04/24/2020
Dear Campers and Staff,
A virus is not stronger than our bond. What we mean to one another is not able to be spoken in mere words. So, as your director of God’s week, we enjoy in July, I want to tell you that the staff of our week and myself are committed to finding a way to enjoy one another’s company in 2020. We are already at work planning and preparing to get together with you. I cannot give you the details yet, but I am working on them. Campers, you are in so many ways, our kids. We love you and hurt with you that our regular July time together is unavailable to us. You need to understand that legally we cannot open camp. This is not a choice we have. Can you imagine having camp and keeping everyone six feet apart? NWOCYC is regulated by the State of Ohio like all camps. We are required by law to function within those laws, otherwise, we could lose the camp forever.
We are all saddened that normal weeks of camp cannot happen in 2020. But, as I said, we are working on plans to get everyone together this year. You have to be patient for the details. You will be getting another letter providing specific information, hopefully in the very near future. In the meantime, you need to put your faith into action. The faith we have encouraged in you and seen grow in you needs to stand up to this time, this virus, and all the unfortunate situations connected to it. Many of you have lost your school year, seeing friends, summer vacations, and obviously our normal week of camp. Others have lost even their lives or their loved ones at this time. As frustrated as you may feel, remember that your faith is for these times. Faith is not just for the sunny days in July when our biggest worry is whether or not we will get to swim today with our friends. Faith is for the challenges of life. Jesus, our friend, and Savior gave up everything for us. Whatever sadness you have about your personal losses in 2020, make sure that you have the same attitude that Jesus had when He even gave up His very own life. An attitude like Jesus’ will be seen in you when you talk to one another, when you talk to your parents, and when you accept disappointment with a hopeful eye for what good thing God will bring next. This is faith. Saying you are a Christian, and living a Christian life are two different things. God’s blessings come to those who put their faith in their lives every day.
Our staff and I have tremendous confidence in you, as well as love for you. You may not think you have much to look forward to in 2020, but that is not the question any of us should be asking. We should be asking, what does God have to look forward to seeing in you and me in 2020? The first thing we all should do is thank God for His gift of NWOCYC. If you are disappointed about 2020, then that means that you recognize God has given us a great gift in this camp. But, we are the camp in so many ways. So, let’s pray for God’s blessings, thank Him for them in advance, and then let’s walk by faith and discover what God has planned for us in the days ahead that He gives to us.
Loving You,
Tim
