In the picture above is a group of adults with developmental disabilities.  For all of them this was their first chance to do anything like this. We started out on the whale watch learning to balance and move as one to be able to "float" our group on the teetering boat.  When Greg asked the adult with developmental disability groups how this reflected their walk with God he was first met with silence as the group really thought about what this meant.  Then after about 30 seconds Doug said, "That sometimes we have to lean on each other and love each other as God does to get through something."  I was amazed that something as simple as working together to balance the platform got this type of results.  Then Carl stated, "God is like this always there when you need a hand."  Wow! What an answer. 

 

 

Belayed Trust Fall.  This is an element where regardless of your ability you can climb, roll, or walk the ramp to the platform and rely on your team to spot you.  If you so choose you can fall, lean, or half lean into your teams waiting arms.  This was an amazing chance for groups to fully trust one another and challenge themselves.  In this photo Taylor leans into some of his team and learns to fully rely on them and trust them.  When asked what did you learn from this he said, "That sometimes you can't see who is helping you."  When asked how this relates to his walk with God he said, " Well.... I can't see God but he is there." 

 

 

 

In this photo (above) meet Nancy "Lynn" she is balancing on this leg of the triangle traverse using the lazy rope.  Lynn has agoraphobia and has been coming to camp now for three years.  The first year Lynn was here she hang out in the cabin and in the dining hall a lot.  It was difficult to get her to much of anything outside.  The second summer Lynn learned to try outdoor things one step at a time.  She went on a boat ride and the hay rack ride.  She was so excited about the boat ride but, cried because her baby doll was sick and scared of the boat ride.  After the ride she was super happy with herself and her baby doll.  This year the task at hand was to do part of the ropes course.  As you can see in the photo Lynn did well on the triangle travers with support of the staff.  She was so very pleased with herself.  Lynn isn't always very vocal but, I asked her what she thought she said, "You love me like God, no matter what.  You all protect me and love me."  When Lynn was being pick up by her mother on Friday I took a moment to talk with her about Lynn's success on the Ropes Course.  Her mother tiered up and said, "You have no idea how much Lynn has grown.  I can't believe you all get her to try so many new things.  It is so difficult to even get her to go to the store but, here she gets out and does the impossible.  Thank you."  With that she gave me hug and said she would see us next year. 

 

 

Meet Hannah Pooler, many of you may know her from First Congregational UCC in Topeka.  This young lady has had many challenges in her young life but, it has made her an inspiration to everyone who meets her.  This is the last summer for her here at camp as a camper.  She wowed us all with her can do attitude once again this summer.  She went to the ropes course with the intention of taking several pictures and supporting her team.  She participated in the Whale Watch, the Trust Fall, as well as some of the other elements.  Her big challenge was the wall.  The idea is to get your entire team up and over the wall.  The catch is that the first person has no one on top of the wall to help pull them over and the last person doesn't have anyone to lift them up.  But, this didn't detour Hannah or her team of friends from all over.  Once they all had their mind set to the task at hand the team knew that Hannah could and would make it over the wall.  Her sister made sure she was safe, Hannah gave specific instructions how to be lifted and pulled up the wall, everyone pulled together to make sure every need was meet to make this a success for the team and for Hannah.  She made it!  Cheers went up and tears of joy feel as the team helped conquer the challenge.  Hannah said something to the effect that she didn't think she was able to do something like this but, she guess now there isn't anything she can do. 

 

 

This is just part of the things we saw happen on the low ropes course this summer.  It is now time to finish our project for the high ropes course.  We are still about $9,000.00 shy of having all the money we need to be able to fulfill our dream of having a high ropes course on camp that is handicap accessible and is a huge asset to the camp and conference.  By installing this course it will bring in anywhere from $20,000.00 to $50,000.00 in additional revenue.  This is truly an investment in our future.  To help us reach the goal please contact Sara at 620-767-5165 for more information or  make a check payable to the KO Conference in the Memo line put WMC HRC Enhancements.   

 

Live, Laugh, Love,   and Play Hard   

      Sara A. Shaw,   Camp Director   

620-767-5165 (Camp Office)   620-202-0311(Cell)   620-767-7244 (Fax) 

  1271 South 1050 Road   Council Grove  KS  66846-8520 

 wmcucc@tctelco.net 

 

We had such a great time studying Phyllis Tickle's book, The Great Emergence that we have decided to tackle a second book. This time we'll be reading Liberating Hope! Daring to Renew the Mainline Church by two UCC pastors, Michael Piazza and Cameron Trimble. The book was just published in July so it is full of fresh ideas and commentary.

 

The group will meet September 8 and 22 from 10:30am-12 noon at the Conference Office in Wichita, KS. Folks that have time then go out to lunch. 

 

Read Chapters 1-2 for September 8 and Chapters 4-6 for September 22. Other chapters and dates will be set at one of the gatherings.

 

If you are unable to come to Wichita, then we still encourage you to read the book-either with a group of pastors in your area or just on your own.

 

 

Rev. Krista Betz

Interim Conference Minister

Kansas-Oklahoma Conference

316-686-4331 

 

Cathedral of Hope, Oklahoma City, OK Rev. Joe Meinhart is interim pastor

 

Church of the Good Shepherd, Kansas City, KS Rev. Art Foster is serving as stated supply

 

Congregational UCC, Carrier, OK Rev. Gordon Epps is interim pastor.

 

Congregational UCC, Haven, KS  Pastor Judy Conners has announced her resignation, effective October 2011

 

Community Congregational UCC, Gaylord, KS Rev. Linda Kemp is interim pastor.

 

First Congregational UCC, Anthony, KS

 

First Congregational UCC, Centralia, KS Pastor Scott Caulley is supply pastor.

 

First Congregational UCC, Great Bend, KS Rev. Stan Crawford is interim pastor. 

First Congregational UCC, Goltry, OK

 

First Congregational UCC, McPherson, KS Rev. Constance Lunn is interim pastor

 

First Congregational UCC, Onaga, KS Pastor Scott Caulley is supply pastor.

 

First Salem UCC, Wichita, KS Pastor Myra Sorrell is serving as supply pastor through January 2012.

 

Highland Trinity UCC, Newton, KS Rev. Bill Hickerson is supply pastor

 

Immanuel UCC, Ellinwood, KS Rev. Katrina Palan is interim pastor

 

Kiowa Congregational UCC, Kiowa, KS

 

Midland Community UCC, Nickerson, KS has called Pastor Judy Conners, effective October 2011

 

Puritan Congregational Christian Church, Drummond, OK

 

St John UCC, Baldwin City, KS Rev Lewis Hinshaw is supply pastor

 

St. Peter's UCC, Inman, KS Rev Christine Edwards is the interim pastor

 

United Church of Norman, Norman, OK Rev. Warren Jensen is interim pastor.

 

United Parish of Lenora, Lenora, KS  Rev. Gary Dudder has announced his resignation, effective immediately.

 

Zion UCC, Junction City, KS. Rev. Patty Brown-Barnett is interim pastor