Paulhaven Part 6

Before I left, I took a walk over to the small garden area.  Up in a nearby tree, I spotted a rustic-looking old moss-covered, gray birdhouse.  Could this birdhouse be mine from ten years ago?  Doubtful, but I thought I’d check it out.  On closer inspection, I made out the word, “amour” painted in green on the front.  Yes.  My little birdhouse.  Still on the tree where I put it ten years ago.  The song, Birdhouse in Your Soul” closes with the verse, "And while you're at it, keep the nightlight on inside the birdhouse in your soul."  I carry the love and light of Paulhaven with me wherever I go.  And I promise to keep the light inside the birdhouse in my soul burning brightly forever.

Paulhaven Part 5

Friday night is the big dance party and fireworks show.  This is the biggest event of the week and is a perfect close to an amazing camp session.  All the youth get dressed up and the girls spend hours in the lodge “salon” doing their makeup and hair.  DJ Justin brings all his equipment, spins the tunes and rocks the lodge with blasting sound and his magnificent laser lights show.  A highlight is watching the men of Paulhaven perform a rousing YMCA dance in Village People costume.  Then we gather outside for the big midnight fireworks show.  It is really quite spectacular for a small budget fireworks operation.  I was very impressed.  This big evening is such a fantastic way to finish off the week.  Saturday is a time for goodbyes.  It is always a sad time.  Everyone gathers for a group photo and we do a last assembly around the campfire which burned so brightly throughout the week at Paulhaven.  I was presented with a tie-dyed t-shirt signed by all the campers.  It was a touching gift which I will happily wear with pride.  Each name, each person on that t-shirt is special to me.  Everyone I met at camp is a precious gift.  I am grateful have had the opportunity to get to know each youth and each youth leader at Paulhaven and the memories of the good times I had there will stay with me until I can return and reunite with this great group of friends.

Paulhaven Part 4

Some of my favorite times at Paulhaven were the morning and evening chapel services.  The morning services were led by Pastor Dave.  He introduced us to a parable and provided a brief explanation of the lesson that Jesus was teaching in the parable.  Evening chapels were led by the teen classes.  My class chapel was about the Prodigal Son.  I love how enthusiastically everyone sings the hymns.  Whether people know the tune or not, everybody sings their heart out!  Speaking of singing, each evening there is a campfire sing-along.  Everyone has their favorite and it’s great to see everyone gathered in song.  Sometimes it is a hug night, and everyone goes around the circle and hugs everyone.  Cookies and cocoa come at the end of every campfire.  Yum! 

Paulhaven Part 3

Recreation was exhausting.  The beginning of the week was quite warm and sunny and after class time, we played a volleyball and soccer tournament.  The four rec teams alternated playing each other.  We also played some volleyball and soccer in the afternoon when it was no longer warm out, but hot!  All the games were very fun, but I must admit that I was pretty tired, especially during those hot afternoon games.  Later in the week it cooled off a bit, the clouds gathered above us and a nice breeze blew in.  On Wednesday we went on the traditional picnic softball game.  After class time we all went for a fairly lengthy walk up to the baseball field, gathered at a gazebo and ate sandwiches.  Then we spent the afternoon playing a big game of softball.  It was a beautiful day.  Perfect for softball and I really enjoyed myself.  Later in the week we also went on two beach outings.  Relaxing on the beach was a pleasant break from the rigors of volleyball, soccer and softball.  However, if you didn’t keep a close watch on what was going-on around you, you were likely to get thrown in the lake.  Everyone got wet on beach afternoons!  And the beach is not the only place that you get wet.  A giant water fight happened one afternoon back at Paulhaven camp.  Water balloons, water guns, cups, pitchers, pails, buckets, hoses…pretty much anything that holds or shoots water is used to soak one and all.  It was great fun to watch Chris douse Pastor Dave with a bucket of from the roof of the lodge.  At least they let Dave finish his cigar first.