoring choice, but it’s such a small matter that you feel it won’t affect how others see you? I know I’ve had my share of those “eh, it’s only a small sin” moments. However, those moments do affect how God sees us; and as his children, we should be bothered by the fact that some of the choices we make displease him. He’s our spiritual father and our physical creator; wouldn’t you want to please him?
C.J. also read from Exodus 17:1-7, which tells about Moses leading the people from the wilderness of sin and eventually camping at Rephidim. The people grumbled about not having any drinking water. Moses asked the people why they were complaining to him and testing the Lord, but the people’s demands drove Moses to beg God for help. God told Moses step-by-step how to produce drinkable water for the people. In the end, the rock on Mount Sinai that God appointed as the water-providing spot was named Massah (“test”) and Meribah (“arguing”). This was to remind the people that they tested the Lord by saying “Is the Lord here with us or not?” instead of just trusting him.
There was a time when I constantly wondered if God was really there with me during my junior year of high school. I was experiencing so many health issues and none of the doctors could agree on what was the root of the problem. Now that I think back on it, I feel like it was a test of faith from God, and sometimes I wish I handled it differently. However, I know God isn’t done with me yet and there are still many more tests to come. Maybe you are experiencing similar faith-based challenges. Even though there will be times when you question his being there with you, know that he’s standing right beside you saying, “Here I am, (insert your name). I’m not going anywhere.” A good verse to memorize when you feel frustrated and alone is Job 42:2, “I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you.”
James 1:19 tells us, “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” There are some who are quick to speak to God asking for help, slow to listen for his reply, and quick to get angry because God doesn’t give them the solution they wanted. During the last morning chapel service, C.J. reminded us, “Prayer doesn’t change things. More preferably, prayer changes people and it’s those changed people who modify things.”
Trying Something New
Many of you may be in a similar boat to me at this point. This is day two of Lent and I don’t have a specific sacrifice in mind for this season. So, I started thinking. What if, instead of giving up something for Lent, I started doing something for Lent, and ideally, beyond. Nothing big or time-consuming but something that I can put into my daily grind. Something that could be a good practice in the long haul. One thing that came to mind was putting a smile on the face of someone new each day. Walking around Asbury (and other places too), I see people not living in daily joy. I see people burdened by something, while I’m not sure what, they’re burdened and it’s easy to see.
Recently, I’ve been reading Fearless by Max Lucado, a good book with some good ideas behind it. We, as a people, have learned to fear fear. One of my fears is meeting new people. Once I get comfortable with someone, on a personal level, I tend to be more open with them in everyday interactions. If I don’t know someone, I tend to put up my walls and not interact with them. See Katey Bartie, she went from a complete stranger to a sister, from never talking to each other to confidant status in a mere 10-week stint during the 2006 summer.
You may think that you haven’t made a good choice for this Lenten season. Maybe what you’ve chosen is too easy or perhaps, you’re in over your head. (note: being in over your head isn’t necessarily a bad thing.) I challenge you to challenge yourself, to push your pre-conceived limits. Challenges are, indeed, a good thing. They make us better people, they refine us much like the way that “iron sharpens iron”, Proverbs 27:17.
I’m accepting my challenge, will you?
A Love Story, 20 Years In the Making
Like most nine-year-old boys who first step foot onto the hallowed grounds of Delanco Camp, I immediately began my quest for a life partner. I diligently sought out a suitable mate while self-reflecting on what kind of husband God wanted me to be. It was that easy.
Well actually, when I showed up at Delanco Camp, the first thing I remember is my Mom using my head to demonstrate for the boys in the dorm, the proper technique for washing behind the ears. And then it was on! I was eating bugs, talking to trees, and running around barefoot so that I could have black feet for the next four months. It was during one of those adventure filled days that I met Melissa for the very first time. She was captivated by my charm, mesmerized by my wit, and repulsed by my looks. It wasn’t God’s time yet.
Year after year, we continued to be involved in the summer ministry program at Delanco Camp, but when we were fourteen, I saw Melissa at Delanco for the last time. Or so I thought. Thanks be to God, we were on a journey together, but from miles apart.
Wally and Melissa in disguise during an evening activity at camp.
God used two separate roads to lead us on a 20-year journey, which brought us together- two people, transformed by God’s grace.
After reconnecting on Facebook after a 20-year severance, we decided to meet face-to-face at the Tenth Avenue North Concert at Delanco.
Nine months later, I decided to plan a romantic date at our favorite place. We went on a canoe ride, a quad ride (thanks to CJ and Carrie), and had a romantic dinner on the gazebo by the lake. After a delicious meal, I got down on my knee and proposed to the love of my life. After she said, “Let me check my schedule.” We were christened by a fireworks display over the water. It was an amazing night.
We never knew what God had in store from us way back in 1983, but we knew whom we belonged to. And God continues to prove faithful as we prepare for “Little Wally” in just a couple of months. Praise God.
His Story: Mark and Andrea Buzby
The above videos were taken at the Delanco Camp dinner earlier this year at Richwood UMC.
My home away from home
On arriving Delanco it was under a cloud cover, slightly cold, and crowded with early birds ready to have an awesome week. My mother had gotten in line and called me over to sign some agreements and pick my bed in Downstairs Big. Sadey Handy and I got the first pick of bottom bunks and went in to set up. Her bed broke so Turtle and Geraldo came in and fixed it with some strength, determination, and cardboard.
Our room was slowly filled with people I met last year, different counselors, and three campers I quickly acquainted myself with. This was my second time being at Delanco Camp and all of my counselors’ names have been Emily. I had so much fun the first night I can hardly remember what came first, chapel or the games. So I’ll start with chapel.
Once I walked in I sat with my friends in the third bench on the left, it would be on the right from a stage perspective. We quickly spotted a giant wrench and an inaccurately-made pair of giant scissors. Later we noticed some huge jacks, an iPod that came up to my shoulders, and some colossal candy canes. Then Chris Low formed The A-Team which consisted of Nelson Jerez (The Leader), Dan Brown (The Smooth Talker), Vincent Altimari (The Strong Guy), and me. I was the only girl on the team and I had to be the crazy person. Thanks Chris! He gave us all a task. Nelson had to choreograph a dance with at least five people that lasted a minute of longer. Dan had to talk people into giving him their shoelaces until he obtained five pairs, or ten shoelaces, if you can’t count. Vincent had to do one thousand push-ups. I say I had the easiest job. Naming ten inanimate objects was the first job done and I took it a step further. I dubbed twenty things because I’m that amazing. And all assignments were to be completed by the end of the week. Now enough about chapel, onto the games. In the dining hall we played some ice-breakers and Mingle Games like never-have-I-ever, shuffle your buns, and some other activities that either have no names or I just can’t remember. I won a super long twizzler rope and a deck of jumbo cards. Everyone else got false mustaches, things that grew when they got wet, and mini games made massive.
Later in the week we were put into groups for group activities, tiny team time, and prayer groups. For group activities we played different word games, team builders, and measured out Noah’s ark. However, the main activity was building things out of cardboard boxes. My group built a truck. I named him Tucker. The other guys made a camper and named him Pablo. I was upset about this; I had named my little blue hippo Pablo way before this “camper” was constructed. Tucker was not allowed off of the sand so he was destroyed violently. (Check out the video) The tiny team time groups were the Goldfish, Penguins, Seahorses, Lobsters, Ducks, and Frogs. We all had to make something to represent our team. Goldfish won with our giant goldfish on a fishing pole and mini school of fish. Then there were the chants, the sticker challenge, the rafts, and the race. I forget who won for all of them, but everyone copied the Goldfish in the sticker challenge. The team that put their color sticker the highest on the pole won. And the prayer groups were very nice. They were small groups and were spread around camp at the snack shop, the craft shack, the beach, etc. My group was at the snack shop. Even though we messed around to pass some time we had some deep and serious prayer when we stayed on topic.
The night games were epic; Toy Story 3, The Goonies, Baby Olympics, Where the Wild Things Are, and more. Toy Story had the staff all dressed up. Most were main characters; others where strange or creepy, like a monkey with pan lids that got on your nerves and a big baby with a zombie stare. We saved the toys from the evil teddy bear. In The Goonies game there was One-eyed Wally’s treasure. It tested the campers’ knowledge of Delanco. Each place gave you a piece of the map, but there was one more hidden clue on the back. The Baby Olympics was a completely different situation. Everything was done on a blue tarp. There was baby-food eating, crawling, rolling, and getting grapes out of applesauce. I found it so gross that I just sat back in the sand and watched. Where the Wild Things Are was the last game we played. We sat around a bonfire and the book was read to us. They even had a bed, lamp, and boat to go with the story. We had to run and round up the wild things in our teams, but there was also another team that stole the wild things from us. All the games had candy involved in some way, shape, or form.
The last night we checked in on the A-Team for the last time. Vincent and I were the first done. Dan had collected ten shoelaces, but lost them. Keturah Chisholm, our magnificent missionary speaker, had stolen them, so Dan’s job was done. Then we came to Nelson, “The Leader”. He was the only one who did not complete his task. And then the main event came. The time for testimonies was long and wonderful. Some of them even had to wait until after the night game. I was truly moved after hearing all of the stories and tales of how God moved in the lives of my friends and fellow campers. Before going to bad all of the girls got together and had group devotions. Personal testimonies were told and people fell asleep. We wrote our baggage on stones and threw them into the lake to help us let things go. It was a remarkable last night. On the very last day we did some mega cleaning and Chris sang a special song. Parents had arrived and all of the over-sized items were being sold. I wanted to get the immense iPod, but there wasn’t room in the car.
Overall, my camp experience was just great, but my God experience and my encounter with him at the altar was just unbelievable and my made faith so much stronger. Even though it was my last time at Jr. High 2 I will return to Delanco, my home away from home.
Welcome to the blog for Delanco Camp, an inter-denominational Christian camp in Tabernacle, N.J. If you have questions, would like to contribute, advertise or want to share a story, memory, old photos or testimony of your time at camp, contact Blog Editor Matt Ralph at matt.ralph@delanco.org. Upcoming Events
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