This page will be updated during camp with daily blogs to share our activities.
All good things must come to an end... at least here on earth.
This morning the campers packed-up and cleaned up their cabins and brought the luggage to their designated spots. Some of our staff went around in cars with trailer and picked up all the luggage and brought it to the busses and loaded them up.
After breakfast, each cabin had their last Bacon Blessing (morning devotion) and then each tribe cleaned-up and packed-up their assigned areas. In less than one hour, all of Camp Tsungani's supplies were loaded back onto the trailer and all the campers and staff met up in a shady grove for the closing ceremony. Each tribe presented a letter that was written by the campers in the tribe of things they will remember about camp this year. Then the eagle feathers were presented to the tribes that earned 100,000 points. All 6 tribes were well over the goal.
Before the campers loaded up on the busses, we recognized the two kids who had birthdays today, along with our Senior Pastor, Dr. Ernie Frey, who had joined us and who also had a birthday today. The girl and boy who had a birthday today were in the Cherokee tribe. Then the kids and staff loaded the busses and off they went.
Chief Burning Embers and Chief Spirited One were at the church, along with some very eager parents, when the busses arrived. Check-out went very smoothly as children and families were reunited.
God did some remarkable things this year at Camp Tsungani and we all are filled with awe and give praise to Him.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Tomorrow, Sunday, June 7, campers are asked to wear their Extreme Team t-shirts to church. Staff will also be wearing them. Please make sure to wash them first :)
Camp Tsungani is coming to close, but it is finishing well. The last full day for camp was as great as all the others. We started the day off singing "This Is the Day" at Flag Raising by the river. After having clouds last night, it was refreshing to see the sun shining this morning. We celebrated one child's birthday today at Flag Raising. He is in the Lakota tribe. During the Bible Expedition this morning and right before our first activity expedition, the camp lost power. We were told that the whole county went out. It didn't really affect us, as our staff just kept going. Before the activity expedition started though, the power was restored.
Expeditions were full today as kids tried to finish up projects and get in any expeditions they may have missed so far. At Powwow, 12 cabins received the white feather for clean cabins. One cabin of older grils in the Arapaho tribe who had receieved a white feather every day so far, quickly cleaned their cabin and went to serve the youngest girls cabin in the Seminole tribe by helping them clean, allowing the youngest girls at Camp Tsungani to receive a white feather. Our lifestyle application today was Great People Serve, as we discovered how even Jesus came to serve and not be served. These girls really got the point. Other random acts of service were seen around camp all day by the campers. During the last expedition this afternoon, 3 tribes had representatives who helped take down our 20 plus foot teepee and take it to our storage trailer. They earned some points for their tribes.
Last night's commitment night was a remarkable thing as each chief led a commitment service for each of their cabins at their tribe's individual campfire. The campers threw sticks into the fire to represent their giving over of something to God and committing it to Him. Over 20 campers committed their lives to Christ for the first time, and many more rededicated their lives to Christ and committed to live better for Him !
One of the week's Bible stories included a healing of a paralytic man. At the end of the story the Bible tells us that everyone was filled with awe and praised the Lord because of the remarkable things they had seen that day. Here at Camp Tsungani, we have seen remarkable things daily in the lives of your children; things that fill us with awe and cause us to praise the Lord. Each day at the staff powwow, counselors and expedition leaders would share testimonies of "remarkable moments" they had seen. During today's staff powwow, it was hard to have them finish on time because they had so many stories of "awesome" things they have seen in your children's lives and interactions with each other. All we could do was praise the Lord because of them.
During Council Fire tonight, the tribes presented skits, as they do every night, on serving others like Jesus. One tribe created and acted out a paraody of The Wizard of Oz. It was very creative. Chief Burning Embers recognized the children and staff who will be going on the Guatamala Family Missions Trip this summer. Over 15 people were recognized, 8 of them being children who will be going with their parents. Central Church's Senior Pastor, Dr. Ernie Frey, came out during the day with his wife, Joyful Song, Anne, and their youngest daughter. Dr. Frey prayed for the team. Also during Council Fire, we were all filled with awe again and praised the Lord as the girls in Dream Chaser's cabin in the Kickapoo tribe sang a beautiful worship song and as a girl from the Lakota tribe told about her Thursday night committment to the Lord to witness to a family of another religion in her neighborhood. Chief Burning Embers gave a message covering the basics of salvation.
Tomorrow, the campers will get their stuff all packed up and loaded up and have their last Bacon Blessing, morning camp devotion, but hopefully not their last quiet time with the Lord. Then after breakfast, we will get the camp all packed up and have our closing ceremony where the tribes that have received 100,000 points will get their eagle feathers. All the tribes are very close. Then the kids will go to the bathrooms and get on their busses and head home. On the way home, water bottles will be offered and the campers will receive their camp photo.
Even though it is hard to leave, and we may wish we could stay, I think everyone will agree that to be back in our parent's arms will be much better and to be back in our beds and use our own "big" showers will be nice.
See you tomorrow around one.
We were all a little nervous about whether or not the weather would hold out today. We made it through all the activities on Thursday without any rain. This morning it appeared that it rained some over night. Throughout the whole day today, it never rained on us. The temperature dropped considerably and the humidity left. It got so cool that some of the staff and even the campers put on some pants and long-sleeve shirts even before the sun went down. We moved into Council Fire indoors tonight, just in case, but the tribes were still able to gather around their own outdoor campfires for commitment night. Chief Consuming Fire, Don Gilbert, gave a great message beforehand about Jesus being our advocate in Heaven's courtroom. Cheif Burning Embers recognized those among our staff who will be going to summer missions trips this year to Kenya, Africa and Aqua Viva, Guatamala.
We had a special guest today from Central Church. Quiet Stream, Elsa Barber, came out and visited with us today and is spending the night tonight. Quiet Stream's husband, Chief Appalache, Bill Barber, started Camp Tsungani over 30 years ago in 1978. He is now probably leading another version of the camp that "excels all others" in Heaven.
17 cabins received a white feather today for clean cabin. Way to go! Along with the white feather, cabins that get the clean cabin feather also receive the perfect score of 1000 points. So these points are adding up and along with many other points giving for many other things, each tribe is very close to reaching the goal of 100,000 points. For tribes that reach this goal, each of its campers and counselors receive an eagle feather at our closing cermony on Saturday morning. Also during Powwow, kids fished marbles out of ice water with their feet and made mullet wigs for one of their counselors. The best mullet won. Everyone out here this year has been learning about being on God's Extreme Team, and it shows in their actions.
Probably the most important news from all week is that so far 4 campers have prayed to receive Christ. 2 of them were with first time counselors. As the Word tells us, there was a party in Heaven today for these 4 precious children who have the assurance of salvation now.
Tomorrow is our last full day at Camp Tsungani. As this was announced tonight at Council Fire, the campers and staffed moaned because they all want to stay in the best week of their summer. But at the same time, we all want to see our families and friends and pets at home. Tomorrow will be a busy day as campers try to get to their last expeditions. We do all look forward to stepping off the busses on Saturday and falling into the arms of our parents and loved ones.
We're having a wonderful week at Camp Tsungani. Last night at Council Fire, I reminded the campers they have two more days to enjoy expeditions and encouragned them try something new. I know they are all missing their families and home but they are having so much fun. We have an incredible staff this year and they are all working hard to make sure camp is fun, safe, and an awesome experience for the campers. Chief Thundering Spirit is doing a great job posting daily blog reports. Running 4 Him is doing a great job posting some of many, many, many pictures Thankful Heart is taking throughout the day. I hope you are enjoying our blog. We love your comments and can tell you are missing your children. I can see why - they are AWESOME! Thanks for sharing your kids with us this week at Camp Tsungani. We'll see you Saturday afternoon!
Chief Burning Embers
What a magnificent night! As we began Council Fire, storm clouds began circling around the camp. We checked the radar and it looked good, so we stayed outdoors for our nightly worship service. As we sang Awesome God, God showed us His awesomeness as he performed a light show in the clouds around us. It was amazing to watch as layers of clouds lit up with cloud to cloud lightning. He let us hear His awesomeness also, as thunder rolled across the sky. Braveheart, Timothy Clay, gave the message tonight about priorities and putting Jesus first as he tried to eat a meal from Sonic. It was a great illustration. Burning Embers recognized two camp staff who will be going on summer missions trips this year to Haiti and China. She also asked Rainey Gibbs and Briana Bates to stand in for their parents as they were all prayed for.
Today was another great day at Camp Tsungani. A chief reported that some girls in in her tribe were singing together as they cleaned their cabin this morning. Another chief was stumped by a camper who asked a complex, thought-provoking spiritual question. That encourages us to know that these campers are also receiving spiritual education at home. Throughout the Bible Expeditions, Bacon Blessings, and Teepee Talks, we are seeing these campers digging into God's Word. It is a good feeling to watch as these campers look into the Bible to find answers for themselves.
Fifteen cabins received white feathers today for cabin cleanup. Parents should be getting some kids back home on Saturday who know how to "clean-up."
Tonight the 6th grade boys will enjoy their swim 'n smores night from 10 - midnight. There are about 35 of them. The girls enjoyed their's last night.
Tomorrow night is our commitment night at Council Fire. Campers and staffed are invited to throw a stick into the fire to represent something that they are giving over to God to control. For some this means giving their lives to Christ and accepting Him as their Savior, for others it means rededicating their lives to Him, for others it means giving a situation, problem, or sin to Him to control, and some may choose not to throw a stick into the fire. In any case, the campers are all prayed for. Please pray for this night and that God's Spirit will be especially present.
The first full day at Camp Tsungani was great! It was a full day of fun, food, activities, and learning about God.
We have a mascot at Camp Tsungani named Squat. He is a little yellow bendy smiley face doll. Each year, he is hidden and the kids are given clues to where he is. The Shawnee tribe found him after the first clue! They added their piece of clothing to him, and he was passed off to the Seminole tribe.
Each morning we have a prayer walk led by Chief Burning Embers. During the walk, parts of the camp and people in the camp are prayed over. This morning, 75 kids walked with Burning Embers and some counselors and prayed.
At Flag Raising, those with birthdays today were recognized as we all sang Happy Birthday to them. There were 2 girls in the Arapaho tribe and one of our nurses. During Powwow, we had a surfing contest and the Shawnee Chief, Golden Hawk, stayed on the board the longest of all the chiefs.
The staff of Linden Valley gave our camp a compliment telling us that out of all the groups they have using their facilities, Camp Tsungani has kept the bathroom in the Deer Lodge the tidiest!
Eleven cabins received a white feather today for a perfect score for cabin clean-up. The counselors were able to help today, but tomorrow the campers will be on their own in cleaning their cabins.
Expeditions were busy today as the campers got to go for the first time. The Art expedition decorated flip-flops. The Games expedition used bows and arrows. The S.O.N. expedition made evangelism bracelets for the upcoming summer missions trip sponsored by Central Church. The other 9 expeditions were full of kids having a great time.
During Council Fire tonight, Chief Consuming Fire recognized our teenage staffers who will also be going to Costa Rica this summer on a missions trip with Central's youth department. Then Medicine Man and Helping Hands gave us a great message about continuing to live the way God wants us to and not giving up.
For those kids in the Buffalo lodge, the air-conditioner was fixed today, so they can sleep in their own beds tonight. At 10 tonight, the 6th grade girls, about 30 of them, will have their swim 'n smores night. They will get to swim for an hour and then go to the campfire for some fun and making smores! We will call it a night a midnight and the girls will return to their cabins for bed. Tomorrow night the 6th grade boys, also about 30, will do the same thing.
Thanks for allowing your children to spend the best week of their summer break with us.
The first day is coming to close.
As the busses pulled into Camp Tsungani at about 10:30 a.m., the staff was there ready to greet them. It was an emotional moment for us as we watched the busses come to a stop and Chief Burning Embers and Chief Thundering Spirit stepped onto each bus to welcome the kids to camp, then the kids stepped off the bus and into Tsungani. Seeing their smiling faces and tribal colored t-shirts was awesome. The campers were moved quickly into the tribes where they made their headbands, received their colored feathers and become a part of their tribe.
We had pizza for lunch and then moved into Powwow where we played games, sang songs, and had skits. From there the campers went to Trading Post and each received an ice cream snack, which really helped on the hot day.
The chiefs and counselors led their tribes on a tour of the camp to help them find out where all the expeditions are. We were served spaghetti for dinner and then moved into Council Fire where Chief Thundering Spirit taught us about the four lifetstyle application for the week: Don't Quit, Put God First, Be Real, and Serve Others.
Right now the kids have begun their Teepee Talks, their night-time devotions, and will have lights out at 10. There are a few cabins whose air has gone out and will move into one of the air conditioned buildings to sleep tonight. We have been told that the units should be fixed tomorrow.
It has been a great first day and we look forward to a second great day tomorrow.
All the staff arrived around lunch time today and we began training. The tribes' counselors are assembled, their cabins are ready and the expedition leaders have their activities prepared.
Our night closed with a sweet worship time led by Rev. Don Gilbert (Chief Consuming Fire) and Jordan Clayton (Tambourine Man) and Grace Hubbard (Plays With Squirrels). Luckily, Jordan and Grace led the singing. Don gave the message. As an old hymn says, "there's a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place, and I know that it's the Spirit of the Lord."
The kids are in for a wonderful week and a Spirit-filled one. We can't wait to see the eager, happy faces of those wonderful kids tomorrow morning as they step off their busses into Camp Tsungani.
Check back for more news from Camp, tommorrow.
Today, Saturday, May 30, some of the staff arrived at Linden Valley. The supply trailer is unpacked, and expeditions have all their supplies. As we unfurled the Camp Tsungani banner at the entrance to the camp, I said "It's official, Camp Tsungani has begun." Tomorrow morning we will raise the teepee and hang cabin signs before the rest of the staff arrive. After lunch, we will begin our training and chiefs will begin getting their counselors ready and expedition leaders will begin getting the expeditions setup.
God has blessed us with great weather today and it looks good for tomorrow, too. All the ingredients for a great year of camp are coming together. All we need to make this recipe the best is the kids. We are looking foward to having a great week with them.
Chief Thundering Spirit
It is with great pleasure that I invite you to this year! Each year seems to be the best year ever and I see no reason to expect anything different this time around. I am excited to find out who will be on the team this summer and I am looking forward to some extreme fun with you! Each summer, God does some amazing and remarkable things at camp! For the rest of the year, we praise Him and thank Him for what He does and we look forward with eager anticipation to what He is going to do next. Won’t you come to camp and join us? You too will see some remarkable things that will have you jumping, shouting and praising God in amazement! It’s going to be AWESOME!
Go…. ARAPAHO! You know!
Luke 5:26 " was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, 'We have seen remarkable things today.'"
Serving Him by Serving Them,
Chief Running Water
Camp Tsungani ROCKS and the Kickapoo are ready to rock! Will you be there? Come on, meet us there, meet God there. We’re all waiting!
Chief Dancing Fire
The tribe was blessed last year at the new location. Now that we know our way around the new camp site we plan on having more fun and blessings this year. I am anxiously looking forward to meeting all of my new tribe mates. Hurry and sign up!
Chief Golden Hawk
The Seminoles are looking forward to the new year. We had an awesome time at camp last year and look forward to this year (without rain hopefully). Seminoles have a great tradition of having the best fun and making new friends!
Chief Consuming Fire
The Cherokee Tribe is ready for Tsungani ’09. I praise God for His continued blessings on camp. Come join us and see what the Lord has done. It is an exciting place where you can make new friends, reacquaint with old friends, but most of all spend time with your best friend, Jesus. See you there!
Chief Spirited One
I am looking forward to another great year at Tsungani with you. We have begun our planning and preparations. There is a great group of counselors and expedition leaders all ready to go, too. Camp registration is filling up fast, too, even faster than in years past. That must mean that the kids are really looking forward to it, too. We have some great things in store for you, and God has even greater things in store for you at Camp Tsungani this year!
Chief Thundering Spirit
I can hardly believe that camp is just a few weeks away. It is going to be an incredible week! There are six tribes but we’re all on the same team: THE REAL EXTREME TEAM! The Real Extreme Team is the team God puts together . . . and its the very best team of all!!! See you June 1 at Camp Tsungani for the best week of your summer!
Chief Burning Embers