I was at Church camp this past week. We took around twenty kids to Children’s Camp at Cookson. It is a beautiful little camp tucked back in the trees right off the road in Cookson It is one of those places that if you are not looking for it you will drive right by it going down the highway.

The kids going to camp range in age from 8-12 years old and 3rd through 5th grade. They come from our surrounding area: Gore, Sallisaw, Tahlequah, Vian, Stillwell and other rural areas. There were about 175 kids…200 kids and sponsors combined. All in all it was a good group. The camp only last from Monday afternoon until Thursday after lunch.

Any Church Camp brings certain challenges. There is the challenge this year of the weather. All the rain has made what is usually a bone dry area to an abundant green oasis appearing area. But do not be deceived, this oasis had mud pits, mud holes and mud puddles that were not about to escape any mischievous and curious nine year old boy! And all the rain added a whole new dimension to our afternoon recreation.

With the fact it rained one night and morning before activities started made for some interesting schedule adjustments. The thought of having a cabin full of kids for an afternoon with rainfall also, made for a strengthened prayer life!

Then there was the creek. It was a beautiful, gentle flowing stream, complete with the subtle sound only a babbling brook can make. It is usually dry or maybe a trickle going through it but not this year. It was up and running this year. It, too, was an irresistible lure for every kid, every age and boy and girl alike. They could not resist the urge to play, wade or dam up the creek.

The creek had some hazards as well. The biggie was slipping (I think sometimes on purpose) and falling in getting partially/totally soaked and sometimes coated in a layer of mud. We had some skinned knees, bumps and bruises from the creek. One boy had to make a trip to the doctor as his fall was on a sharp rock that managed to gash his knee with a three inch cut. Yes, stitches were required. Yes, he is fine and yes, he returned back to finish the week.

Other challenges were learning the schedule (challenge may be an understatement with over half the kids being first time campers) and learning the location of the places on the camp grounds. Having a planned menu with mostly healthy meals and a very regular schedule to eating made for some adjustments. Some kids just don’t like fettuccini, biscuits and gravy and even hot dogs.

Personal hygiene is promoted and practiced also. That means we shower every day, brush our teeth twice a day and do not wear the same shirt and shorts all week. Keeping up with your clothes is also a never ending event.

I could go on but I think you get the point but the title of the article is Homesick and I haven’t even mentioned it…yet!

Our biggest challenge has to be, hands down, HOMESICK. It happens every year. Most of our kids have never been away from home, mom and dad, ever or for more than a night let alone to a place 30 miles from home for three nights (just as well be a foreign country half way around the world).

The day come to an end, darkness falls, bed time comes. And so does the stomach ache and that teary, I miss my mommy moment. We talk softly, give encouragement, tell them they can do this and we will call home in the morning. Then they hit the bunk and when the lights go out and their night-time frivolity hits all is well until the next night.

Usually it hits on Wednesday night. Parents come up for family night and the kids have that aching to go home with mom and/or dad. Once again, encouragement is given, It is only for one more night and we go home after lunch tomorrow is told them (and when lights go out tonight it will be sooooo much fun!) and they stay one more night (most of the time).

And yes, we almost always send someone home who can’t make it. Some will say that the car that brought the parent isn’t leaving this place without me in it! Some make it a night or two. This year we set a record. We had one that did not make it the first night. The stomach ache, headache and flow of tears won over and mom came and picked her up (another point for having a camp close to home).

You know, camps bring me closer to Jesus and the closer I get to Jesus the more I wish to be home with Him in Heaven, for eternity. Being homesick maybe isn’t so bad. Do you ever get homesick?

Bro. Tim John 14:1-3