The End is the Beginning

This “final” session at camp was a doozy. I utilize quotation marks for reasons to be revealed later.

Probably at the end.

It was certainly the most exhausting session of the summer, and at times the most defeating. Coming off a near-perfect session, it was inevitable that this session just wouldn’t compare. Simply wouldn’t stack up.

We had some absolutely solid kids this session, but yeah — it just wasn’t the same. I found myself constantly fighting the despair of last session’s loss. I have a hard time letting go of things. Especially people. Hate letting go of people. Especially awesome people like those boys from Tennessee.

I struggled at times to craft a new beginning with the new campers in our cabin. But you know what? Even amid despair, God had something to tell, show, and explain to me. Something new to teach me.

Tell Me Why…

Infinitely more than any other session, these kids loved asking questions.

“What’s for dinner tonight?” (I don’t know, I’m not in the kitchen.)

“What are we doing next?” (After every single activity.)

“What’s the deal with your last name?” (To be fair, “Zuniga” is insane.)

But more than asking repetitive questions about camp, these kids loved asking questions about the Bible. About God and Jesus and faith. It was pretty inspiring to see these kids filling up notecard after notecard with questions that me and my co-counselor would eventually answer throughout the session. I hope we were able to bring some light to their inquisitive little minds.

As always, I will miss these guys.

Show Me Why…

A couple recaps ago I explained the premise of “Council Ring” and how these campers move through a promotion system that ultimately shapes them into incredible young men. It’s unspeakably beautiful.

Something I’ve yet to blog about, however, is that final rank in the system: the rank of “little chief.”

Once a camper reaches a certain rank, he’s eligible to be “tapped out” on an unknown night and taken to a special ceremony that kicks off an 18-hour test. The test includes maintaining a fire for several hours, running up a mountain, writing a 1500-word essay, and performing manual labor around camp — all without uttering a single word. It’s an insane test that few pass.

After two months, I’d yet to witness this midnight ceremony that kicks off the little chief test. I took advantage of my last chance to make it happen. Three kids from my tribe (not my cabin) were tapped out that night, and it was a joy to see their joy as they entered the room.

Something was read during “the charge” that still remains with me: how these 18 boys were about to embark on the “second phase” of this little chief test. How they’d already passed the first phase with their exemplary character and pursuit of Christ. The most important phase.

It wasn’t necessarily about keeping a fire going or having enough self-control not to speak for three-fourths of a day. It was about the man each was becoming. So moving.

Only 5 of those 18 would pass the test and become little chiefs, but I admire all 18 — especially those 3 youngest ones who failed — for the men of God they’re fast becoming. I feel a sense of incredible despair that I was nowhere near their character and godliness at 12, 13, 14 years old. They showed me what it’s truly all about.

What an inspiration they remain for me.

If you want just a flicker of what promotions and Council Ring are all about, check out the end of this video our camp made for a medically evacuated camper. You may even spot yours truly in said video. (Spoiler: you will spot yours truly in the video. Wearing a chair on his head. For no plausible reason whatsoever. Also featured in this video, those incredible Tennessee kids from my cabin last session.)

Quickie Memories

• A campout that culminated in a bus-evacuation early the next morning because of some gnarly thunder and lightning. Basically, it was awesome.
• CHRISTMAS IN JULY. Such a beautiful Sunday service filled with Santa hats, Styrofoam snow, cookies and milk, and a message on the greatest Gift ever given.
• Tubing in western North Carolina and a shopping trip that, as always, amounted to boys buying way more knives than they’ll ever possibly need.
• A Batman vs. Bane sock war in which, shockingly, good defeated evil for once. It’s comforting to know that Batman did what God’s chosen people couldn’t several weeks back.

Explain to me why…

I tossed around the idea for weeks, but never really gave it much serious consideration. I was exhausted. Still am. I was starting to count down the days until I could return home to my family in Georgia.

And then a funny thing happened toward the end of my countdown.

Late into this session, some dear/obnoxious fellow staffers encouraged/prodded me to stay an extra week for “starter camp.” And after some prayer and peer pressure, I decided that I would.

So as it turns out, my “final” session at camp actually wasn’t. Turns out the end is actually a new beginning.

This upcoming “session” will be totally unlike the previous four. It’s only one week instead of two, and it consists entirely of new campers from the two youngest tribes. I’ll be working with a new age group and a totally new schedule, but I’m hopeful it will be a fun way to close the summer.

So long folks…

It’s strange that 80% of the staffers went home this morning. We had a banquet last night filled with slideshows and videos and awards that frequently moved me to tears. We also went around our ginormous table, and people stood to share whatever was on their heart.

Somehow I mustered the courage to stand and say something. To express my gratitude for this special place. That God would allow my crazy winding life-route to pass through here for a summer. To encourage my fellow brothers/sisters in Christ to travel well.

I pray they do.

Trout out.

– Traveling Golden Trout