Campfire Stories

We were huddled in front of the campfire exchanging stories and singing songs, old songs. “And he walks with me, and he talks with me, and he tells me I am his own.” I started with this song, and Sarah C., Sarah P., Cindy, Joy, and Marlene joined in the next few lines. We sang in harmony. We did not care when we messed up verses and interchanged lines from one stanza to the other. We were having a great time. “Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee.” We moved on to other hymns and great old gospels. “Take it to the Lord in prayer.” Pausing only to share some family stories associated with these wonderful melodies. “My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus blood and righteousness.” I played my guitar to accompany the singing. Isaac and other family members were also present singing along with all of us. “How marvelous, how wonderful. And my song shall ever be.” We did not have any hymn books or print-out copies at hand. We all sang from memory. “It is well, with my soul.”

Sarah and I are at the Manton Family Camp in Michigan. After our sharing time (the missionary moments) at the evening service, we would go and visit with our friends gathering beside their cabins with a guitar, some marshmallows, and our voices to sing together. What a beautiful time we are having. In front of the camp fire, we praise God and continue to build wonderful memories together as brothers and sisters in the Lord. We are here in Michigan for our time of Partnership Building, the time when we report to our U.S. supporters about the Free Methodist work in Asia, as well as to request for more funding and missionary giving from our local churches. Who knew Partnership Building could be so much fun?