Challengers from Camp Hope

By Steve Collins

What is the relationship between termites and sin? Cookies and religious denominations? A hidden canoe paddle and strengthening one's faith? Sean, Jerry, Lonnie, and Benjamin are challenged to find these answers and more as they become - Challengers from Camp Hope.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Oct 21, 2011
• ISBN: 9781105172519

Book preview

Challengers from Camp Hope

Challengers from  Camp Hope

by

Steve. Collins

View other selections by S.A. Collins at http://www.popknowseverything.com/

Challengers from Camp Hope

eBook - ISBN: 978-1-105-17251-9

Copyright 2009© by Steve Collins

All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrivial system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permision of the copyright owner.

All Scripture quotations in this book, except those noted otherwise, are from The Open Bible - Authorized King James Bible Version Red Letter Edition Copyright 1975© by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Publisher: Lulupress.com

http://www.Lulupress.com

To KK

A most special lady

And wonderful wife

Chapter I : Welcome to Camp Hope

Okay, you guys!  Everyone gather up over here, the strained voice sounded. It was a futile attempt to gain control over the chaos and confusion of the moment.  Several dozen fresh young campers scrambled to reclaim their personal gear.  Backpacks and suitcases poured from the cluster of church vans onto the  small paved parking lot.  Sean McGill barely heard the set of instructions firing in from behind him.  His head, arms, and thoughts buried deep in the church van’s luggage compartment.

Come on!  Let’s go!, a different, more assertive voice sounded.  We’ll get the bags in a minute.  Everybody move on over here, so you can get your cabin assignments.  Come on!  That means everybody inside those vehicles, too.  Over here! Now!

There was a short pause, but not long enough to allow for the reluctant few to join up. Then suddenly the stream of instructions continued, When I call your name, and assign a particular color, move over to the counselor wearing that hat color.  Yellow to yellow!  Blue to blue!  Red to red!  And so forth! Any questions?  With no pause for questions, a volley of names followed.

Pulling back from the van, Sean turned to see who was blasting all the drill sergeant commands.  However; he was a little curious to see who he’d be living with for the next six nights.  The heat of the cramped baggage compartment mixed with the cool mountain air triggered a quick shiver down Sean’s spine.  He glanced down at the goose bumps popping out on his bare arms and legs.  Maybe we got on the wrong bus and ended up in Marine Boot Camp? he mused to himself while scanning the shivering mismatched group of raw recruits.  It was a ragtag band of ten, eleven, and twelve-year-olds, which he’d be bunking with the next week.  Some, he remembered from the previous two years; others, he’d never seen before.

McGill!

The suddeness of his name being called out in the fading evening twilight brought Sean’s thoughts back to his present surroundings. McGill!   Frederick!  Peterson!  Stovall!  Blue!

As the team assignment continued, Sean focused on the roughneck guy commanding all the attention. And wouldn’t you know it! He wore the blue cap – Sean’s team color.  The counselor’s face was familiar from past stays at Camp Hope; but Sean had never been assigned under this guy barking out group assignments.  Tall and slim, Sean figured by his build, that swimming or tennis would be his sport of choice.  The small neatly trimmed dark brown mustache matched the neatly trimmed hair, slightly protruding from under the Florida Marlin’s cap. 

Then with the group assignments complete and other counselors pulling their teams off in different directions, the staunchness of his attitude vanished - like flipping a light switch.  A broad smile beamed across his face as he cheerfully announced, Welcome to Camp Hope!   Sean sensed that with the other campers out of sight and out of mind; this guy was now ready to claim his own.   The anxious crowd of new campers encircled the counselor as he continued, My name is Jeffrey Mott.  You, guys may call me, Mr. Jeff. Or Mr. Jeff!  But don’t call me, Mr. Mott!

Sean rolled his eyes as some of the others chuckled at the juvenile humor. 

I’ll be your team leader guide for the next five or six days, depending on how you count your days.  Your group has been assigned to the Old Testament region of the camp and ‘Challenge the Challenger’ is our camp theme, this year.  I’ll explain more about the term ‘Challenger’, a little later.  But first; I want to cover some of the general rules and directives established by the camp staff.  Remember, these procedures will ensure your safety and wellbeing during your stay at Camp Hope, so pay attention - and ask questions, if you don’t understand.  Rule number one .  .  .

Sean’s mind drifted as Jeffrey Mott started quoting the camp rules.  This was his third trip to scenic Camp Hope.  The rules were now pretty well ingrained in his mind.  Every year; he, along with Jerry Stovall, Herbie Peterson, and Tony Frederick traveled from Trinity Community Church and were old hands at this ‘camp thing’. 

The colorful brochure displayed in the youth hall at church described, ‘rustic cabins bordering Lake Promise, a crystal clear lake nestled between picturesque mountains cut by cascading streams, providing an ideal setting which only God could have created.  Your Love for Christ will be nurtured through various arts, crafts, swimming, and canoeing activities during your week stay at beautiful Camp Hope’.  The pamphlet’s claim was true the first year.  It had been kind of fun and exciting to be away from home for the first time -   and last year was okay. But this year was different.

Sean hadn’t wanted to waste any of his summer vacation time this year at ‘good ole’ Camp Hope.  He felt he was getting too old to be shipped off to some dumb church camp.  But Mom and Dad had insisted; plus the bribe offer for a new video game system when he returned, helped make the trip acceptable.  Recalling the summer plans of some other kids from school, Sean shook his head in disgust.  Mike Patterson and Alonzo Smith were going to Florida for a baseball camp.  Robert Owens and Michelle Woods were headed to Space Camp in Alabama.  Even Jimmy Dobbs, the self-proclaimed class nerd had gone off to some ‘Children of Mother Earth’ camp in the North Carolina mountains.

Yeah, he concluded to himself, this was going to be some fun week.  Then a slight smirk cracked his lips as he remembered, But this time next year, I’ll be somewhere else - somewhere, where they do have fun!

As the counselor concluded his rule and safety briefing, Sean shook his head back to the present.  He noticed the blank stares of Jerry, Herbie, and Tony.  Their slumped shoulders and sagging jaw testified to their excitement.  Their thoughts hadn’t been on the words of Jeffrey Mott, either; Sean reckoned.

So does anyone have any questions?  Jeffrey Mott concluded.

Yes, Mr. Mott. Ur, I mean, Mr. Jeff, the small dark haired kid beside Mr. Jeff spoke up.

Yeees!  Benjamin, the youth leader responded after craning his neck to read the young questioner’s name tag.

Benjamin Thompson, sir! That’s my name. But I wanted to tell you that my mom said for me to call her when we got here, youngest camper  of the group acknowledged.

With this confession, a round of snickers ignited and spread through the group of hardened campers.  They all knew you called your mom later, when no one was looking.  You never announced to the group that you had to call your mother.

Realizing his mistake, Benjamin’s face grew red with embarrassment.  But it was too late.  Quickly, Jeff Mott responded to the situation, That’s an excellent idea, Benjamin.  As soon as we off load the bags from the buses and vans, everyone will get a chance to call home to let their folks know that they are here and doing great.  Okay!

Sean watched as Benjamin gave a silent nod; but everyone knew the damage was done.  Benjamin had just been tagged a newbie mama’s boy in the minds of the other guys.  Life around the ole’ camp wouldn’t hold much hope for him.

Sean had learned through experience that you didn’t show any signs of weakness around a group of guys you barely knew.  It was just in their nature to single out the weak ones.  And then, the weak became the target of attack for some bully and his little cronies for the remainder of their stay; or until they cracked and went home early.  The first year Sean had come to camp, Jerry Stovall was singled out and some guys rode him really hard.  But then; Sean, Tony, and Herbie rallied round him and Jerry was able to stand up against the bullies, so they backed off.  Now, this little Ben had identified himself as the weak one and he appeared to be all alone.  Man! The dogs were going to be after him, Sean concluded to himself.

With Jeff Mott leading, the group drifted over in the direction of the vans and finished off loading their belongings.  Then following their new leader, they headed up a darkening trail toward their cabin. The cabins housed twelve guys in three separate sleeping rooms with four men per room.  Sean had reasoned to himself that as a three-year man, he’d be a room leader.  A large screened-in porch wrapped around two sides of the cabin and a small den for group meetings or free-time activities sat just in the doorway.  A fourth sleeping area, with a small office for the team