Where's your Salmon Slap Friend?

The Golden Boot - Gumboot Throwing Trophy

It is our largest retreat of the year. One hundred ladies from across central Alberta come to spend a weekend worshiping, learning, and experiencing camp together. Flowers, crafts, coffee (SO MUCH COFFEE...69 pots over the weekend...that we know of) - the weekend is seriously one to remember.

I always love seeing the ladies "come out of their shell" through the weekend. I'm a firm believer that there is a Camp Kid inside of all of us. Your Camp Kid is something like that Inner Child that people refer to but more so. Your Camp Kid is a game-playing, chubby-bunny stuffing, rubber-boot-throwing kid that wakes up and wonders what they've been missing all this time. I LOVE seeing adults come to camp expecting a "retreat" and coming alive with the very thing that makes camp so special. What is that thing that makes camp so special? Of course it's Jesus but it's also the gift that God has given us in the form of camp: life. I think we experience life at camp. A space to breathe, giggle, not take life so seriously, a place to experience creation and allow God to speak to us through ponds, creeks, and piles of dead trees that are now teeming with life. It's realizing that doing silly warm up and hand shakes is not just a ridiculous part of chapel but a vital one to preparing to worship. Joy and laughter are as much a part of learning about our Father in Heaven as reverence and awe.

So I LOVE leading Ladies Retreat and watching the apprehension of being amongst people you don't know on Friday night to seeing 100 sisters on Sunday morning banded together in prayer.

The Retreat was full of string art, activities, and delicious food! We also introduced the international sport of Gumboot Throwing (Welly-wanging if you're from New Zealand)...which may very well become one of my favourite activities at camp. Check it out:

I do want to say a HUGE thank you to all of our volunteers and staff who worked tirelessly to set up the extras that make this weekend so amazing. The prayer room, Activity Centre set up, movie room, and more make this weekend what it is. And of course - The Plaid Perennials leading worship...The chapel sounded like Heaven each session.

Our "Boys" dressed up and ready to serve the ladies.

Ladies Retreat weekend is April 6-8th in 2018! We will announce when Registration will open in the fall. Thank you again to everyone that makes this retreat possible.

Much love,
Jogee