I want to extend my thanks and thoughts to all the team for making GrandCamp 2023 simply magnificent. I cannot imagine how much prayer and planning and executing it took to make this year’s GrandCamp so powerful. I had prayed that my grandson Alexander would grow more deeply in his faith and that he would find some boys to connect with. God did that in better ways than I imagined. Father John took him fishing and spent that ‘grandfatherly’ time with him. He talked about the dogfish they caught many times! Other grandads mentored him without even realizing it. He connected with grandfathers and boys whose families we shared meals with. What was especially precious as well was to watch 15 boys (campers and youth leaders – I counted!) playing whiffle ball every night after our evening programs until we dragged them in at dark. Thanks to the all for that ‘extra blessing.’ This wasn’t even the teaching and it impacted Alexander and me!
The theme for GrandCamp 2023 was “On the Case – Discovering who God is” and the ‘witnesses’ who gave testimony in the intergenerational time were powerful. So much preparation went into those times and my appreciation for each is huge. All the grandparents’ teachings were eye-opening and implored me to look more deeply into the culture our grandkids face – and pray harder.
The teaching our children received was impactful. I don’t know all they learned but Alexander was always eager to go! I know he got the concept that God is REAL and that we can count on Him personally to take care of us. I am truly grateful for the idea of the children looking up scriptures in the Bible themselves for the stories. I plan to put sticky notes in Alexander’s Bible concerning the different Bible stories and scripture verses we learned. It was never a problem learning those scriptures (for the children at least!). The Bible scavenger hunt was a hit. It took a lot of planning and executing but was exceptional. Evening devotions were precious times of bonding and praying together. During the week, Grandparents were encouraged to tell our faith stories and honestly no stone was left unturned in leading our grandchildren more deeply in relationships with the Lord. The Blessing is always a highlight and I felt that Alexander understood it even better this year and was looking forward to it. The circle at closing was powerful, especially having the grandchildren circle the grandparents. Alexander even prayed aloud a very short prayer. I was amazed!
My prayers for GrandCamp were answered beyond my imagination. The talks that Alexander and I had because of GrandCamp setting the stage were life changing. This encounter with God with my treasured grandson was a gift. I came away knowing that God showed up in a huge way at GrandCamp: His Spirit was clearly there and cheering us on.
Love in Jesus from one very grateful grandmother!
By Lynn Land Dayton, St. Philip’s Church, Charleston
