2015 Schedule. May 2015

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1 Wish List Each camper writes a letter to themselves reminding them of commitments and friends that they made at camp. These are sent in December. We send a lot of letters. Stamps and #6 3/4 envelopes 2 Eureka Timberline 4 man tents Bibles to give away to campers who do not own one of their own. $300 dollars to go towards a Gaga ball pit 2015 Schedule Swan Lake Marathon June 14 Third Grade Camp June Cottontail Day Camp (Ages 5 & 6). June 18 Chipmunk Day Camp (Grades 1-2). June 19 Fourth Grade Camp June Fifth Grade Camp July 5-10 Sixth Grade Camp July Senior High Camp (Grades 9-12) July Junior High Camp (Grades 7-8). July May 2015 Melissa s mishap As a father, I want my children to be somewhat safe. Please, do not misunderstand me. I want them to not get injured, but I also want them to try new things and to live a life full of the joy of discovery. Melissa balances this philosophy well most all of the time. On Sunday, April 26th, Melissa, Judi and I were horseback riding as we enjoy doing as often as we can. Melissa was undoubtedly also talking and looking around at everything that beautiful spring day. As she and I nudged our horses into a canter, I believe that she was not paying attention when her horse Reba veered under a tree. Melissa did not see the branch until she reacted by leaning too far back. Reba responded to Melissa pulling hard on the reigns and Melissa came off of the horse. She landed head first and sustained a dislocated and broken neck between the C4 and C5 vertebrae. We did not immediately realize the severity of her injuries as she had full movement in her arms and legs. She was able to get up right away. Blanche VanOrsdale happened to be riding by and saw the spill from her Polaris RZR. She gave Melissa a ride back to the house. I led the now extra horse back to the yard and Judi hustled back on her horse. God was so very near that week: Blanche was nearby, the doctors that we saw on Monday were skilled and knowledgeable, friends reached out to Melissa right away. Melissa had surgery on Tuesday. She spent the night at Sanford and attended Awana Wednesday evening. She was back in school on Friday and is doing well. She will wear a neck brace for most of the summer, but the long term prognosis is very good. On Thursday of that week, the Viborg/Hurley choir left for a trip to Chicago. Melissa gave her spot to another girl who would not have been able to go. She was really looking forward to that trip as it is once every four years. As a freshman, she had raised all of the money for the trip through fundraisers and working the concession stands. Throughout the whole affair, Melissa said aloud several times that she wondered what good opportunity God had in store for her because whenever God closes one door, He opens another. Her attitude has been amazing. I was very proud of her when she thought to give her spot away while she was still at the hospital. I praise God for His protection and I praise God that Melissa is already asking when she will be able to get back on her beloved Reba. I do not want to keep my children so safe that they cannot experience the wonders God has given to us. I pray for their protection, but I also appreciate the magnificence and goodness of God.

2 Gabriel Eisenbeis College: Goshen College, IN Gabriel is very excited to interact with all the kids and to be leading them in activities ranging from sports to campfires. Michael VanDiepen College: University of Sioux Falls, Accounting Major Michael is excited to reconnect with campers and to continue to make a difference in their lives. These relationships continue to allow Michael to help give kids the camp experience that was given to him by past staffers and counselors at camp. Chris Miller College: Eastern Mennonite University Chris says, Can I be excited about only one thing? He then lists Mary s cooking and plunging toilets. He is most excited about working with the awesome summer staffers. Lennea Clack Hometown: Beresford, SD College: University of South Dakota, Music Performance Major This summer has Lennea super excited to grow in her relationship with God by interacting with kids, fellow staff, and the counselors! (She is also excited about not having a shoe requirement.) Justin Eisenbeis College: University of Nebraska Lincoln, Actuarial Science Major Justin can t wait to spend his summer at camp in a whole new way. He wants to help kids grow in their faith and to grow in his own faith. He is also excited to build relationships with other staffers, counselors and campers.

3 Sam Vetch Hometown: Sam considers Rapid City home, but has lived in several different states. College: Saint Mary s University of Minnesota. Social Studies Education. Sam is of course excited for Mary s food and being able to give back to SLCC, a place that has given him so much. Briana Davis Hometown: Monroe, SD College: Saint Mary of Omaha, NE. Occupational Therapist Brianna is excited to have the opportunity to build relationships with the rest of the staff, help others grow, and help others realize their need for Christ. Josh Stahl College: Grace University in Omaha, NE. Business Administration Josh is excited for the opportunity to work as a staffer at Swan Lake because of the impact that past staffers have had on his life. This influence has given Josh a desire to impact the lives of other as well. Andrew Graber College: Hesston College, Athletic Training/Pr-Physical Therapy Andrew is excited for camp this summer because, I get to be apart of a camp that has majorly influenced my life. Camp helped shape his faith. He looks forward to helping others with their faith and growing in his own.

4 Tiffany Davis Tiffany on the right with sisters Lizzy and Brianna. Hometown: Monroe, SD School: Viborg-Hurley, As a teacher though, not a student. Tiffany is excited to be on staff with her sister, Brianna, and see what new changes God will bring about in everyone s lives this summer. Davee Kilian Hometown: Burke, SD Current Residence: Swan Lake, SD This year Davee taught K-12 Vocal music in Alcester-Hudson Schools in Alcester, South Dakota. Next year she will be teaching K- 12 Vocal music in Centerville. Davee is most excited to be married to the super, great program director. An alternate profile picture sent in by Lenea Clark may give insight into who she is.

5 Staff from the not so distance Past Jordan Heeren Staff: 2014 Hometown: Akron, Iowa Jordan now lives in Brookings, SD. This summer Jordan is managing a golf course near Akron. I did not attend church until I was 11. I was not baptized until I was 12. At age 13, I was still unsure of what it truly meant to be a Christian. In the summer of 2006, just after my 13th birthday I sat at these exact coordinates on Chapel Hill at Swan Lake Christian Camp and devoted my life to Christ. If it were not for this place touching my heart, I do not know the kind of person I would be today. Sitting at these coordinates at camp every summer throughout high school shaped me into who I am today. At age 18, after experiencing many heartaches, doubts about God and a lot of anxiety about going to college, I sat at these coordinates and invited Christ into my heart a second time, but this time with some of my best friends, brothers, and sisters in Christ by my side. Last summer on staff, I felt God's constant presence in this place, not only at campfires, but every day- even during work projects, whether we were picking up sticks or filling up the wood box on the hill, God was just there. God has shown Himself to me in different ways and in multiple occasions here. I have seen Him in beautiful sunsets here that highlight the wooden cross by the lake. I have experienced Him truly working through other people in this place. I experienced His wonder and felt Him working through me to speak what He wanted me to speak last summer during my campfire messages. It was at Chapel Hill that I truly felt my worth in Christ for the first time and knew that I wanted to do some kind of youth ministry in the future. This tattoo is meant to be a constant reminder of God's promises to me. The arrows represent the paths I may travel along in my life with the coordinates as a foundation. I gave my life to Christ, now I can do anything. I can go anywhere. Wherever I go, I will now be reminded that God is with me always and His spirit fills me- all because I gave my life to Him at these coordinates. I will always be reminded of the people I have reached out to at camp and of the people who have helped to shape me into who I am today. Mission Statement