So often we focus on what we are going to GET for Christmas. I also like to give gifts that will be appreciated by the person receiving it. It is a wonderful thing to see their face light up and to hear their gratitude. What are you giving back this Christmas? Who can you help where there is no benefit to you? 

Her are a few ideas that come to mind:

• Food for those in need
• Help pay for a load of wood or propane for a family that is struggling to heat their home
• Toys for Tots or a similar program
• Service to someone who cannot do for themselves
• Pack a shoe box for Operation Christmas Child
• Drop your spare change into the Salvation Army kettles
• Spend some time with a senior, or shut in or someone stuck in the hospital this season
• Help at a soup kitchen
• Buy something from the catalogue.worldvision.ca
• Check out The Muskoka Red Sock Initiative
• Give socks to some homeless people. (my oldest daughter does this and we collected a bunch last year for her to distribute)

Give gifts out of gratitude for what Christ has done for you. You may never see the results, but that’s not the point, now is it?

We are all do stupid things! And everyone around us sees many of them. We set an example for all those who watch our lives, and believe me, they are watching. Ever had someone comment a long time after you post something on social media? You find out they were watching even though they never liked or commented on your post. It’s just like Rodney Atkins’ song Watching You. The lyrics are below…

In Rodney’s song, the song of the singer emulates his dad, both in the bad (swearing) and the good (praying to God). The son wants to be just like his dad. In many ways our campers want to be just like our staff. 

There is a prayer in the song that the dad prays that resonates with me. He prays, “Lord please help me help my stupid self!” There is little, actually nothing, I can do to make it right with God. I need God, through Jesus to make me right with God. It’s the only way. 

The best way we can lead and teach others is by our example. You are an example, what kind will you be? 

“Watching You” by Rodney Atkins

Driving through town, just my boy and me
With a Happy Meal in his booster seat
Knowing that he couldn’t have the toy ’til his nuggets were gone

A green traffic light turned straight to red
I hit my brakes and mumbled under my breath
His fries went a-flying and his orange drink covered his lap

Well, then my four-year-old said a four letter word
That started with “s” and I was concerned
So I said, “Son, now where’d you learn to talk like that?”

[Chorus:]
He said, “I’ve been watching you, dad. Ain’t that cool?
I’m your buckaroo, I wanna be like you.
And eat all my food and grow as tall as you are.
We got cowboy boots and camo pants.
Yeah, we’re just alike. Hey, ain’t we, dad?
I wanna do everything you do.
So I’ve been watching you.”

We got back home and I went to the barn
I bowed my head and I prayed real hard
Said, “Lord, please help me help my stupid self.“

Then this side of bedtime later that night
Turning on my son’s Scooby Doo nightlight
He crawled out of bed and he got down on his knees

He closed his little eyes, folded his little hands
And spoke to God like he was talking to a friend
And I said, “Son, now where’d you learn to pray like that?”

[Chorus:]
He said, “I’ve been watching you, dad. Ain’t that cool?
I’m your buckaroo, I wanna be like you.
And eat all my food and grow as tall as you are.
We like fixing things and holding mama’s hand.
Yeah we’re just alike. Hey, ain’t we, dad?
I wanna do everything you do.
So I’ve been watching you.”

[Bridge:]
With tears in my eyes I wrapped him in a hug
Said, “My little bear is growing up.”
He said, “But when I’m big I’ll still know what to do.”

[Chorus:]
‘Cause I’ve been watching you, dad. Ain’t that cool?
I’m your buckaroo, I wanna be like you.
And eat all my food and grow as tall as you are.
By then I’ll be strong as Superman.
We’ll be just alike. Hey, won’t we, dad?
When I can do everything you do,
‘Cause I’ve been watching you.”

The summer staff team this year did an excellent job! Everyone helped out with the campers when we were almost short of cabin leaders. God provides! The staff, though young, presented to the campers what it looks like to be a Christian in today’s anti-church culture. This summer we had 21 campers make a first decision for Christ, along with many campers and staff growing in their relationship with Jesus. This summer nine of our staff were baptized!

I am excited to announce that Josh (Heyoo) Laverty came on this fall as Assistant Director at Widjiitiwin. Josh ran our SALT program this past summer. He will focus on registration, marketing, social media and website, help increase our camper numbers for next year, work with me on the physical aspects of camp and to redesign our SALT 2 session. Josh will also assist at MBC with A/V support, social media and some duty manager shifts.

Our new camp pastor cabin was a big hit with our pastors and allowed them to live right in our community. This year we hosted 249 people over five retreats at Widji, including 124 men from the Band of Brothers.

Partnership Summary
Our now five partnership camps are growing strong and have become more than half our summer campers. This year 276 campers were fully sponsored to attend Widjiitiwin. That happens through God’s faithfulness to His ministry and the generous donations from His people. Campers came to Widji in Muskoka, heard the gospel, built relationships with staff, volunteers and each other plus they tried many new activities. Pray for us as we continue to work with kids and youth from at risk and marginalized communities.

• The Fresh Air Camp, in partnership with Toronto Police, 42 Division completed its eighth summer and reached 76 campers (down due to a police action in one neighbourhood). Additionally we welcomed four YIPI’s, a group of officers and community leaders from several neighbourhoods around 42 Division. Daniel (Elmers) Sylvester was our camp pastor for the week. PC Mark Gray continues to be an integral support in the success of this partnership.
• Escape Camp, our partnership week with Hughson Street Church in Hamilton, in its fifth summer, reached 64 campers. Water-skiing and tubing continue to be highlights to be sure. The team from Hughson Street (Diana, Chris, Jesus and more) provided great ministry along with us.
• The Royal City Camp now in its fourth year with 43 campers attending from Church of the City in Guelph. Some campers were also from other churches in Guelph. Matt (Newb) Naismith (pastor at Church of the Ward) opened God’s word for the campers and staff.
• Venture Camp in its second year saw 65 campers through Capstone Community Bible Church. Rob (Sad Sac) Cripps and Andrew (Nemo) Ironside taught the word and lead the campers with us. The campers were a mix of kids from the church and Capstone’s community outreach in the south end of Etobicoke.
• Ephraim’s Place Camp was a terrific success in its first summer. This is our new partnership with Ephraim’s Place at Sheppard & Jane in Toronto. Alex (Optimus Prime) Street was our camp pastor for this week.

Our other camp pastors this summer were Tim (Chipstack) Tysoe, Nathan (Ice) Pifer from Faith Muskoka, Michael (Boyardee) Bowyer and Myles (Sherlock) Holmes from Harvest Durham.

Our themes for 2017 are Destination: Greece, Nintendo and The Round Table! There are some interesting leadership lessons from King Arthur as he led from beside his knights.

Serving Him together,

Mike (Moose) Greenfield
Director
Camp Widjiitiwin

http://www.widjiitiwin.ca 
Being ambassadors for Christ to children and youth

Camp Widjiitiwin is the kind of Christian environment where other people will stop you and ask if they can pray for you. We gather each weekday morning at 7:00 a.m. for prayer and encouragement. Staff supporting each other is a big part of living in this tight Christian community. 

I always love getting notes or emails from people that tell they have been praying for me. I’m a LOT less excited when someone tells me they will pray for me. I know that I have walked away having said that very thing, but in fact, never prayed for them. 

Instead, take time right now to pray for someone who God brings to your mind. We would appreciate your prayers for Widjiitiwin too. Here are a few prayer requests for Widji. 

• For campers – registration numbers and life changes
• For summer staff – that we’ll have the right staff for 2017
• For summer camp pastors
• For safety in programs and activities
• For the Directors – Mike Greenfield & Josh Laverty
• For the summer leadership team
• For donations to meet our ministry needs. This year we need $175,000

Thanks for praying!!

On the north side of the 401 at Mississauga Road was the day camp I attended as a kid. Most of the property has now been developed by GE Canada, but one section of the old road remains. I can’t remember the name of the camp. It was run by the city of Mississauga I think. I could see it from the hotel when I stayed over in Mississauga this summer. I wanted to go exploring, but there are very large gates denying access. 

We had tents on platforms to keep our stuff during the day, there was a huge log in the ground that we were old was an arrow shot by a legendary Indian brave. We told ghost stories of a fog that could turn a person inside out. I remember archery, games, snacks of course and camp leaders who I thought were cool. And I remember I didn’t want to get on the bus the first few days. In so many ways it’s is similar to campers today. 

If only I knew then what I would do as a career…

I recently clicked the like button on the new profile picture of a friend, Jay Penner, who I worked with back at Muskoka Woods. It’s easy to click the like button and move on. I see why some people put those if you don’t notice me updates on their wall. They assume people are just scrolling by and a like doesn’t mean that much. Sometimes it means a little, sometimes it means a lot. 

This time, I should have stopped and said more, left a comment or written on his wall.

SO, what I meant when I clicked the like button is this: Jay, that’s a great picture of your family. You look happy and I’m glad for you. It’s been too long since we got to catch up, other than on social media. I do appreciate seeing your updates since we are many miles and years apart. It was a little like “Congratulations!”, a little part “thanks for sharing”, a little bit conveying “my support”, partly that I “really connected” with the picture and that I hope you are doing well. It certainly looks like it. Take care. 

We gathered on the final Sunday morning of the summer to share what God had revealed or taught each of us this summer. That list is below. We followed this by praying for each other. 

1. My faith will grow as I draw near to God
2. Keep God the focus of relationships with staff & campers
3. How to be a leader, God used each person to teach me
4. How to be humble, focus on Jesus
5. Bringing God as center of relationships, especially as a cabin leader
6. Relying on God, even in small things, more than at home
7. God works for the good, even if the way seems bad because He loves us
8. God has a plan and He’s never wrong, why me? It’s for the campers, build relationship with God
9. Trust God more. Before summer it wasn’t working, listening more now
10. Not be selfish with my faith, share with everyone 
11. The more you read the Bible, the more you like to read it
12. We’re all here for a purpose. Encourage each other. 
13. A lot about himself, his prayer life. Trust in prayer, big things!!
14. Had lots of questions. Learn about Salvation. Constantly be on fire for God
15. Prayers will be answered in different ways, can be through a challenge, become a stronger Christian 
16. Rely on God more. Tried it on her own. Didn’t go well. 
17. When she out of energy, patience and strength, ask God and He will provide it
18. After guys fasting, growing stronger
19. camp pastors talked about God having a plan, lean into that, proverbs 3, tried to do it herself, but those weeks were tougher. Let God work in every aspect
20. Likes to be in control. You don’t need to know everything, learn about God as you go. This is such a community to thrive in, support, it’s awesome to be here 
21. Its not about me. Campers first. Patience is tough. Knows he isn’t alone, support group helped him so much
22. Can’t do it on your own. To be a better leader
23. Starting camp exhausted so needed to rely on God for strength, He needs space to work, you don’t have to be constantly in everything for God to work. Confidence in Christ. Rely on him for calm, endurance, trust in prayer more. 
24. We’re not meant to be alone, live in community
25. Don’t worry for stupid things. 
26. What God is about is His glory!! What does that look like? You’ll be joyful, worshiping, not us begrudgingly submitting, but joyful
27. People can surprise you, often for the better. God used people who are so unskilled to get so much done
28. Showing me to be the change in myself, not of this world, apply it daily, prayer, Bible reading the greater sum of my spare time, having my faith ready in my heart to spill off my tongue at any moment, 
29. Showed what God wants me to do, like direction to help other people, use everything she has to help, 
30. To be faithful where God has you even in the unknown and be joyful
31. See the diversity that is unified under the cross. Love the diversity in this room, be in the moment, dedicated to that. Celebrate where Widji is going, don’t get stuck in past expectations.