Camp Life

Since the last post we moved from humid summer to crisp mountain fall air. After leaving Georgia we spent two weeks with Ruth's Dad helping out and visiting with him. September 14 was move-in day again--this time at Camp Deerpark, near Cuddebackville, New York. Oh, you don't know where that is. It's a camp, so it's suppose to be far from everywhere! It is in the foothills 90 miles or so NW of New York City, 11 miles from Port Jervis where NY, PA, and NJ intersect. The camp is owned by 17 of the the New York City Mennonite churches. So most of the groups who use it are from NYC, but not all Mennonite affiliated.

We know we are at a mountain camp when doors remain unlocked, the nearest shopping towns are half an hour drive away, campfires light the weekend evening sky, and Jim's weekend chore is to take the two llamas out to pasture in the morning and bring them back in the evening.

During the weekdays Jim is building 12 bunk beds for the new cabins being constructed. He's enjoying being in a good woodworking shop. The camp has certified forest management status. So all the wood being used to build the cabins and beds is from their own trees. They even have a sawmill and a maple sugar processing shed.

Ruth is using her administrative background to help enter camper data and scan financial records to comply with government requirements--jobs the office staff doesn't have time to do.

We plan to be here until Dec. 15 or so. The last two months, and also some this month as needed, we are helping out with weekend hosting needs. The first weekend here was a pastor families' retreat from Spanish and Garifuna churches in NYC. It was fun to use our Spanish and to sing along to campfire worship songs we had known from the years we spent in Belize. The second weekend was full with four different groups of 100 total that maxed out the camp space, again all Hispanic.

So, this is quite a change from what we had been doing over the past year, but so far a good time in its own way. We have a studio apartment space in the basement of the director's house. Another SOOP couple (Dick and Nancy Yoder from Indiana) are here this first month and have the other basement room. We eat weekday dinners together with the director and his wife, Ken and Deborah Bontrager, and two of the single guys. On the weekends we dine with the retreat groups.

As time goes on, there will be more time for reflection and sight-seeing, but for now, just this update on the logistics of life! May your days be as refreshing as a dew-drenched, crisp morning.

Jim making bunk beds for the camp

Ruth working in the office with Barb Freeman

The original building from when the camp was purchased in 1968, but added on to over the years 

Jim, the llama herder, with prima donna Bernice and passive Nadora

Breakfast serving time for some of the weekend retreat participants

One afternoon another resident staff family invited us to join them for cranberry picking.
So now we can add that to our bucket list (not sure we have one, but it sounded good!)