An Experience to Remember

I had the opportunity to join Madison at Kamp Kanakuk this year as a registered nurse. Actually, I was at K-2 and she was at K-7, which was only a few hundred yards from where I was stationed. I was assigned to boys ages 13-18. I was a little nervous when I found that out, but that was short-lived. When I entered the health center, which was not air-conditioned, I met my fellow nurse for the week. Her name was Shellia and she was a hoot. This summer was her 11th year at camp, so I was in good hands. As the week progressed, I was exposed to all kinds of fun including swimming, lake fun, and the great game, Settlers of Catan. If you love games, this one is for you! We spent many hours at night playing and all getting to know one another. I met kids from all over the U.S. and even had one tennis player from Italy. I had never met such polite, handsome boys. I was very impressed with their manners and the consideration that they had for one another. Since it was a sports camp, there were many injuries. There were three other nurses in our health center, which had backgrounds in Parrish nursing, a allergy nurse and a community health nurse. With my med/surg and ICU experience, we made ONE pretty good brain as we all worked together. The doctor at our camp, Chris Pruett, was a pleasure to work with. He was a general surgeon from St. Louis. He brought his family, which included his wife and six children. What a great family man! Thank you, Kanakuk, for the awesome experience.

Madison spent a week this summer at Kamp Kanakuk in Lampe, Missouri. Not only did she spend a week away from home, but she spent a week sleeping in a tepee with nine other girls and three counselors. What a fun time she had! Her days were filled with water sports, games, activities at the lake and learning about the Bible. Her favorite thing she learned was the saying, "I'm third." She learned that "God is first, others second and that I'm third." She met girls from all over the United States and was lucky to have been placed in the same tepee with a girl from Rockwall, Texas. Hopefully, they will coordinate next summer so they can see one another again.