We sing “Go with God” at the end of every worship. It’s a way to end the night with a familiar benediction of love and encouragement. It is also a bit of a cue to counselors that says, “Good night, friends! See you later!”

I don’t know when exactly “Go with God” got started as the go-to ending of a worship, but at least since I was on staff 12 years ago, that song has closed every single one. I love that we have this tradition because as much as the words ring true every time I hear them, I also think of it as a “Good night, friends! See you later!” No matter when we come back to camp or hear that song next, we know we will be welcomed back to this Holy Ground with open arms.

Now it’s time for me to say, “See you later, friends!” I have the incredible opportunity to take a sabbatical for three months next year. As usual, I am chasing adventure. This time it’s to South Africa.

My dear friend’s family owns a cheese farm there. Yep, you read that right. I’m going to work on a cheese farm. I’ll be putting all my camp and non-profit skills to work on a new challenge of managing social media, a website, marketing, a corporate team-building program, as well as making cheese and entertaining school children between stops on their field trips. This farm is near both the mountains and the big city of Johannesburg, and the photos are beautiful. Since South Africa is in the Southern Hemisphere, it will be summer while I’m there. I’m skipping winter this year.

I am so excited for this opportunity, and I can’t wait to see what adventure this leads me to next. When I return to the States in April, I’ll be coming back to Lakeshore on a part time basis. I can’t even begin to describe how much I have learned working at Lakeshore or what a blessing working for a place that feels like home has been. The last couple of years have been just one learning and growing and spiritually enriching experience after another. I’m always grateful that camp has had that effect on me since I started coming in 2002.

My last pre-sabbatical day is January 4, and I’ll be working hard to further the mission of camp right until the last second. And when I make my way down Pilot Knob Road for the last time for awhile, I’ll be singing, “Go with God and be filled with Hope.”

See you later, friends!

With Life, Love, and the God of Grace,

Jennie