“You know,” she said, “I didn’t realize until we were asked to say the Lord’s Prayer together last night that my son didn’t know the words. I was amazed when I heard him struggling to follow along. I guess I’ve really let him down. I should have known that you don’t learn those things without being taught, but I just didn’t think about it until now.”
We were eating hamburgers and hot dogs near the end of “Building Hope for Tomorrow”, a camp for the families who were survivors of last May’s tornados. Another couple at the table began to tell her about a church to which they belonged that had been a source of great support during the past year. Before long, she had made the commitment to begin going with them.
That was but one example of many of the good things that happened that weekend. Families that had been overwhelmed with the physical tasks of cleanup and rebuilding for nearly a year, had at last an opportunity to devote themselves to the other tasks of recovery: couple time, family time, time to process emotions, time to laugh and play, and time for spiritual renewal.
Held at Carol Joy Holling Camp, nineteen families participated. Julie Bernie, a comedian from Lincoln, had both children and adults laughing. Steve Eulburg, a musician and entertainer from Colorado, had them making music together. And, of course, there were the other camp activities: games, crafts, singing, a bonfire, and devotions. Sponsored by Lutheran Disaster Response along with Caring Communities, the camp was a part of the long term recovery effort at which LDR of Nebraska has been engaged.
