August 4 2024
We started our day with a morning run, almost everyone showing up for Stumblers (our running club). This is a club my father started many years ago, copying the Todds Road Stumblers in Lexington, Kentucky (established by his friend Alex Campbell, who always invited my father for a Sunday run with his “club”). We run or walk one lap around our beautiful 1.5-mile river trail. The experience is spectacular. The first runners always see the most wildlife (grazing deer, roosting birds, nesting ducks, and perhaps the elusive otters or beavers returning to their den after a long night). From the trail, we are treated to breathtaking views of camp, river, wetlands, and mountains, but few seem to notice as they talk nonstop about the week past and the week to come.
After completing the run, they are given this year’s Stumblers T-Shirt. They will cherish this shirt because it is one that was paid for with hard work. Many of the girls have not ever run this far; they are rightfully proud of the accomplishment and ready for breakfast.
Sundays feature a different (slower) schedule that is appropriate for long showers, cleaning cabins, church, and free activities. We serve a buffet breakfast, then give plenty of time for long hot showers and deep cabin clean-up (and “White Glove Inspection” by Group Leaders) before Sunday School and Church. Our minister is a camp dad, Reid Jones (former RUF minister now a pastor at Clemson Presbyterian Church) who was our Main Camp minister for several years. “Brother Reid” as we used to call him is sure to be a hit! After Rest Hour, we will enjoy our regular afternoon schedule of activities and a picnic dinner.
Tonight’s EP is a Movie in the FORT. We set up a giant inflatable screen and huge sound system, watch a fun movie, and serve treats to enjoy during the show. It is a relaxed ending to a relaxed day… just about perfect, as the girls were getting a little tired (camp days are long and active).
The last days of camp are packed with exciting programs, each building on the one before. Everyone is already talking about tomorrow’s Carnival and Tuesday’s Birthday Ball and Talent Show. Every day is better than the one before, and the girls are already anticipating a happy reunion with you on Friday.
This session, this summer has once again been greatly blessed and are grateful to look back with no regrets. We prayed that The Lord would once again protect us in the thousands of ways necessary in this fallen world. That He would bless us with a sweet spirit that was winsome in every way. And we prayed that the girls would not only be safe, have fun, make friends, and learn skills… but that they would get to know Jesus better because of their experience at Greystone. All these things have been granted and we look forward to finishing this race well. Thank you for your encouragement and support.