Let Your Love Be Genuine

I was ten years old when I went to camp for the first time. I spent a week at Camp Crucis, the Episcopal camp in the Diocese of Fort Worth. I slept in a bunk bed, learned new songs, spent pretty much the entire week outdoors (the cabin windows were just screens with big shutters that could be closed from the outside if it was raining), hiked to chapel, made lots of friends, and focused on my faith. I loved it, and went every summer for the next four years, until high school extracurriculars started pushing in on my schedule. I have great memories of camp, and I count my camping experience as an

important part of my spiritual formation.

We are blessed to have wonderful camping programs in the Diocese of West Texas. Camp Capers, located in nearby Waring, Texas, operates all summer, with sessions set up by age group. Like my own camping experience, campers encounter God, receiving spiritual formation as they swim and play games, sing songs, go to chapel, and sleep in bunk beds. (Unlike my camping experience, cabins are air conditioned.)

There is perhaps more anxiety about camp this summer than in past years. Following last year’s Fourth of July flood, and the tragedy at Camp Mystic in particular, safety is on

everyone’s mind. Safety is, and has always been, the first priority at Camp Capers. If you are interested in reading more about safety measures, you can find “Camp Safety” as a tab on the homepage of the Diocese of West Texas website, or go directly to

https://www.dwtx.org/what-we-do/camps-conferences.

I am excited to serve as the dean of the Junior High A camp session this summer. I will leave straight from church on June 7 for my week at Capers. The theme of camp this

summer is our diocesan theme, “Let Love be Genuine.” The teachers, chaplain, and I will offer instruction, games, and chapel sessions along that theme. I ask your prayers for me, for the staff, and all the young people that will come to Camp Capers and other camps this summer, including many of our St. Michael’s youth. May we all experience the genuine love of God.