8473 South Howell Avenue Oak Creek, WI 53154-0288 - National ...

"The most important thing we did at camp, though, was make new friends."
these new and amazing people gives you the allies, sidekicks,
and mentors one needs to complete a journey.
Every day we spent at camp added to the story of WCA
Camp 2010, no matter how tiny or large the detail was.
Things happened unexpectedly adding excitement, like the
tornado and severe storm warnings Wednesday night. I don’t
know how long we all sat around together singing in the
basement. What I do know is that that experience brought us
closer together and added to the story.
Friday, our last full day, crept up quickly. Everyone was
tired yet anxious for the festivities of the night to begin. After
an emotional last program and small group session, free time,
lunch, FOB (“feet-on-bunk” designated rest period), and
organized activities, all of camp started getting ready for the
banquet and pictures. Everyone was in their Sunday best.
Dinner and pictures passed by fast and then it was time for
the last worship. The last time the band was up performing.
I got up there and looked around. I expected the singing
to be just a bitter-sweet moment, but it was way more than
that. Have you ever felt, in one moment, that everything
was perfect? That it was the way life is supposed to be? That’s
how I felt singing with everyone that night. The atmosphere
was intense and electrifying. I had goose-bumps running up
and down my arm. Everything felt so perfect, and natural.
Some epic heroes from Wisconsin plunge into
the next phase of their journey, July 2010.
I couldn’t stop smiling. That feeling lasted through
the deck party, which I must say was the best deck
party camp has seen in years. Everyone was having
so much fun.
The high started wearing off as I started realizing
that this amazing week was almost over. By morning,
the feeling was gone. It was time to pack up and leave.
Leave the extraordinary world, the friends, the place, and the
physical aspects of what makes camp, camp. But we got to
take incredible memories and lessons home.
So the story of WCA Camp 2010 has ended. It had its ups
and downs. It was exciting the whole way through, as any
good story should be. The campers came out on top.
We returned with “the Elixir.”
Even though we know it’s over, we also know that we can
start a whole new story starting July 10, 2011. Until then we
must continue our own stories in the ordinary world, back in
reality. I came out of the belly of the beast alive because camp
pulled me through it.
I know that my life is going to have its ups and downs. One
day I’m sure I’ll be back in the belly of the beast. But at the
end of all of our stories, we will return with the Elixir back to
Heaven to be with God—the One who wrote our life stories
and made each one of us a hero in His eyes.
sA r A pE n n o is a sophomore at Cedarburg
High School, Cedarburg, Wis. She is a member
of North Shore Congregational Church, Fox
Point, Wis., and participates in the youth group
at Ozaukee Congregational Church in nearby
Grafton. Sara performs as one of the lead vocalists
in her praise band at church and hopes to
become a youth minister.
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Doug Gray