LOUIS GOES TO EWALU

Confirmand, Louis Nguyen attended camp this week at EWALU in Strawberry Point. He was the last of our church's 5 camp scholarship winners to attend camp and the only one to go to EWALU.

Louis with EWALU Executive Director, Dale Goodman, who enthusiastically greeted us upon our arrival at camp

Louis with the famous big strawberry in Strawberry Point

Louis had a great time at the Pack and Paddle program and has now returned home. He'll be sharing about his camp experience at worship. We are grateful for the ELCA's outdoor ministries and how much they enrich the faith of our young people.

PIANO DONATED TO CAMP EWALU

On Sunday, July 11th, Our Savior's Lutheran donated their upright Baldwin piano to Camp EWALU of Strawberry Point. Since this piano was replaced by the purchase of a Kawai baby grand in memory of Stacia Peterson, the church was able to give the Baldwin piano to this vital outdoor ministry of the ELCA.

Paul Little, Associate Director of Camp EWALU and three summer counselors from the camp helped lead worship on Sunday. In addition to playing camp music for the congregation, they shared about the importance of outdoor ministry.

Camp helps build skills necessary to prepare youth to assume roles as successful adults. Parents, campers, and camp staff report growth in areas such as self-confidence, independence, making friends, exploring and learning new activities, and spirituality. Camp provides growth experiences for youth that can benefit them through adulthood.

In fact, recent studies show that kids who attend camp regularly are more likely to get involved and stay involved with churches when they become adults. Studies also show that there is a correlation between outdoor ministry and church leadership. About 85% of seminarians went to camp when they were children. So by sending kids to camp, Our Savior's is serving the wider church by forming tomorrow's congregations, pastors and lay leaders today.

The children and youth gathered around the piano to impart a special blessing upon it, that it may go on to do more exciting ministry. Following the service, some helpful men loaded the piano into the camp truck.