Giving back

It’s almost Christmas! The boys are going home soon to spend Christmas with their families.

One of our themes this session has been the spirit of giving at Christmas and finding ways to be generous with our time, skills, and money. As part of that, we wanted to find a way that the Explorers could serve the community, something they could chip in and help with. We had several discussions, trying to find the idea. Could the boys build something? Carry something? Volunteer somewhere?

On November 30, the Christmas Train stopped in nearby MacTier. It was a fun outing for everyone. The boys brought some food to donate to the local food bank. But still, it fell a little short. Was there something more they could do to use their skills and help others?

Then came the snow. Snow started falling that night and didn’t stop for a week. It’s hard to know exactly how much snow fell, but we’re guessing about 3 or 4 feet.

Was this their moment? Could they go to town and help people dig out from the snow? Staff discussed this idea with the campers, and they enthusiastically agreed.

So they loaded up some cars with their shovels and headed out the lane to MacTier.

The boys set to work digging out some laneways in MacTier. For many people, the snow was an added burden in difficult situations. When you have mobility issues or are older, clearing a driveway after the plow goes by can seem impossible.

They helped one family dig out a van that got buried by the plow. First they had to find it, then uncover it. The boys worked well together and were having a blast.

As they finished that, other families asked for help too! At each request, the boys discussed it together and then enthusiastically agreed.

When they finished, they piled back into the vans, satisfied with their hard work.

On their way back to camp, out on Healey Lake Road, they passed a woman who was struggling with her driveway. Tim pulled over. “Would you like some help?” he asked her. “Sure,” she said.

Her jaw dropped when all the boys piled out of the vehicles. Working like a well-oiled machine, they were done in 10 minutes.

It’s so meaningful that the campers could serve others at this time of year. At Christmas, our thoughts turn to Jesus, Immanuel, God with us. God came to live with us in the form of his son, Jesus. Jesus came alongside us in the midst of our messes and suffering, being with us in what we go through.

Thanks to the deep snow, the boys got a chance to enter into the story of Christmas, coming alongside others.