God’s story.

So one of my favorite stories from the summer came from two weeks ago I’ll see if I can’t shorten it a bit, but goes something like this…..

A young mother and her 10 year old daughter moved to Toledo Ohio from Jordan.

While visiting the Secretary of State office the mother was engaged in a conversation with a lady and was invited to their church for Sunday service.

While at the morning service she heard of Camp Barakel, and that a group of kids would be coming up for camp the following week, and some adult workers would be up here to work for the week also.

The 10 year old girl came along with the group, the mother stayed home for the week.  The week started a bit rocky for this young girl, she didn’t want to swim in the lake because it had fish in it.  The food wasn’t what she was used to, and wanted to go home only after 2 nights. (her mom told her she could come home anytime) Her counselor helped her and encouraged her to just stay positive. 

 

Fast forward to later in the week,…The young girl passed her “deep water test” and was swimming.  She not only was eating the food, but enjoying it.  And the most wonderful news came after hearing the gospel message from our speaker for the 1st time in the chapels, and the love from her counselor, this gal asked “How do I become a Christian? The adults working in the kitchen with me heard this, and we just praised God for bringing here only after 12 days in America.

 

I haven’t followed up on this yet, but plan to.  So many thing to praise God for in this short story.  But the willingness of one lady inviting someone to church and seeing what God will do is the most simple yet profound thing in this story.           

Romans 10:14-17

Thanks for praying for us.  

 

Kieth and Susan

Reflections of the last 5 years!

5 years ago June 14th on a Saturday morning after Alex finished his last little league game of the season, we left Zeeland with trailer in-tow and headed up to Camp Barakel. Our first summer 2008 we lived in a borrowed 5th wheel trailer in the RV park. My days would start at approximately 5:30 am with a 1/2 mile bike ride to the West Side Dining Hall to prepare food for the hungry campers and staff that the dear Lord brought our way.

Samantha spent the summer of 2008 on “summer staff” as a lifeguard on the waterfront.
Jennifer spent 3 weeks working in the Technician program. ( teen workers)
Alex and Melanie each spent a week as campers.

 

 

 

 

 

High School week 2008

Jump forward to 2013……
We are no longer living in a borrowed 5th wheel, but in a comfortable staff home. I still do get up a 5:30 am though.

Samantha and her husband Cody are excepting their 1st child in July.

Jennifer spent nine months at a camp in the Adirondack mountains in up-state New York. She has also been to Ecuador and the Dominican Republic and now is back in Fairview to help with the east side program events for the summer.

Alex has graduated from HS and is now working building maintenance at Garland resort.

Melanie will be serving this summer for at least 3 weeks in the Technician program, and will also graduate at the end of this year.

With 5 years of service here at Camp Barakel a lot has changed for our family. But one thing that has not changed is the faithfulness of our dear Lord Jesus Christ. We thank Him and you for your continued support as we are now starting our 6th season of ministry here on the shores of Shear Lake.

Now for some camp news…
In April Dave and Betsy Proper retired from the east side dining hall after 13 years of faithful service.
Bruce and Kris Schedlbauer have now stepped into the position as cooks on the east side.

In April the board of trustees of Camp Barakel recognized Susan and I with a 5 year service plaque given to us at the annual board dinner. When you consider some staff have been here for over 30 years, and many over 20 years, we still feel like the newbie’s.

Finally, Uncle Johnnie, the founder of Camp Barakel would have celebrated his 100th birthday May 31, We remembered Uncle Johnnie this past Memorial day with birthday cake on the WS ball field during a picnic. In June of 1953 the first campers came to summer camp here. Now, 60 years later, on June11 another season of summer camping will take place here on the shores of Shear Lake. As another staff family recently wrote, “As we reflect, we marvel at how one man’s obedience to God’s calling on his life has affected countless lives throughout the years, pointing them to Christ. It is our prayer that following the example set before us, God would enable us to be faithful in our service and ministry here at Barakel.” I couldn’t have said it better myself.

 

 

 

 

Our children with Uncle Johnnie during Memorial Day Family 2001

Blessings to you and your family! The Boeve’s

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“We are always tempted to believe that God is supposed to make sense to us according to our definition of the term of logic.” Unknown

I know of a family that recently defied man’s definition of logic to follow the logic of God.  He is an educated man with a nearly 20 year career.  His wife also had invested many years in her career.  They both were closer to retirement then many of us.  About four years ago God started impressing His logic on their hearts, and their lives would never be the same.  God was starting to call them to missions.  Four years later they are now just getting started  in the mission field.   They are both performing new jobs like cleaning windows, mopping floors, raking leaves, learning to run a dining hall, and even scrubbing garbage cans.  From man’s logic, to leave a career, pension, retirement, sell your home and go to the mission field would seem foolish, illogical, or unimpressive.  But in God’s logic it’s beautiful.

“For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength” 1 Corinthians 1:25  

This time of year we are confronted with what we deem foolish or illogical, but what God sees as beautiful.

Beauty that the Creator of the world would come to earth in a form of a helpless baby.

Beauty that the Creator of the world would be born in a stinky stable.

Beauty that the Creator of the world walked around on the earth as a boy, having to do chores like taking out the trash.

Beauty that the Creator of the world would allow Himself to be hung on a cross and killed as punishment for our, my sins.

Beauty that the Creator of the world would rise from a grave, concurring death, as he walked the earth again for 40 days, before ascending into heaven.

You see, to man this kind of logic is foolishness.  But to God this is not foolishness, but pure beauty.  I’m thankful for God’s beauty, for without it we would have no hope.

We thank God for hope this Christmas season and into the new year.

As for family things………

We received a surprise at Thanksgiving…..Kieth and I will become grandparents in July!!!!  Sam and Cody gave us this gold box with the white crocheted crown in it and a card that said “Grandchildren are the crown of the ages, And the glory of children is their fathers”  Proverbs 17:6  We could not be more happy!

They really enjoy the Traverse City area and plan to stay there.  Cody received a promotion at Hertz.  He is now the assistant manager of the Gaylord office.  Sam is still working at The Lilly of the Alley flower shop.  They hope to move into a larger place the end of August.

Jennifer’s time in New York this past semester was wonderful for her.  She thoroughly enjoyed herself.  All the caving, mountain climbing and hiking, over nights in the woods with the bears and the wonderful godly friendships she made.  She memorized I John and recited it perfectly.  She studied hard and read a lot of books.   It is nice to have her home if only for a few weeks.

She plans to head back to New York on January 3rd and will be at Camp of the Woods until May 3rd.  During this spring semester she will be again reading lots of books, memorizing the Sermon on the Mount Matthew 5-7, snowshoeing, going on a three day hike which she will dig a hole in the snow to make her bed for the night.  She will be going on another missions trip to Ecuador this spring.  We will miss her and her ability to unknowingly make us laugh!  She is not sure what she will be doing this summer yet.  She is very excited to be Aunt Jen.

Alex is working on finishing his senior year.  Still working at Bear Builders.  He has moved on from table tennis and started lifting weights.  He had his braces removed this month….look at that beautiful smile.  We don’t see much of him…teenage boy, job, money, car.  Need I say more?  He is excited to be Uncle Al.

Melanie has passed her drivers training and now driving with us trying to get all of her hours in.  She is not too sure about driving on the snowy roads.  She is really enjoying her French class.  She also had her braces removed this month….look at another beautiful smile.  Her junior year of school is done, now on to her senior year.  She is also excited to be Aunt Mel.  She is such a blessing to us and a joy to have here at home.

Merry Christmas!

The Boeve’s

We are heading into our final few weeks of the 2012 camping season. 35 weeks out of 52, we the staff at Camp Barakel have had the opportunity and privilege to minister, encourage, and share the gospel message of Jesus Christ to the nearly 10,000 people that visited us this year.  We hear many reports of how God is impacting lives of those who have been here, not only this year, but also in previous years.

Northwest shore of Shear Lake

Over the next two weekends around 680 men will come and share these 320 acres with us.  Their singing will fill the chapel and echo over Shear lake bringing praises to our God.  The archery and rifle ranges will be a popular hang out along with the Zip-Line. The mountain bike trails should see plenty of peddlers these next two weeks. And more pounds of food then I dare count will be eaten. 🙂 But perhaps the most important activity these next two weeks will be the chapel sessions.  This is where the men will clearly hear the Gospel message, where believers will be encouraged and some may come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ.

Family update:  Samantha and Cody moved up to Traverse City area in August.  Only two hours away now rather then six.  Cody is working for Hertz car rental and Samantha is now working for Lily of the Alley, a florist in the city.

Jennifer has been in Speculator, New York since August.  Working and training at Camp-of-the-Woods  http://www.camp-of-the-woods.org/#/lift-discipleship. It’s a 15 week discipleship program to develop young adults for service and leadership for ministry.  She is having a great time and thinking about spending the Spring semester there as well.

Alex is finishing up his Senior year and also working full-time for a local builder.  He is thinking about the military at this point, but still not sure where the Lord will take him.

Missions trip to Mexico this past spring.

Melanie turns 15 in November and is starting drivers training this month. Yikes!! She is trying to finish her Jr and Sr year this year and then enroll at Kirkland Community College next fall for their Nail Technician program.

We have been blessed to have been able to serve up here since 2008 and looking forward to many more years of service here.  Thank you for your interest, prayers and financially support that helps keep this ministry going.

Third week in August

The third week in August is a bit quieter around here.  The last campers of the summer left on Saturday and most of the staff have gone on vacation.

The buses now are parked in the garage with no plans to head out anytime soon.

The third week in August also means the grass in the ball field has time to stretch out and soak up some sun.The bunks will have time for a much needed break, while the walls will debrief and talk about the conversations that have taken place after chapels over the course of the summer.  I wish we all could have heard some of the talks the counselors had with their campers in the evening.

Outside the dining hall the wake up bell is quiet this week. No need to wake campers up at 7:30 am any longer.

The ovens will not be heated up this week.

The dish machine will get a well deserved break from it’s normal duties.

The Dining halls are empty (except for maybe the lucky spider or two who survived cleaning week).

The fish in Shear Lake can return to normal swimming duties. While the Blob will have a chance to catch it breath. And the swimming mats can just relax and float around on the water.

But perhaps the most telling sign that summer is over is the Baby Grand Piano that sits quietly on the stage without leading worship songs of praises.

The woods may be quiet, but pray with us that the nearly 2100 kids who came to Camp Barakel this summer, those kids hearts are filled with shouts of joy!

Although the summer camping season has ended, we are now getting ready for the fall camping season.  Starting with Labor Day Family Camp, followed by 10 more weekend retreats.  Hope to see you here.

Kieth & Susan Boeve

How we celebrated the 4th at Camp Barakel

 

Monday before the 4th of July we celebrated by treating the summer staff to a cookout on the ball field.  We grilled 110 steaks that day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Papa Dave helped with the sweet corn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sue made 13 homemade apple pies.  I think they were a big hit.

Tuesday Morning Diner Breakfast

 

Twice a summer we open the the West Side Diner and serve off a menu for the summer staff Sue making one of several omelets that morning with Kathleen the waitress looking on.

 

 

Bacon, French Toast an Fried Egg sandwich were just a few other options they had to choose from.

 

 

Janelle Dee came by to help us with the coffee bar.  And Elizabeth McAdams also help waitress.  She was a natural.

 

 

 

 

Danae and Megan deciding on how much they want to eat.

 

 

 

The early morning crew.  Some of them stayed and ate a 2nd breakfast, what a great time this was. Thankful we can do this special breakfast for these hard working college kids as they give so much of themselves this summer.  We will try this again in about four weeks.

Big Splash

Last week Kieth was picked for Big Splash, this usually doesn’t happen this early in the summer, but the programmer mentioned the cook as a possible victim.

 

 

 

As you can see he lost.  Fortunately it was a hot day and the cold water felt good.

Week 1 picnic on the Ballfield

Saturday night means picnic on the ball field.

Walking Tacos are always a favorite

Techs enjoying the picnic.

Emily, my cooks assistant for the summer. She is a riot!

Monday morning the semi will be loaded with luggage and head back down state. Returning on Tuesday with another load of campers luggage. What a joy it is to serve here. Next week we are excepting nearly to 200 campers.  Thanks for your prayers as we minister to these kidos.

 

Chapel in the Woods

I had the opportunity to speak to the Middle School girl campers tonight at Chapel in the Woods.  I was so nervous, but if the Lord can work through me He can work through anyone. : )  I spoke on Joy and how we should wake each new day knowing that it is a gift from the Lord!

Please pray for these girls, that the Lord’s seeds would grow and bear the fruit of joy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Laura Craun, our “Girls Head Counselor”, helping the girls to hear the sounds of God’s created nature.

 

 

“Sitting around the camp fire I got more response and they heard me better, I am no pulpitier and I fit in better with rocks, sand and a chunks of wood.”  The Barakel Book….quoted from Uncle Johnnie, founder of Camp Barakel.  This still holds true today.