The River Adventure, Bible Camp Mystery #3

By Cheryl Rogers

The crew from the youth fellowship, The Boy's Den, returns to the Central Florida backwoods for the most adventurous trip yet: A two-night canoe trip. Jeff and Chang become separated from the group in a rainstorm, a tree snaps alonside the river, and the food runs out. Join The Boy's Den as their survival skills -- and faith -- are tested.

In this adventure, the boys learn about God's provision, and the importance of perseverance. They again model the biblical path to salvation and demonstrate the importance of obedience.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cheryl Rogers
• Release date: Nov 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310333965

Cheryl Rogers

Former journalist Cheryl Rogers writes around the edges of farming and family life in the Swan Valley, near Perth. Her short fiction has been published in Australia, the UK and USA, and she is a three time winner of the Henry Lawson Society of New South Wales short story award. In 1998, a memoir co-written with fellow University of Western Australia graduate and friend, Gun Dolva, was short-listed for the WA Premier’s Book of the Year Award. A longtime member of Sisters in Crime (Australia), Cheryl loves a mystery. 

Book preview

The River Adventure

Bible Camp Mystery #3

By Cheryl Rogers

Copyright 2014 by Cheryl Rogers, Tampa, FL

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Contents

Chapter 1: Summer Storm

Chapter 2: Separated

Chapter 3: Crossing the Island

Chapter 4: Danger Strikes

Chapter 5: The Sunken Canoe

Chapter 6: Surrender

Chapter 7: River Campsite

Chapter 8: Fellowship

Chapter 9: Morning Visitors

Chapter 10: Hasty Retreat

Chapter 11: Turtle, Anyone?

Chapter 12: Unwelcome Guest

Chapter 13: Risky Business

Chapter 14: Hazardous Trail

Chapter 15: Journey Through the Swamp

Chapter 16: Dangerous Encounters

Chapter 17: Change of Plans

Chapter 18: Spearfishing

Chapter 19: Gator on the River

Chapter 20: Peter’s Secret

Chapter 21: Surprises

Chapter 1: Summer Storm

Jeff eyed the raindrops falling gently from the sky. He’d finally made it to the Central Florida backwoods for an overnight canoe adventure with his friends – and then this had to happen. He looked at the gray sky, wondering what God had in mind for this third Bible Camp.

Fifteen-year-old Jeff was having a hard time focusing on their canoe instructor, Mr. Dennis, a man in his forties from the area’s camping/canoeing consulting firm, Wilderness Adventures. Jeff had been canoeing many times already and was far too excited to focus on anything anyway.

I assure you a little bit of rain won’t spoil our fun, Mr. Dennis, told the group of 12- to 16-year-old boys from The Boy’s Den, a youth fellowship of Living Water Community Church. Turning to his youthful assistant, 19-year-old Will, he added, What’s the weather report like?

Jeff’s eyes fell on Chet Harrigan, their 31-year-old youth pastor, who was obviously miffed and struggling to keep silent. Jeff almost laughed out loud. No doubt pastor, who was a New York gang leader before he came to know Christ, was remembering how Will got lost on their Bible Camp last year. And who could forget that disastrous hut Will built them? His buddy, 15-year-old Zack, could have done better. He built his own hut in the backwoods two years ago when he got lost.

Uh, I did a quick check, like I always do, stammered Will, who frequently volunteered with Wilderness Adventures and loved tagging along with The Boy’s Den. I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary.

I’ll bet. Jeff covered his mouth to mask his merriment.

I consulted the divine weatherman and we are definitely on for this weekend, interjected Pastor Chet, eliciting a few laughs. I expect it will clear up soon.

All right, then, Mr. Dennis continued, clearing his throat. I’ll remind you of the safety rules we studied and then we’ll be off.

Jeff eyed the eight canoes lining the Crooked River running through the Timucua Forest. He sure was glad he was paired with his 15-year-old buddy, Chang. He wished Zack could join them, but there were only two guys per canoe. Zack got stuck with Pastor Chet, on account of his being a Junior Safety Coordinator. They were supposed to be the last canoe in the group and make sure everyone was okay. In any event, Zack would probably have it easy because pastor was strong and probably didn’t need much help with the paddling.

Zack became Safety Coordinator after he learned what not to do two years ago, when he got lost. He wandered for 30 hours before they found him on the river. Jeff was surprised Zack even wanted to camp again, but he would never tell Zack that. To have Zack’s mom and dad let him return to a Bible Camp was a miracle in itself. Jeff’s parents had their doubts. So did Chang’s.

He tuned his attention to Mr. Dennis as he was finishing his presentation.

No clowning around. No standing in the boat. You know the drill, Mr. Dennis was saying.

Stay close together. Keep the pace, Pastor Chet added. We have Mr. Dennis in the front of the group to lead us, and Jeff will be in the second to last boat – if you need to ask his advice. As you know, Jeff’s our most experienced canoer, except for Mr. Dennis, of course.

Jeff beamed.

I sure am glad I’m with you. I’ll probably be asking questions the whole time, Chang grinned.

Glad to help, Jeff murmured.

It was the least he could do. After all, he’d gotten them all into this. Not that it was a bad thing. He expected them to have a great time, and learn quite a bit about the outdoors too. But Jeff had been pretty insistent that the group go on a canoe adventure. It was a whole lot more fun than hiking, and swatting