It has been a VERY long time since I have blogged! I thought I would give you all a quick update about what has been going on in my world! I have been teaching a bit more over the past few weeks as the supply teaching calls have been increasing. I enjoyed teaching at my old school on Monday and go back tomorrow to teach FRENCH! That should be interesting! I may have to call Mars if I have some questions! I often get called to teach at Thessalon so teaching at St. Joe has been a nice change.

Jonathan and I continue to enjoy working with the Youth every weekend. We have a fabulous group! Jonathan has been taking a look at the book of Joshua with the young men and I have been covering a study by Max Lucado called "It's Not About Me". It's a great study and for those who were at The ROCK, it is similar to the Cat and Dog Theology teaching we heard from Paul Schuster. One of the things that really hit me from the Lucado study was this phrase, "When our deepest desire in life is not a favour from God, but God Himself we cross a threshold. Less self-focus; more God-focus". I'm really learning a lot!!! J and I are looking forward to taking some of the Youth to Spring Folly at the end of April. I enjoyed going when I was younger and I'm pumped to experience the weekend as a Youth Leader.

Things are really coming together in terms of plans for the 2010 Camping Season. We have been praising the Lord for how He has been working! Jonathan has had a few meetings with the Building Committee men about the Multi-Purpose Building and we will get the word out more about that project during our Church Presentations beginning on March 14th. Alicesa LaRocque has finished the brochure and it is being printed now. AWESOME JOB ALICESA (President of the Publications and Promotions Committee!). We expect them to be delivered to us next week. Also, the VBS Starter Kit has arrived and I cannot even express how giddy I get digging into it and seeing all the colourful posters, skit scripts, colouring pages, craft ideas, etc! SO MUCH FUN!

As the weather gets warmer I get more and more excited about Camp, and I guess I am not the only one! This week I have received messages from Cami Gurnick, Micaela Gilbertson and Andrew Robinson who all expressed how excited they are too! WE HAVE THE BEST STAFF!!! LOVE YOU ALL! 

Well, I think that is a good note to end this Blog on. So, enjoy the sunshine and have a GREAT day!

As the College and Careers Retreat gets closer and closer there seems to be an ever-growing number of things to do here at the Camp. I had a couple of projects that I knew I could not accomplish on my own, so this morning I gave my wonderful and willing dad a call. We had a great day working together! We were able to completely make some new steps for the Cree teepee, where Pam will be staying this summer. Dad was the mastermind for that project and I pounded in the nails! We also took the broken window down in one of the other teepees and Dad took it to Kentvale to be repaired before this weekend. And the third project, my favourite- we started making the Price is Right Cliff Hanger Game for Saturday! We didn't quite finish so Dad took it for homework. Cliff Hanger is one of my favourites on the show. I love the yoodling. If you've never seen it, this will not make sense but Cliff Hanger is right up there with Plinko. It's almost midnight and Jonathan is trying to find some Price is Right theme music while I write this blog.  We are going to re-create the Price is Right Game right here at All Tribes on Saturday complete with great prizes, males dressed as female models, music, the Big Wheel (thanks to Uncle Harold!) and I will be hosting as Carrey Drew. Anyway, Dad if you are reading this just know that I had a great time working with you today! We make a great team and I really really appreciate your help. And Mom, maybe you are reading this too. Thanks so much for being willing to come and cook for the crew this weekend. You do a terrific job! We really appreciated the curtains you made us for the bathroom this past week as the Camp was full of life with the Wise Owls. The privacy was nice! haha! Well, I think we are about done for the day and ready to turn in! Good Night and to Mars in Quebec, if you are reading this- bonne nuit and je t'aime!

Last night we decided to burn our huge bonfire at the corner of the Reg Hawdon Sports Field here on the All Tribes property. It has become quite a huge pile this week as The Wise Owl group has added the boards and wood from Millie's collapsed woodshed, tree branches and some posts from the old pond walk. We started the party around 7pm with a game of Ultimate Frisbee. As the evening wore on more and more friends arrived and we ended up with around 30 young people. After the game of Ultimate we had a game of soccer and then another game of Ultimate...then it was time to LIGHT IT UP! Mike and J got the gas and we got a rip roarin' fire going! We enjoyed singing O' Canada to our American friends and then had them sing The Star Spangled Banner to us! Millie led us in some old camp favourites as well- "The Pigity Rigity Old Sliggity Slave" and "They Say at All Tribes Camp"! We learned some new camp fire games and some of the brave ones tried Trey's Star Gazing Game, which sounds pretty calm but those who participated have another story. After some more visiting around the bonfire we decided to move the party up to the Lodge, where the fun and games continued!!! We played some ping pong, WINK and 4 on a Couch.  Luke also taught us a new game which I'm sure we'll play more of this summer. Just before midnight we busted out the Heavenly Hash and Cookies n' Cream and ate ice-cream and chatted until the wee hours of the morning. It was sooo great to catch up with our local friends and get to know the Indiana Crew more too. Thanks so much to all who came and made our first Bonfire Blast of the summer one to remember- Ruthie, Brianna, Micaela, Joe, Mars, Leah, Hillary, Micaela, Jessica C, Seth, Mike, Jessica F, Kyle, Josh, Dalton, Kevin, Justin, Trey, Aaron, Jon, Kevin, Matt J, Tie Dye Matt, Luke, and Holly. You can check out photos from the night on Facebook!

We have been very busy here at the Camp this week and the property is lookin' good!!!! On Thursday, I had my cousins Marsena, Micaela and Jessica join me to clean the cabins and wash house. They came at noon for a lunch of home-made pizza, chips and dip, fruits and veggies and fresh chocolate chip cookies. Once we were done eating we went on a little cruise to Kent's Corner to drop something off for Joe before he left for Utterson and then it was back to the Camp to clean, clean, clean! My mom stopped by to take a picture of us with all of our cleaning supplies for an article for the Sentinel. Mom also asked the girls some questions about their University Courses so that she could add that to her article as well. Once we had tackled the teepees, cabins, wash house and showers we went back to the house for juice and a snack. We had a great time practicing the skit for this years VBS, while we rested. After our break we headed to the Lodge to do some more cleaning. Today was another productive day!!!! Jonathan and I worked around the Camp to do some finishing touches before the Indiana Wesleyan University Wise Owl Group comes tomorrow night. We sure are excited about another great summer here at All Tribes!!!!!

It's almost midnight and Jonathan, my cousin Joe and I are sitting in the trailer relaxing our tired muscles. Joe says "I'm not tired". We spent the evening transforming the grounds here at All Tribes Christian Camp...the place looks great!!!! The transformation began when my parents, Bernie and Janine Nadjiwon came this afternoon. My mom and I spent hours and hours washing, sanitizing and drying all of the dishes in the Lodge kitchen.  Pam, if you are reading this we made a "Pam Cupboard" today. All of the dishes that were smaller than the ones that would feed an army we put in the Pam Cupboard....some good little frying pans, etc!!! My dad spent time on his tractor, digging out stumps, moving the ol' dishwasher, getting the lawnmowers going, racing Jonathan on the lawn mowers and hauling mattresses.  At 6:30 we had a big Bar-B-Q with my parents, Jonathan's parents and his sister Ruthie and my brother and his girlfriend Jessica.  Jonathan made monsterous burgers and we ate a big feast before getting to work. At this exact moment we are discussing the greatness of cold brown beans out of a can. Perhaps anyone who comments on this could weigh in. Do you like cold brown beans with a great potatoe or macaroni salad? It seams that it is a Hawdon delicacy (or as Jonathan says  "a Hawdon oditty"). Back to our day.....once we were done feasting we got right to work. The whole crew of 9 grabbed rakes and went to war with the leaves! Later my brother Phil, his wife Dee and their little girl....my precious niece Darcie joined us as did Joe. The whole camp was a buzz with little worker bees. Mom, Dad, Harold, Martha, Ruthie, Dee and I raked while Mike and Jess went around with the lawn mower and trailer and picked up branches.  Phil, Joe and Jonthan burned around on the Wild Cat picking up the leaf piles. It was quite a night. When it got dark we came in for ice-cream. Another question....chocolate, cookies and cream or both? I'm trying to get more comments on my Blog than Jonathan has on his. Right now he is winnning. We are not competitive at all. Well, it's officially midnight. Time for bed. Pam, don't worry there is still plenty of yard work to be done and I'm really excited about setting up for the Yard Sale with you. Good night all!

Well, it's the end of March and I'm getting very eager for warm weather. We woke to snow yesterday and wondered if we needed to bust out the ol' Wildcat and do some snow plowing. Jonathan and I have plans to bike or walk to Gilbertson's Pancake House once it gets a little warmer. Mmmmmm....panckes!

We have presented the All Tribes Ministry update at three different churches so far.  We enjoyed a visit with the folks at Keewaydin at the beginning of March and spent the last two Sundays at the St. Joe FM Church and Calvary Baptist in Desbarats. We will continue with the presentations in April. We enjoy going around to the churches and spreading the word about what's going on at the Camp!

Well, that's all for now!

Think Spring!!!!

Well, Summer '08 has ended and what a summer it was!!! We ran four different camps and had wonderful staff and campers come to each one! We hope to update the site very soon and add lots of new photos! I'm big on photos!!!

The Camp has been pretty much closed down for the winter. J and I still live there of course but the water in the Lodge and Wash house has been turned off and the main buildings have been winterized.  J and I put up our Christmas lights over the weekend and they look great! We also put the plowing blade on the ol' WildCat and had a blast plowing the drive-way! 

We are already looking forward to next summer and can't wait to see all of you campers again! We will be doing presentations at area churches in the new year and will give Camp updates and let everyone know about our latest fund-raising project- THE GUEST HOUSE!  Praise the Lord for what has been raised already!

Well, just thought I'd try my first BLOG....it's about time:) Take care and God bless!