Mennonite Camping Association

WWW.MENNONITECAMPING.ORGJULY 2017

NATURAL LINKSTRANSITIONS

Peter Fiorello has been named the next Executive Director of Black Rock Retreat, Quarryville, PA. Peter brings significant leadership experience from three Christian Camps – including most recently Camp Spofford in New Hampshire. He exhibits a deep faith with a commitment to bringing more children, youth and adults to a relationship with Christ. Peter builds on the outstanding foundation John Shertzer and the current staff have built. John will partner with Peter in the early months of his transition. We thank John for his many contributions to Black Rock Retreat over the last 10+ years as well as the continuing commitment to a successful passing of the torch and a sustaining heart for the ministries of Black Rock Retreat.

CAMP UPDATES

2018 RECRUITINGWednesday, Feb. 7 - EMUThursday, Feb. 8 - BlufftonFriday, Feb. 9 - GoshenMonday, Feb. 12 - HesstonTuesday, Feb. 13 - TaborWednesday, Feb. 14* - BethelThursday, Feb. 15 - McPherson

* February 14 is Ash Wednesday, so there will not be a camp-related chapel that day.

2018 BI-NATIONALBegin making plans now to attend the 2018 Bi-National MCA Gathering at Camp Friedenswald in Cassopolis, Michigan on March 19-22, 2018. Camp Friedenswald is conveniently located 2.5-3 hours from the major airports in both Chicago and Detroit and 1 hour or less from the South Bend, Indiana and Kalamazoo, Michigan airports. Don’t miss this great opportunity to reconnect and fellowship together!

Spruce Lake Retreat, Canadensis, PA, www.sprucelake.orgStory: A miracle reunion takes place at Spruce Lake

Vocalist Jon Sheptock presented a concert July 12, 2017, during Spruce Lake’s Family Week. Despite his incredible voice and godly charisma on stage, this was no ordinary concert. In the audience sat his biological mother and several other relatives, listening…. they had never heard him sing like this! In fact, they had not heard him sing at all since the day he was born 41 years ago. Jon was born one day in 1976 with an unusual affliction – no arms and a right leg about six inches shorter than the other. That same evening, his biological parents made the difficult decision to turn him over to the State. Six months later, the Sheptock family adopted him into their home. Growing up with his disability, Jon had endured more than any able-bodied person could possibly understand. As a teenager, feeling in total despair, he considered ending his life. But God miraculously caught Jon, helping him discover his One Special Gift – his voice. Yes…yes! He could sing! God also led Jon to his loving wife, Staci, and opened up amazing opportunities to sing throughout the United States and to be the lead singer for the One Percenters band, an exciting prison ministry he’s part of. Life had become good, and Jon loved serving the Lord who had given him so much. In December, 2016, however, Jon received a most unusual email. It was from the Social Care worker who had helped place him with the Sheptock family when he was six months old. Would he be willing to see his mother? After several days Jon responded. Yes, he was ready to meet her. He traveled to New Jersey in March, 2017, to meet JoAnn Rand, his biological mother.

Camp Friedenswald, Cassopolis, MI, www.friedenswald.orgOn July 15, the Camp Friedenswald community gathered to celebrate the completion of construction in the campaign to Renew Friedenswald and to rededicate the facilities and camp’s mission to “the glory of God” as was first done in 1950. Following a worship service, guests toured the new cabins, lodge and Cottonwood Center. It was a beautiful day full of celebration and remembering the ways that God has been at work throughout Friedenswald’s history. You are invited to experience the renewed facilities at next year’s Mennonite Camping Association Bi-National Gathering!

It was like they had never been apart all those years! Their bonding was immediate and sure. God had surprised him beyond all expectations – again! And so it was that JoAnn Rand came to Spruce Lake to hear the child she had always loved sing for the very first time.

Jon Sheptock’s newly found biological family gathers around him after his concert at Spruce Lake July 12. (Jon and his mother are standing 4th and 5th in middle row.)

Mennonite Camping Association

NATURAL LINKSMENNONITE CHURCH USA CONVENTION: ORLANDO 2017

Give Thanks for Beach Balls and Blessings by Olivia Bartel, Camp Mennoscah“Faith formation,” I said, bouncing a beach ball between my hands. “Mennonite Camping Association is here to promote camp as a place for faith formation, experiencing God’s creation, and being part of a wider church community. And fun. Camps are about having fun being a Christian.”

The beach balls were what drew many youth to the Mennonite Camping Association booth at Mennonite Church USA convention in Orlando. To get a beach ball they had to answer several questions: Favorite camp? What was their favorite camp food? How many years had they been going to camp? Favorite camp activity? What is something important to bring to camp?

I heard about the Shalligator, a cross between a shark and an alligator, from Pine Lake campers Cameron and Simon. Camp Friedenswald campers really love the chicken strips and mac-n-cheese, while Amigo folks are 99% behind the baked oatmeal. Drift Creek folks raved about the pizza rolls with dipping sauce. I talked with a young woman about what it meant to her to be on staff at Laurelville. Some of them dance around when singing camp songs, others make puppet hands to la-la-la their way through the chorus. Flashlights and sleeping bags were common items that were important to bring to camp, as were bug spray and sunscreen. The latter items were hit and miss in actually being used, the campers admitted.

They were simple questions, but the conversations that started from the questions made one thing clear: You have really cool and amazing youth at your camps. Camps and the church have amazing places to go with these youth in the lead. It was a blessing to hear the camp stories from all ages and a blessing to see how happy talking about camp made them. We do important work, folks.

Mennonite Camping Association gave away 250 beach balls and numerous guitar picks. Basil Marin (Spruce Lake camper) won the $100 MCA gift certificate. Benjamin King from Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp won the guitar for the youth drawing. Two seminars were offered twice each for a total of 4 sessions. Bananas Aren’t Only For Eating (Otherwise known as Team Building) drew in an approximate total of 90 people for the sessions and the 2 Camp Sing Along seminars had over 100 total in attendance. A big thanks to Tammy Duvanel Unruh for leading the Camp Sing Along and to everyone who helped in the creation of the booth!

Extra MCA guitar picks are available to MCA member camps or organization. Email your request to olivia.bartel@campmennoscah.org.

Left: Bananas Aren’t Only For Eating. Right: Camp Sing Along. Bottom: MCA Booth in Exhibit Hall.