Van Hauling

 Van Hauling
My friend John and I drove the church van to Servants Heart Camp to retrieve the three kids from a week at summer camp. Servants Heart Camp is located north of Altoona, Pennsylvania near a small town named Ramey. It is still being shaped into a modern facility with rustic charm and grandeur.
The site overlooks a large lake and is secluded from the hustle and bustle of the outside world. It is a haven of peace and quiet where people are able to get in touch with God and make decisions about Jesus and the salvation that He offers. It has been a steady progress in creating this woodland retreat. Slowly from a tent dining room with a trailer truck kitchen, it is being transformed into a comfortable place to enjoy the time of being with others seeking God.
Cabins that are very similar to the KOA log cabins with showers and toilet facilities line the lake front and delve into the wooded areas. They surround the under-construction, two story lodge that faces the beauty of the lake.
The camp has a small store for snacks, camp-embossed shirts, and other souvenirs. There is an auditorium for folks to gather for skits and to listen to evangelist speakers. There are a multitude of eager staff members who care for the campers’ needs.
As John and I herded the kids and gathered their belongings into the van for the trip home, we were given a rousing send-off by the counsellors saying goodbye and wishing us a safe trip home. Two of our kids were upset that they were needing to leave. The third, I’m not sure of what he was thinking. He is always so quiet, I couldn’t hear much of what he was saying, but slowly I found out that even in his shyness, he had a wonderful time. He said that he enjoyed the mmany games and although he was initially afraid of the tower’s height, he rode the zip-line five times.
The van was often filled with the kids singing songs they had learned at camp. The trip home was uneventful, but we had to take care to avoid the many deer that would emerge forn the forest and dart across the road.
Once the kids were reunited with their parents at the church, our task was complete.