We had an all staff meeting at Carol Joy
Holling this morning. We had devotions, went around the circle and heard what all 25 people are up to these days at work, and then we were presented our new mission and vision statement. Our executive director, Dave
Coker, came in the room dressed as you see him here to the music from Blues Brothers. He sat down and talked about what it means to have a mission. Then we watched a clip from Blues Brothers where one of the guys says, "we're on a mission sent by God!" And the video paused and we were presented a confidential file folder with a few pressing documents. One of which included our new statement:
Then we were given a list of suspects who we might find living this mission out as we serve our campers, guests and
retreaters at Carol Joy
Holling Camp. Each staff person was listed with a funny picture, and their own personal mission statement for the specific work that they do. This is my friend Gina, the brilliant Graphic Artist who put all of these papers together.
The meeting was basically a pep talk to live out our new mission statement. But the way it was presented was so fun, so creative and SO CAMP that it just sort of
rejuvenated my whole excitement for being in camp ministry. Which, I suppose, was their hope, and if that's the case: mission accomplished.
Then I went down to the Swanson Center to lead devotions for our Unfinished Objects Retreat and found 40 women quilting and crafting and using their creativity too. I love that our Creative God created us to be creative too.
I scanned these pictures from my parents. I love the pumpkins because the one that looks like The Count on the left is so very much my brother's pumpkin. And the pumpkin on the right with long eye lashes is so my sister's pumpkin. And the generic one that screams, "I'm the baby in the family!" is so very mine. The picture below is of my 2nd grade class. You will find me in the back row, wearing the pumpkin sandwich board costume and green ribbon on my head. Here's to Reese's Peanut Butter cups, the very best candy you could receive while trick-or-treating. 
