June 25 2025

Have you ever considered the impact of a smile? Not a “socially acceptable” slight smile, but one of those GREAT BIG EAR TO EAR SMILES? It is a gravity-shifting facial expression… the entire room leans into such a gesture. We want to participate in such joy, to catch a whiff of that aroma of Heaven (where I bet we smile all the time). We want to know more.

This is what we talked about at Breakfast Club. Smiles are everywhere at Greystone and have always been noticed. It is noted by the harried attendant at the airport, the visitor taking a tour of the camp for the first time, the housekeeping crew, the maintenance crew, the health inspector, and the fire marshal. All notice how friendly everyone is, and all notice the smiles when they enter a room.

I experienced it firsthand when Cat and I met with the Senior Senior campers on Monday to welcome them back to camp and invite them to sign up for the Honor Council leadership program. Such a sweet group, smiles on every face as the meeting began… but one camper never stopped smiling. She sat on the edge of the group, listening attentively, leaning forward and nodding from time to time, always with a giant smile on her face. It was so encouraging! I haven’t stopped thinking about it and mentioned it to the entire camp this morning… Martha stood up and ruefully accepted the cheers of the other campers with an embarrassed smile.

I also recognized a counselor who is known by all for her smile, who teaches fishing right next to my office. I see Kathy most of the day, every day. She is ALWAYS smiling! Her resting face is a smile, and that smile reflects a heart that is truly smiling. Nobody is easier to talk to, nobody is a better friend. I think Heaven will be populated with lots of these faces. Smiling people have a significant impact on camp, and it was worthwhile to recognize the fact.

Andrew, our Main Camp Minister, led our first Morning Assembly today with the first of his devotions to the girls. Check it out, you’ll be glad you did! Andrew was our minister at Main Camp last year and is absolutely wonderful. Andrew and his family will spend their summer vacation serving as our minister. He is a truly winsome personality, whip smart, keenly observant, kind, patient, and is easily moved to tears when speaking about God. His opening Morning Assembly talk this morning was sublime. The girls know and love him already, it will be a wonderful thing to see God glorified through Andrew’s work with us this year.

It is very likely that many girls will have meaty conversations with their friends about spiritual matters while at camp. Greystone girls are interested in the subject, largely because the older campers have shown an interest. One hundred and fifty older girls (rising 10th to 12th graders) are taking Bible classes with Sandi. ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY!!! Where else do teenagers choose to sit through 3 Bible lessons a week in addition to the daily devotions they already get? It should inspire you for the future of our country and what the Lord is accomplishing. You might be tempted toward pessimism when considering the future of this fallen world, but God is at work. Come to camp and see who The Lord is rising up as leaders for the next fifty years. It will make you smile.

Breakfast Pancakes, Sausage
Joke “Complimentary Peanuts”
Weather sunny, hot 91 degrees, UV 10
Lunch Hamburgers and French Fries
Dinner Pork Chops, Mashed Potatoes, Beans
EP Cabin Lip Synchs