Since 2005, I have been the director of a beautiful, 300 acre summer camp in northern Maine called Baptist Park. Prior to that, I had been a speaker at the park for at least one week -usually two-every summer since 1995. We are coming to the end of staff training week 2018, but with a bittersweet twist.

This week I have also been training an interim director for this summer, as Sue, Rose and I will be leaving on July 4 for a month in Uganda. My replacement, a local pastors wife, is more than capable, and we've had a lot of fun working together preparing our mostly teenaged staff for a summer of ministry.

Since this has been our summer home for over a decade, we have friends in the area, many of whom we've been able to connect with this week. But my favorite part of camp is always the high school /college age staff of counselors and CITs. Last night our evening service was an informal chance to share our stories with each other. It was a powerful and touching chance to be reminded that God is active in the hearts of anyone who would humbly seek Him. Young people often have so many burdens, but these kids see the Lords hand at work through the trials.

While we will miss the time spend at camp this summer, we are excited to experience what God is doing in Africa, and we are also confident that He will have Baptist Park secure in His hands as well.