The Ole Time Camp Meeting

Although we've been hearing great reports for years about this gathering, this was our first year to be able to attend.  We left home on Wednesday and drove about half way, stopping in Texarkana for the night.  That allowed us to have a leisurely drive on Thursday and still arrive by about 3:30.  We got settled into our cabin and then drove down to the tent campsites.  There was only a handful of people who had arrived by then.  We visited with Charles and Belinda while their kiddos got their tent set up.  Kenneth was also there, as were Debbie and James.  The setting was absolutely gorgeous!  Unfortunately, they had had a 2" rain the night before, so the normally beautifully clear Buffalo River looked more like the Red River!  It did "settle down" as the weekend progressed, so the canoers were able to enjoy their float trip on Saturday.

We had some pretty terrific neighbors while there.  The Siemens bunch were in the cabin right next to us, so we were able to get a little extra visiting in with them that first evening.  Friday morning, Dennis and I went on a hike with the group.  The weather was great...cool and overcast!  We hiked down to the river, where most of the young'uns tried their hand at skipping rocks (which there were plenty to choose from!).  Dennis realized he had lost his phone as we were leaving the river, so he headed back down the trail that we had just come on, while the rest of us began the uphill trek back to the pavilion.  Thankfully, April had found his phone on the trail and returned it when we got back!  Then I had to hunt down Dennis so he wouldn't keep looking for it.  Thanks for the help, Charles!

We had our first assembly on Friday afternoon in the pavilion.  There was a nice crowd assembled to hear Brandon H. talk about the spiritual tools we need in our battle against Satan.  Afterwards, the Buck men grilled hamburgers for everyone.  Folks sat or stood around visiting, kids ran and played, while others gathered in groups around their campfires.  We turned in early that night, so we'd be ready to go again on Saturday.  I woke up with stomach issues on Saturday, so Dennis went exploring on his own.  After I got to feeling better, we headed back to the pavilion to visit some more.  A large group had gone canoeing, while another group had taken a hike down a "moderately vigorous" trail.  James P. sure took exception to that description when they returned!  Folks were pretty tired and sweaty!

We assembled in the amphitheater that afternoon and Joe H. gave us a good study on strategies in our battle against Satan.  It was a beautiful place to worship!  After that assembly, we headed back to the pavilion for a yummy hot dog cookout.  We were heading out early the next morning, so we had to say our good-byes.  It was a great meeting, and we hated to leave.  It was so pleasant to visit with old friends, make new friends, and most of all to watch all of the young folks enjoying each other so much!   

We left out yesterday morning about 7:30 and drove to Maumelle to assemble with the church there.  We enjoyed visiting with the folks there and were very pleased to see all of the young children they have in their congregation!  After the assembly, we drove a little ways down the highway to eat at TaMolly's in Bryant and "bumped into" Jeff and Linda as they were leaving.  It is always fun to unexpectedly meet up with someone like that!

The road home was long and hard, but we made it home a little before 9.  I sure felt for others who still had hours left to drive...especially Joe and Leanne's family!  I'm thankful that everyone seems to have arrived home safely.  It was tragic that Logan suffered injury in his trip to the meeting!  Praying that his surgery goes well today and that he will quickly and completely recover!  I know he has a LOT of people praying for him!

We are heading over to FW this afternoon to buy meat for our hamburger cookout on Saturday.  While we're in the neighborhood, we will have to run by Hobby Lobby for their big yarn sale today.  I gave out all of my dishrags that I had made up, so I need a new stash of yarn to make more!  Today is mainly doing laundry and playing "catch up" from the trip.  Dennis is also starting to store away his tools and materials, so I can get things tidied up and cleaned before company arrives on Friday.  We are looking forward to our weekend meeting and hope to have a full house!