A Big Day

We awoke to a surprise… No Power!

YIKES!!!

Power is a big deal anywhere, but especially at camp. We operate a very large commercial kitchen serving three meals a day, provide all the services of a municipality (water, sewer, trash, health services, security), and do a lot of activities that depend on electricity (swimming, cooking, dance, fusing all need power). Needless to say, it is a big deal when the power goes out! Duke Power informes us that the power is offline in all of Tuxedo due to a tree that fell on some important transmission lines. They started working on the repairs at midnight and their efforts led to restored service at 11:23 this morning! Praise the Lord!

The excitement is enhanced because it is also the Fourth of July! We decorated the dining hall with streamers, everyone is sporting the stars and stripes (hairbands, eyelashes, makeup, shirts, necklaces, etc) at they go from class to class.

Spirits are high as we enter week number two, a week that will be marked by some really big moments. The first one is our big Carnival this evening. We will serve NC BBQ, corn on the cob, roasted potatoes, watermelon, and slaw for a picnic dinner that is followed by a carnival EP (with tons of carnival junk food) and topped off with a big fireworks show.

The girls love it all… the carnival rides the food, the dance contest, the fireworks: to a camper, each moment is hugely impressive. Camp gives us a perspective that is very hard to find elsewhere in this skeptical world. Here we look for good in every situation and are genuinely appreciative for even routine blessings. When everyone is so upbeat and positive, that perspective becomes as natural as breathing. Wonderful!

Breakfast (served in the dark) was corned beef hash, scrambled eggs, and grits. Lunch is chicken salad with various sandwich fixings.

Have a great Holiday, and God Bless America!!!!