Gull Lake and Grandkids!

”What was the best part of your summer?” Our daughter-in-law, Amy, asked the question at breakfast last week. How would you answer that question? I had to think about it. Time with our kids, grandkids and friends, training pastors in Haiti in July, Gull Lake Camp, finishing a patio for my mom, gardening – it’s been a good and full summer. Thank the Lord for His good gifts of life!

Over these last two warm weeks, Rena and I had the opportunity to serve as Missions Rep at Gull Lake Camp in southwest Michigan and meet our new grandson in Tennessee.

Gull Lake Camp

We were super excited when Gull Lake Ministries invited us to serve as missions representative for a week of camp. Family members, Bruce and Carrie Holt, introduced us to Daniel Wallace (camp name “Ambush”), the camp’s executive director, a year ago. The Holts are long-time campers at Gull Lake, and their son Garrett (camp name “Click It or Flick It”) served as a camp counselor this summer. (Side note: Carrie and two friends recently authored The Other Side of Special, an excellent book for parents of children with special needs. They and the book are featured this week on Focus on the Family. Check out the book and related podcast HERE.) We introduced PPI, shared the need and opportunity to train international church leaders, enjoyed conversations with other campers, and had a lot of fun!

Grandkids!

After our time at Gull Lake, we had one day at home to wash clothes, mow the lawn, and re-pack our suitcases. The next day, we drove to Shelbyville, Tennessee, to meet our third grandchild in person, Theodore (Theo) Kenneth MacGillivray. He did not disappoint!

All our kids and grandkids trekked to Tennessee for a long weekend together. What a special time together! We were reminded again that each of our kids, daughters-in-law and grandchildren is a special gift from God to our family. Each brings his or her unique personality, gifts, quirkiness and joy – and we are enriched for it. We also enjoyed a few precious hours with Rena’s mom and dad before heading back to Michigan on Monday.

We are filled with joy and gratitude to God for this summer – all gifts of God’s undeserved kindness through Christ to us. If Jesus had not rescued us from sin and self, no doubt our summer would have looked quite different. I would have missed the joy of fellowship with church leaders in Haiti. (Trust me, I would not spend time in Haiti if Jesus had not changed my heart!) Our pride and expectations of our children and grandchildren would have created tension between us. We never would have experienced Gull Lake Camp. C.S. Lewis’ words come to mind: “I believe in God not only because I see Him, but also because by Him I see everything else.” Thank you, our God, for freeing us to see and experience Your wonderful gifts of family, ministry and summer!