Phone call:  “Chief, one of my campers got a small stick stuck in his eye – we are taking him to the hospital at Tupper Lake.  We don’t know how bad it is”.  What happened?  “We were walking down the trail.  He looked behind to talk with his friend, and when he turned back, he turned directly into a small stick…it went through his eye lid…which bled.  There looked to be some clear fluid, so it probably went into his eyeball.  We left a piece of the stick in the eye, covered the other eye so he would not move his eyes, and I ran for help.  We carried him to the car.  That’s all I know.”  The stick slid along the side of his eyeball – no significant damage.  We thanked God that the eye ball was not damaged, and we were thankful the counselors knew what to do in the emergency.

It is so easy to say “Don’t worry, God is in charge!”   Ultimately He is…but in the mean time, to a huge degree, I was!!  God delegated to me, as the Director of Deerfoot Lodge, the responsibility to choose and prepare each person on the staff for the expected, and the unexpected, that happened to every counselor every summer, be it starting a fire in rain, canoeing on a stormy lake, caring for a very homesick camper – or the camper who gets a stick in his eye.

What follows is based upon what was in last week’s IPWG (#182  2/4/13) about the Deerfooter who became Director of TIMO, which provides a 2 year training experience for young people seeking to gain a foundation in un-reached people ministry. I encourage you to take a minute to review the material.

Before “TIMO” received his staff contract, through my interview and his recommendations, I was convinced he had a good knowledge of the Bible, was solid theologically, enjoyed kids of various ages, desired to build godly men, enjoyed the wilderness, and was a self-starter with good energy levels.  I explained that 38 of the 43 counseling staff had previous DL training and experience as counselors and in the instructional areas.  Most had Life Guard, Wilderness 1^st Aid, and CPR certifications.   For 3 weeks, 6 days a week, from 7 AM to 10:30 PM, TIMO pushed himself to gain basic DL training – mostly taught by returning DL staff.

During the next three summers he served as a counselor in all 3 sections and co-led a 12 day Allagash River canoe trip in Maine. Next came a summer working with other Deerfooters at a camp in Venezuela begun by Deerfooter Peter McMillan.  Two summers later TIMO was 1 of 4 Guide leaders who worked for 8 weeks with 28 of the previous summer’s top DL campers who had potential to become future staff.  The 4, using provided materials, planned and led this challenging program.

When you hear someone say “the Lord did it” – ask yourself “What did God directly do – and what had He delegated human beings to do”?  Perhaps it is more honest to say “to God be the Glory – great things He has done.”  God enables us to serve Him.

And so I challenge you: whatever you do, do well, PARTICULARLY within the Christian community. As you seek to live day by day In Partnership With God, take seriously what God, through His people has delegated you to do.  Carefully prepare each lesson.  As a pastor, elder, or youth leader, carefully plan how your church can be used of the Lord to build godly people – be they young or old!  Remember: Plan your work – work your plan.

God has delegated much to each of us!!!  He will provide what we need to carry out the delegation.  God can step in and re-direct – do a miracle, but this is not the norm.  If the Lord did everything for us, we would not grow as TIMO did.   We are to live In Partnership With God.  Partners work together!

This past Tuesday morning Sally Jo and I boarded a United jet in Portland for our flight back to Albany, via Chicago. Our seats were aisle and center, and while we were getting settled, a 5’ 10” solidly built black man came for the window seat.  He was obviously uneasy.  When I sat down he was telling me how expensive a hamburger was in the airport – and coffee too.  Then his questions began: “Could he get food on the plane? (It is expensive, but don’t worry.  We have 4 granola bars.)  What was the screen on the seat in front of him for?  When should he put on his seat belt?” I asked if he had flown many times, and he laughed.  “Three hours ago I was in solitary confinement at the Federal Penitentiary.  I’d been there for 3 years – a room about the size of a bathroom that had a sink, toilet and bed.  I was in there 23 hours a day – the food was awful!!”  I asked why he was in the penitentiary.  “I got caught after 10 armed robberies – banks.  After being in the Pen for 10 years a man came after me, and I stabbed him with a table knife.  I did not really hurt the man, but it was considered a violent act – and into “the hole” I went.”

Three hours before, a trusted prisoner had dropped him off in front of the terminal building with his plane ticket to Chicago.  The prison had provided him the clothes he was wearing, $30 cash, and then he showed me his bright yellow prison identification card, and a debit card issued by Chase bank with his picture on it for non-prison identification.  There was $3.00 in the account.  He also had $60, earned before he was sent into “the hole”, building solar panels for government use.  During the next 3 ½ hours I learned to appreciate Charles – who was articulate, did not use profanity, and was very knowledgeable about national and world affairs.  I also learned much about prison life – like the fact that in his cell he had books, paper, something to write with, and a radio – that was it!  .  Charles did not seem bitter – he knew what he had done.

“Do you want to hear one of my poems?  I already had one published!”  Sure!  Then with rhyme, and the rhythm of rap, Charles recited his poem.  He began with creation and continued with how Satan came to be, man’s struggle with disobedience to God, man’s fall into sin, the story of Cain and Abel, and more – all in the Old Testament.  After perhaps 10 minutes he abruptly stopped.  Sally Jo and I listened, fascinated.  It was beautiful…well done, I don’t know how best to describe the experience.  Theologically and sequentially he had it right.

As I reviewed the events of the New Testament, Charles added some details.  I told of Jesus birth, His growing up years, His baptism, and His miracles.  I told of the triumphal entry, the response of Jewish leaders, and the crucifixion. Charles reminded me that a criminal hung on each side of Jesus.  When I began to tell what happened when Jesus was crucified, Charles asked for my legal pad, and made some notes.  After telling about the darkness, the curtain in the temple torn from top to bottom, the earth quake, and the resurrection, he smiled.  “Thanks. I didn’t have a good ending for my poem.”  I then talked about the significance of Jesus life, death and resurrection for each of us.

Charles told how, when 10 years old, he was sent to a Juvenile Detention Center run by a Methodist church, and about Miss Nancy, who had taken a special interest in him, and kept up with him.  (He would get in touch with Miss Nancy as soon as he could.) He told how he went to a Baptist Church.  When I asked if they had an excellent black choir…he got excited – he loved music!  Then he sang to us a chorus he had learned in Sunday school.

Charles would like to publish a book of his poems.  I told him about the inter-net resource bible. crosswalk and gave him our son Dirk’s church number, explaining that Dirk would help him if had trouble using it.  I also gave him our home number.  Charles used my cell phone to call the people who were meeting him at the United Arrival area.  They     had two hours to get him to the half-way house.  We showed Charles where he should go to meet his car, and then gave each other big hugs.  As we parted, he said he would call us in a couple weeks.  I think he will!

Perhaps you have been the “Miss Nancy”, or the choir member, or the Sunday School Teacher, or the person in the plane.  Someone who will be remembered,   because you are living In Partnership With God.

“The steps of the godly are directed by the LORD. He delights in every detail of their lives”  Psalm 37:23.

This Deerfooter uses his DL training/experience to the extreme!  He is the Director of TIMO – Training in Ministry Outreach.  TIMO is a two year training experience for young people looking to gain a foundation for a lifetime of ministry.  It is a team-based approach to church planting among un-reached people groups.

We have e-mailed for many years, and after a recent e-mail I asked him to tell me his DL story.  Upon reading it, I asked permission to send it on to you.   Due to his ministry situation, his has asked that his name not be included.  Watching the 3 minute video (please do – with cursor on blue video…push down & hold control key –  while you left  click!!!) will put this Deerfooter’s life/letter into context.  (The parenthesis in italics are mine)

The Torch Passed On – and On!

Chief,

I worked at DL the summers of 93 and 94.  I started in Woodsmen for a couple sessions, then a couple sessions on the island.  Next summer I did Island and then Voyageurs with Daryl Babcock.  I can’t remember, but it was either that summer or the next summer that Brian Gill and I led a DL mission’s trip to Venezuela to work with Peter McMillan at the camp he was trying to get going.  I don’t know what ever became of that camp (it is doing well – totally under Venezuelan leadership), but co-leading that trip was a pretty important experience for me as I started a trajectory of being involved in cross-cultural missions.  Then the summer of 97 I came back and was a Guide Leader along with Gordon Koppin, Peter Smith and Ken Meyer.  (That summer there were 28 qualified Guides)  I think it was an experiment of doing 2 guide groups, in a staggered way.

How did DL prepare me for what I do now?  Wow… where do I begin?  DL was my first real shot at leadership. Someone thought I was qualified to lead 8-10 year olds for 2 weeks at a time, do devos for them, shape them spiritually, keep them safe, teach them wilderness skills and take them on overnight hiking trips…twice!  And somehow, by the grace of God and with some good training, serious accountability, and mentoring, I rose to the challenge.  And loved it.  I learned how to communicate my relationship with God to others and teach them insights I was gleaning from the Scriptures.  I learned to do things with excellence – that was the word for the morning devos one year.  I learned that I had a lot to learn!  Growing up as an MK (missionary kid), I thought I pretty much had everything all figured out – but DL showed me my pride and my need for humility.

Chief – I think DL is an IDEAL place to recruit young, godly men who are interested in exploring missions.  As you probably know, TIMO is looking for DL kind of guys.  It was great to be there this past summer and share about our extreme TIMO team going to Lesotho to live among the highland shepherd boys – the last un-reached people group in this small mountain country, and share about how this team is open only to single, young men who know how to live simple, rugged, high adventure lifestyles with a love for the outdoors.

Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  Matthew 28:19-20

He Serves In Partnership With God

After 18 years, what do I remember about our Voyageur trip? Canoeing through the storm on the first day, getting up at daybreak to enjoy the actual sunrise and the stillness of the morning, and the calls of multiple loons.  I remember leisurely days on the water, seeing moose, and having our choice of campsites when we stopped about 3:30.   I remember quiet beauty that surrounded us, great food, floating a section of the river in lifejackets, locating the logging trains identified on our topographical maps, surviving the rapids, and helping campers sharpen their canoeing skills.  I remember sitting around campfires.  I remember none of the “great” Bible studies or devotions Nick and I prepared. I do remember responding to many questions, challenges.  What do I remember?  It was a fun trip!

In response to my IPWG # 177  “Terror! Triumph! Thanksgiving!” I received 3 e-mails from people who had taken the Allagash trip, one of which I quoted in the 12/10/12 IPWG.  Each remembered having an incredible trip.  None wrote about the great spiritual content of the trip.  So…did the trip fail to accomplish its primary objective?

When leading a Voyageur trip, we were doing what Jesus did for most of his 3 years of active ministry.  Jesus lived with his disciples, men who began their time with Jesus knowing nothing about “Christ-like living”.  With Jesus, they saw    people being healed and fed.  They heard Jesus pray.  They were in the boat when Jesus calmed the storm.  They watched Jesus tell stories to answer the questions of people seeking understanding, and they watched him respond to hostile people, and using the opportunity to explain God’s truths. They experienced Jesus answering their questions, even some questions they were thinking, but did not ask.  The disciples learned the living of love and forgiveness. Jesus’ ministry was almost totally in response to what was happening around Him.

And our campers observed our lives, just like the disciples observed Jesus’ life.   We did not heal people, but hopefully we lived our lives as Jesus lived His – responding to what was happening around us.  Jesus prayed.  We prayed.  Jesus was sinless – no mistakes!  There is no doubt in my mind that our voyageurs saw us make people judgments, say unloving things.  Our campers also heard us admit mistakes, ask for their forgiveness.   Jesus was God.  We were living In Partnership With God.

As we responded to our situations, the Holy Spirit often brought to our minds what we had heard, previously thought through.  This has been my experience throughout my life.  Therefore is it unrealistic to believe that this same Holy Spirit can bring to the minds of our Voyageurs in future years what they experienced, observed, and heard on our trip together?

Recently I received two e-mails from Dr. David Howard, professor of Old Testament at Bethel Seminary.

The first was a copy of the five page letter he wrote to his nephew when the nephew was about to enter the Guide program.  The second was a follow-up on the first.

“One of the sentences I wrote to Joel was this one, speaking about my counselors’ faithfulness in devotions, They didn’t hit home runs every night with their devotionals, for example, but they were faithful and we knew they really loved the Lord.” 

That imagery comes from you, actually.  In the mid-1980’s, our family was driving east to New England and we stopped for a night at DL; we stayed in one of the cabins above the basketball court.  Our only child at that time was 3 or 4, as I recall.  In conversation with you, Jan and I were talking about building a proper atmosphere at home, including good family devotions.  You made the comment about not hitting a home run every night, but about the importance of faithfulness.  It was very freeing for us, and affirming, and we refer to it often.  So, thanks for that, too!

God uses our words – words we do not remember saying.   He also uses our lives – in ways we cannot imagine.

Nick asked Jesus Christ to become his Savior as a DL camper in 1985.  He then led his mom and sister to the saving relationship with Jesus Christ.   Continuing at Deerfoot, Nick became a Guide in ‘91.  In 1994, when Nick was 19, 6’4’ 220lb, he agreed to have me as his assistant counselor on the Allagash River Trip.  This was the beginning of our 18 year friendship.   Nick returned in ‘95 to counsel and be welcomed into the Lone Eagle Fellowship.

Nick had missed two summers, due to required training in the Army, when I asked him to be a Guide leader for the summer of ’97.    This would have required him to delay his plan to enter the Army in June of ’97.  Nick stuck with his plan, and today Nick feels his “rush into Army training over the chance to be a Guide Leader” was one of the worst decisions he has ever made.  Soon he was deployed to the border between South andNorth Korea – a lousy place to be.  Alcohol and sex were the norm, and these months were really tough on Nick – no Christian fellowship, even with the chaplain.

During these months Nick set the goal of getting into the U.S. Army Special Forces.  He knew the challenge to get in and to go through the initial and on-going training would be incredibly tough.  After acceptance, only 15-20% completed the training. He also knew that the quality of the soldiers in the Special Forces would be exceptional.  Through these years Nick would come to DL for a week to teach survival to staff and campers, and occasionally for work weekends.  We communicated often, and the frustration with being unable to meet the girl he would like to have as his wife was real – very real.  He was approaching 30.

One Memorial Day Work Weekend Saturday Nick saw a 115 lb girl, baseball cap on backwards, dripping with sweat, ripping apart a wall in the barn.  She was impressive To Nick!   On Sunday morning, when people were being introduced, he learned that Martha was John Foley’s daughter, and getting married in early September.  Heart sank, once again.  That afternoon they were working together dropping a 200’ spruce tree by Dun Loggin when Nick learned that it was not Martha, but her sister Karen, that was getting married to Tim in September.  Telephone numbers were exchanged and Nick and Martha managed to get together every weekend through the summer.  Their relationship was charging forward.  John, and his wife Mary Jane, were increasingly concerned about this mysterious soldier sweeping their daughter off her feet.  On changeover weekend, when John came to lead the father/son weekend, and Mary Jane to help with camper registrations, Martha and Nick met them at DL.  John and Mary Jane came to talk with Sally Jo and me about the situation.  I remember telling John and Mary Jane they could trust Nick, and Sally Jo reminded them that either they could get on board, or get run over.  That evening the four of them had dinner together at Melody Lodge.  The Foley’s swallowed hard and gave Nick and Martha their blessing.

Nick learned he would be deployed to Iraq in March, so in August they both moved to Colorado, Nick to the base he had been assigned, and from which he would be deployed in January.  The morning after arriving at the base, Nick bought a house where Martha would live, and into which Nick would move after their December wedding.    That afternoon Nick reported to his commanding officer – and learned he would be deployed in August!!!  Nick requested and received permission to be one of the last to deploy – he could catch up with his Unit late in September.  Nick and Martha decided to get married, and received permission from the Foleys to have the wedding on the Sunday afternoon following sister Karen’s wedding on Saturday night – but no one was to know until after Karen’s wedding except me and Nick’s immediate family.

During the Karen and Tim’s reception, Nick and Martha quietly invited each member of Foley clan to their wedding in the Foley’s back yard the next afternoon.  The weather was perfect, the neighbors brought over plants to beautifully decorate the yard, and the wedding was incredible.  Nick’s vow to Martha took several minutes, for he had lots to vow to Martha due to the military life they would be living.  I think everyone was in tears…except Nick.   Sally Jo and I sang the benediction: The Lord bless you and keep you, may his light shine upon you, and give you peace.     Then Nick scooped up Martha and walked down the aisle…as we cheered.

After their wedding, I began writing letters to Nick and Martha – which morphed into the current In Partnership With God.

Today Nick and Martha are stationed near Washington DC, are active in the “Image Church”, a new start up, and have 3 healthy, wonderful children.  Nick Dotti is first of all God’s Man…then an Army Man.

Major Nick Dotti’s military responsibility today?  Nick, and his staff of 23, fill time sensitive, mission critical requests for special operators deployed world wide.  If Nick and his team fail at their job, the mission may fail and/or lives are lost.

“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”1 Corinthians 15:58    True for me, for Nick, for you!

Before Nick and I left camp for the Allagash River Canoe trip, we very carefully evaluated everything we, and our campers, would take.  The big question: What will we need?  If our canoes had been overloaded when the storm hit, at least one canoe would have swamped.   If there was insufficient food, a wonderful trip would become a tough experience.

“What will I need?” is the question every staff member and camper asks himself when packing for camp.  What will I need to stay dry: As a Woodsman in camp?  On a 12 day High Peaks Voyageur hike?  On a canoe trip?  What will I need on my feet: For a Woodsman hike?  On a Voyageur hike?  On a 3 day canoe trip? When playing trench dodge ball?   To play basketball?  What do I need to stay warm?  What socks do I need to prevent blisters?  What flash light will I need?  Extra batteries?  Do I need to take my fishing pole, or should I use one of camp’s?  Do I need to take the pocket knife my grandfather gave me, or would a “store bought” knife be just fine?  What Bible will I need?

If I take too much stuff, “Where do I put it?”  And if I do not have the right stuff???

At DL, most campers and staff become comfortable living without a closet full of shirts, a different pair of shoes for every purpose, a bed without an inner spring mattress, a readily available computer, newscast, or newspaper.

One summer we had a couple on staff who were used to having the finest of everything.  Their housing for the summer at DL: one side of Eagle with a bed, a small table, 2 chairs.  The walls were exposed 2X4’s.  The “bathroom” was 4’ X 6’, including the metal shower.  At the end of the summer they told me it had been the happiest summer of their lives.

What physical things do I need to live comfortably in this world?

What physical things do I need to live In Partnership With God?

What physical things do I need to do the work God has prepared for me to do?

Are the needed physical things the same for each question?

What physical things I need to have a wonderful life here and in heaven is what Jesus was speaking to when he said: said: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.…Mathew 6:19-27   Jesus said…a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”  Luke 12:15

Solomon does not refer to the accumulation of things in Ecclesiastes 5: What he speaks to is the celebration of life!   “Take care of yourself, have a good time, and make the most of whatever job you have as long as God gives you life…Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what’s given and delighting in the work.  It’s God’s gift!”  (The Message paraphrase)

Before the trip, Nick worked out three schedules:

1.  He divided the Voyagers into 3 rotating work teams: gathering wood, fire building, cooking & clean-up.

2.  He assigned each Voyageur to be in charge for one day to set schedule for the day, co-coordinating teams, final check when leaving camp site, picking lunch site and camp site for the overnight.  As everyone knew they would “have their day”, there was excellent co-operation.

3.  The third was a schedule so Nick and I would canoe with a different Voyageur each day, and, at the end of the day, the camper would share our tent with us.

A few years ago this plan of spending a night together after sharing the day had to be stopped because of the cultural concern of sexual abuse.  Now everyone sleeps in four man tents.  In terms of openness between two people, this was an unfortunate change

When canoeing together the experiences of the day are shared.  Canoeing through a storm, mutual respect is gained. When watching a moose graze grass in shallow water – then bring his head up and shake, with large ears flapping, laughter is shared.  When canoeing around a bend and finding ourselves 10 feet from a nesting loon, awe is shared.  When tying two canoes together for a 3 hour sail down a long lake, relaxation is shared.  When running class II rapids, it is either work together…or flip!

During 4-8 hours of canoeing, there is much time for time for a camper to share his feelings about his parents, or his parents’ divorce, his grand parents, death of a family member or friend, how things were going at school, pets, church, playing a sport, or what they wanted to do.   About mistakes made and what to do now.  And there was often conversation about values, and anticipations good and bad.  I remember John Lanetalking about how his family might be moving to China for a few years, how he felt about it, and what he might be able to do, and not do, if they moved.  To be welcomed into his thinking was a privilege.

At the end of the day each of us would crawl into our two man Timberline tent.  Nick and I often thought everything that the camper wanted to talk about had been said…and then, in the aloneness of the tent, a deep hurt or struggle would come out.  Sometimes, though both tired, sleep did not come quickly.

There were enough days that Nick and I were both able to spend a day with each camper.  As could be expected, how a camper would relate to us was different.  What a Voyageur shared with 19 year old Nick was different from what the same camper would share with 50 year old me.  The encouragement and counsel they received from one of us would have a different twist than they would receive from the other, though both of us would work to share what we said with specific Biblical illustrations – like what happened in King David’s life, or what Jesus did or taught.

Most of us don’t take Voyageur trips, but it is possible to spend hours alone with each member of our family, with extended family – with a person of any age who needs to talk, to share, to feel heard, to be encouraged, and affirmed.

After reading:  Terror! Triumph! Thanksgiving!  Allagash River Trip part 1, Dan Jackson sent this e-mail:

“Chief,

I had the good fortune of being one of the campers on that trip with you and Nick — and what a trip it was! A few years later I had the privilege of leading a group with Chris Hobday on the same Allagash River Trip. As we crossed Chamberlain Lake, I had vivid flashbacks of that first trip, paddling with every ounce of energy just to keep the bow pointed into the oncoming waves. It truly was a thrill ride! While at that time, I had not yet completed my Master’s in canoeing, I was still a competent paddler. When the going got tough that day on Chamberlain Lake, the years of canoeing practice & instruction came naturally; whatever fear I may have felt in that storm was also accompanied by a sense of excitement. The same is so often true of life and faith. When the storms come, the foundations of faith hold firm and there is a constant sense that God is in control and always up to something!

It was truly a blessing for me as a 16-year-old to take that 2 week trip with you. One of the best experiences of my 14 years at DL!

I am now in Winchester, KY.  serving as the Teaching Pastor at Calvary Christian Church, and overseeing an outreach ministry that established a coffee house & community teen center in the heart of our city. Next summer will be the first year that my son, Evan, will make the trip to DL as a Woodsman. I can’t wait!!

Thanks for your continued encouragement,

Dan Jackson”

The Allagash River is at the very top of Maine and, in 1970, was designated a National Wildlife and Scenic River.  It is necessary to register and pay a fee for the use of the river as there are only 80 designated camp sites on the 95 mile trip

For 10 years I watched campers and staff return from their 8 day Allagash river trip with their live lobsters and many stories.  “Chief, we saw 12 moose!”   “The weather was beautiful.”  “The second day was clear, but windy so we tied two canoes together and, using a tent fly tied between 2 canoe paddles, sailed 6 hours, right into our camp site!”  “That white water was crazy!”  I will never forget watching the sun-set while listening to the loons call each other.”

With approval from the DL Board, and with Chief Ron agreeing to serve as Director for the third session, I asked Chief Nick if I could be his assistant on the Allagash River Trip.  His response: “Do you mean that?” I responded “Yes Sir”  He responded with “I understand.”  Nick was 19 and attending Norwich University – a private military college.

Our first hurdle was that the state of Maine required that the leader be 21, a licensed Maine guide, with lifeguard, CPR and first aid certifications.  Nick had the certifications – I had the age. I wrote a letter explaining our situation and asked for 2 copies temporary guide certification test.  We both passed.

After spending a night at the Frost Pond Campsites, we were taken to the drop off point of “Chamberlain Bridge”.  It was a beautiful, blue sky day, with very little wind. Chamberlain Lake, from the bridge north is about 12 miles.  A calm day is important.  We unloaded the DL van into our 6 canoes and pushed off.  Each person had his life jacket, and a heavily loaded canoe – everything we would need for 8 days. I took one of the weaker paddlers and my canoe was very heavily loaded!

We began paddling and soon were heading across about 3 miles of open water.  As we neared the mid-point, a storm hit!  No warning!!  The waves were so big that, even heading into the waves, water was spraying into our canoe with every wave!  I looked to see how the others were doing – because of the waves, all I could see was paddlers from their waste up.  I was paddling as hard as I could to keep headed into the waves while making very little progress toward shore.  I quickly realized that if a camper’s canoe capsized, I could not get to them, much less take their canoe upside down over mine to empty it.  I feared for the lives of our campers, I really did.

The storm broke just as we got to the other shore. Within a few minutes everyone arrived safely.  Terror, then triumph!!  I really was proud of each camper.  They had kept their cool, canoed well!  All agreed they were frightened, and exhausted.  All agreed that they had never prayed so hard in their lives.    Understatement: We thanked God for our safety!  As we lifted our heads, a forest ranger’s very fast boat came full speed to our shore to be sure we were all accounted for.

I apologized for our lack of judgment.  He laughed.  “Quick storms like that are totally unpredictable up here.  I drove my boat up on shore and hid out in an outhouse”!

We had first hand knowledge of how helpless Jonah must have felt when the storm hit and he was thrown overboard, and how helpless the disciples must have felt when in a fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee – and Jesus was asleep with his head on a pillow:  “Jesus, don’t you care if we perish?”   And we had some understanding of the storm that hit while Paul a prisoner on a ship in the Mediterranean Sea – the ship was smashed by waves.

The Scriptures came alive!

How is it that 10 Deerfooters have Christian camping as their vocation?

The first essential is the recognition that – “Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain.”

Psalm 127:1  I believe God brought each of these young men to Deerfoot Lodge to prepare them for the work He had prepared for them to do.

The second essential is the recognition that labor is involved.  Often I said to the staff:  “Who built the ark for Noah?”  No one!  Noah and his sons built the ark.  It took them 120 years, but they did it!

I have never had the clear direction God gave to Noah.  What I have had is tremendous opportunities to learn how to live In Partnership With God while learning about camping, people development and management.  Looking back, it is very clear to me that God was preparing me to be a camp director.   When I was 9 and 10 God guided my mom and dad to send my older brother and me to Pioneer Camp in Canada for 6 weeks each summer.  At Pioneer I took advantage of the opportunity to learn from excellent teachers – but I had to labor – to work at canoeing…and swimming, camp craft, hand craft, etc.  I loved the work, but it was work!  Spend an hour in the middle of a cold Canadian lake jumping out of a canoe, and then getting back in without swamping the canoe.  By the fifth time, the joy is gone!

I fully believe God placed me at Deerfoot Lodge.  God did this because He knew I had a heart that really wanted to please Him!  God did this because He had provided the opportunities needed to prepare me to become Director of DL – and I took advantage of them.

Back to the 10.  They were all at Deerfoot for at least 4 summers, most for 8 or more.  I think it is significant that 9 of the 10 are Deerfoot Lone Eagles.  These men worked at learning while at Deerfoot Lodge.  They accepted the opportunities provided, even though this, by design, kept them in their stretch zone most of the time.  Every time I felt they had learned a position, I moved them into a different position, often a position with more responsibility.  And they accepted the responsibility and did their work well.  They kept learning and learning – incredible young men.

In 1994 Chief Ron Mackey was to be my assistant.  Ron had been a camper, guide, counselor, section chief, head of tripping operations, and twice been Guide leader.  Knowing his heart for the Lord and his competence, I asked the DL Board of Directors if I could go on the Allagash River canoe trip in Maine.  I would be out of camp for 12 days, and I felt Ron was ready to serve as interim camp director. The Board of Directors was fully behind my request.  Ron would have with him in camp my wife and office manager, Sally Jo, and Dean Dover/Wazican, Director of Food Service with 25 years of DL experience.  The assignment was a stretch for Ron.  No one knew then that Ron would be my successor as Director of Deerfoot Lodge.  God was “building the house”

“Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain.”

As Director of Deerfoot Lodge, I had the responsibility and privilege of leading the ministry of building godly young men, and to pass on my knowledge and experience.  Previous generations had formed the Deerfoot of history.  New ideas and insights came from the Deerfoot Lodge Board of Directors, DL parents, campers, and staff.  I tried to never share anything that I had not seen work – or to say anything I was not seeking to live.  Consistency year after year.

It was easy for the staff to learn what the program of Deerfoot Lodge was.  The specifics within the summer’s schedule were repeated summer after summer: staff meeting, reveille, cabin clean-up, line up, breakfast, singing – all very straight forward.

More difficult to grasp was why Deerfoot did what it did.  Understanding why helped drive the what.  And it was necessary to understand why things were done if there was to be clear transfer of learning to future Deerfoot leadership. The staff came to realize that everything on the schedule had been thought through, trying to anticipate staff and camper response to each experience.

It was also important for the Deerfoot staff to understand how Deerfoot did what it did. This “how” began with an understanding of role of the Board of Directors, how I, as camp Director, related to them, and how our joint decisions affected all that Deerfoot was and did.  Each summer, during the three week staff training, staff members took a few minutes to read the DL by-laws, the camp policies, the chart of relationships from the DL Board to the assistant counselor, the meeting schedule of the DL Board, and what happened at each meeting.  The staff saw the camp budget for the previous 10 years, and samples of each quarterly and annual report I, as camp Director, prepared before each Board meeting.   Not much time was spent on this as the information was in their staff manuals for future reference.

With this foundation, management principles were taught and reviewed each summer.  How the DL Board managed me was how I managed the Deerfoot staff:  my assistant, guide leaders, and section chiefs.  Being the director of DL is much like leading a small company.  Being a section chief or a counselor is also like leading a small company.  I learned this reality prior to becoming the Director of DL.  I participated in the American Management Association’s “Management Course for Presidents” with the CEOs of Hunt Trucking, Beatrice Foods, Ditch Witch, and 21 other large companies.   After becoming the Director, the DL Board enabled me to attend a four day leadership development seminar with secular business people from, literally, around the world.  In both of these cases, the language and principles were the same.  Most principles were Biblical, though the Bible was not used as a reference.

85-92% of the staff members had previous DL experience, and considerable skill knowledge and were ready to learn how best to teach these skills.  Coming to an understanding of how people learn and why they forget is helpful when teaching canoeing or leading a cabin devotional.  Quality cabin devotionals result from the staff member planning to move from the interest of the camper to a Bible passage and then back to the camper – to help the camper realize the relevance of the Bible passage to his current life experiences.  Staff training included learning games, but equally important was learning why games were placed in specific time slots.  Gradually the staff came to realize that everything on the DL schedule had been thought through, trying to anticipate camper response to each experience.

Every year, three days before staff training began, section chiefs, guide leaders and my assistant came to our home. They made a list of all that should be covered in staff training, and proceeded to develop the three week staff training schedule.  Assignments were made as to who should teach what.  They asked me to teach specific topics.  One year, as we finished our planning time, it was decided by a doctor that I should go to the hospital as my pace-make meds had not been working effectively for a month.  This meant that our leadership team would go to camp and lead staff training – including teaching what I was to cover.  I arrived one week later, too weak to talk by the end of the day.  As I was able, they let me teach – and the final Friday night, two weeks later, I was able to give the benediction that ends the candle light service.

Today at least 10 Deerfooters provide full time leadership within the field of Christian Camping.

We have the responsibility of being good stewards of the people, as well as the message, the Lord has entrusted to our care.  This means building men, godly men!  It means training those under our care to lead the next generation.   When we live In Partnership With God, we equip and encourage others to live In Partnership With God.  As God’s people, this is our responsibility.