The End of a Season
We knew when we took on a camp assignment that it would be a harder 'natural' fit for us. We tend to enjoy urban over rural and sunny, warm weather over cloudy and cold.
That being said, we chose to come to Camp Deerpark and have seen the blessings of the place and people here. The staff is super dedicated and inviting which attracts many retreat groups to return year after year. We're humbled to see talented people washing dishes and cleaning toilets with a smile on their face and joy in their heart for minimal compensation.
Our Monday to Thursday schedule is rather boring for Ruth as a scanner of documents in the office, but she realizes that it is necessary work that frees others to do more enjoyable work! Jim is still making bunk beds. It is time consuming, but the natural product beds should last for multiple generations.
During weekday evenings we gather for dinner at the director's house where we also have a room. The table often is set for single staff members to join in, as well as others who happen to be visiting or neighbors who can use a listening ear and a warm meal.
The other SOOP couple who had been here left on October 15 so we are now the weekend hosts. That puts us in direct contact with the retreat groups and also the responsibility of checking them in, serving in the dining room, refreshing their rooms and meeting spaces, preparing campfires, handling special requests, etc. Most of them come from NYC churches--many who are Latinx or Garifuna--so we get to use our Spanish with the adults.
Being just 3.5 hours from Lancaster County, PA, means we can visit Ruth's Dad several days, as well. The biggest change there is that he has decided to end bread baking after making 30-40 loaves weekly for the past 35 years plus! His church will be honoring those years of service on December 9, so we will be finishing here at Camp Deerpark December 8 to be there for that. This means we are also finishing our time with Service Opportunites with Our Partners. Hopefully it won't be the end of serving but will be taking a different form for awhile.
From December 9 until January 5 we will be in the Lancaster and Philadelphia area. We'll have time to connect with both our families, including Ruth's brother Paul and sister-in-law Esther who have just returned from a three year MCC Vietnam assignment. Our son Michael will also be home from South Korea for the holidays and we'll get to see Michelle. Our address over that time will be c/o John Bucher, 118 W Main St, Salunga PA 17538. Phone number remains the same: 336-210-0752.
We look forward to hearing from you. We will let you know as time progresses what is next for us.
Thanks for reading our blog and continuing to remember us these past 13 months. Jim and Ruth
That being said, we chose to come to Camp Deerpark and have seen the blessings of the place and people here. The staff is super dedicated and inviting which attracts many retreat groups to return year after year. We're humbled to see talented people washing dishes and cleaning toilets with a smile on their face and joy in their heart for minimal compensation.
Our Monday to Thursday schedule is rather boring for Ruth as a scanner of documents in the office, but she realizes that it is necessary work that frees others to do more enjoyable work! Jim is still making bunk beds. It is time consuming, but the natural product beds should last for multiple generations.
During weekday evenings we gather for dinner at the director's house where we also have a room. The table often is set for single staff members to join in, as well as others who happen to be visiting or neighbors who can use a listening ear and a warm meal.
The other SOOP couple who had been here left on October 15 so we are now the weekend hosts. That puts us in direct contact with the retreat groups and also the responsibility of checking them in, serving in the dining room, refreshing their rooms and meeting spaces, preparing campfires, handling special requests, etc. Most of them come from NYC churches--many who are Latinx or Garifuna--so we get to use our Spanish with the adults.
Being just 3.5 hours from Lancaster County, PA, means we can visit Ruth's Dad several days, as well. The biggest change there is that he has decided to end bread baking after making 30-40 loaves weekly for the past 35 years plus! His church will be honoring those years of service on December 9, so we will be finishing here at Camp Deerpark December 8 to be there for that. This means we are also finishing our time with Service Opportunites with Our Partners. Hopefully it won't be the end of serving but will be taking a different form for awhile.
From December 9 until January 5 we will be in the Lancaster and Philadelphia area. We'll have time to connect with both our families, including Ruth's brother Paul and sister-in-law Esther who have just returned from a three year MCC Vietnam assignment. Our son Michael will also be home from South Korea for the holidays and we'll get to see Michelle. Our address over that time will be c/o John Bucher, 118 W Main St, Salunga PA 17538. Phone number remains the same: 336-210-0752.
We look forward to hearing from you. We will let you know as time progresses what is next for us.
Thanks for reading our blog and continuing to remember us these past 13 months. Jim and Ruth
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| Jim with one of the bunks that still needs three coats of polyurethane |
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| Ruth's Oct. birthday meal with Yanelli (dining server who comes from NYC on the weekends), Dick and Nancy Yoder (the other SOOP couple) and director Ken and Deborah Bontrager in their dining room. |
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| We didn't travel too much but have done several excursions nearby. This is Raymondskill Falls. |
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| This is the field opposite the main camp building. The leaves aren't as bright thus far this fall but look like they may get some coloring. |
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