Campmeeting 2011

Pilgrim Holiness Church Camp 2011 is definitely a memory for our family to cherish! Church camp has always been a part of our schedule, but this year was different because all of us were able to be there for the entire camp. God is so good to give us exactly what we need, and this year He blessed us abundantly. The ministry team (composed of Dr. Bob Bolois, Rev. Jeremy Fuller, and The Shrout Family) was an anointed combination. Even though we have been in hundreds of evangelistic services in a variety of places, neither of us remember previously hearing these evangelists. That made us anticipate their ministry even more, and we were not disappointed! If you are interested in watching, video archives can be found at Holiness Online.

Lil' Pilgrims enjoying the sand and the sunshine!

Our scheduled children's workers were unable to come because of some family illness situations, but Jackie Harris did a great job filling in, and our girls couldn't wait to get to kid's class each morning!

Allison had 11 cents, and was determined that it would buy
something at the snack stand.  Jeremy Fish enjoys teasing her when
she stops by, and he agreed to trade her a pack of Starburst for her 11 cents.
She's a bargain shopper!

Everyone loves to watch their own children at the kid's program, and we are no exception.  :)  Miss Line, Miss Burley, and Miss Shrout gave us some cute Kodak moments...

Evan Forsee and Kaitlynn had quite the little friendship
going on this year - they must have been in their
own little world during the program.  :) 

There's no better place than church camp for children to build relationships, learn about God, and completely wear themselves out having fun!

Each year God provides at least one "lake" on the Frankfort campground.
Not sure if this is just to test the nerves of the parents, or simply to
provide the kids with an added extracurricular activity for the week!
This year, one of the softball fields served as community swimming hole,
and Allison found it.  This is how we found her. 

Allison loved driving the cart with Aunt Sherry!  They went around, and around,
and around, and...you get the picture.  Thanks, Sherry, you're a sweetie!

This particular service was the very first time for all three little Shrouts
to sing with their momma and daddy.  Little Laura was a hoot!  At the
beginning of the song, she acted as though she would do a lil' jig, but within
a minute or two, she was in worship mode...notice her hand in the air...so cute!

Prayer of Blessing

On the final Friday evening of the camp, Bro. Southerland was given a challenge by a businessman.  For every young person between the ages of 11 and 21 that was sitting in the 'youth section', the businessman would donate $100 to the campmeeting fund!  What a blessing it was to have 86 young people in that section of the large tabernacle at offering time!  They stood to their feet and counted off, beginning on the front row.  As each young person loudly called out his or her number, they were seated.  By the time the couting was finished, $8,600 was donated!  Others were so blessed by it that they began giving for their children and grandchildren who were either not in attendance or were too young to be counted in the challenge, and by the time all was said and done, $10,600 had been given in just that one offering. 
Bro. Southerland asked pastors and their wives, along with parents, to surround the youth section and had our newest and youngest ordained minister, Anthony Harris, to pray a prayer for our teens.  It was a beautiful time, and one that we're sure those kids will never forget. 
So, now it's all just a memory: the softball games, youth services, kid's class, swimming in mud puddles, helping others from our church prepare drinks for many meals, bonding with friends, worshipping, praying, and giving. Now we're looking forward to Pilgrim Camp 2012 in just eleven short months!