Lakeshore Camp & Retreat Center

A Season of Gratitude

Katlyn White

“You and I are children of God, princes and princesses in the Kingdom of God. So go
and be about the family business.” If you’re like me, you’ve likely heard this and felt
empowered to go out and love others as God loves us, to help others feel a sense of
belonging in the Kingdom of God, and to create spaces for God’s grace to be
abundantly present. For the last seven years, I have had the honor to be about the
family business on this holy and sacred ground. Though the time has come for me to say “see you later,” I will continue to be about the family business in all that I do.

As I reflect on my time here, I think back to a caption I wrote at the end of my first summer: “The cabins may be bare, the rocking chairs empty, the canteen closed and the black top quiet, but my heart is fulfilled.” I feel that deeply now, but in a different way. While I may be leaving all those things, I will always remember the counselor training role plays in the cabins, the laughter had in those rocking chairs, all the Reese’s ice creams and root beers consumed in the canteen, the joy radiating from the black top, and so much more. Those small moments are allowing me to leave with my heart fulfilled in a big way.

To all the campers, volunteers and staff… thank you! The community is a big piece of what makes this place so special; the new friendships that turn into family, the memories created, and the ability to grow in your faith alongside a steadfast community. So, thank you for being what makes this place so special. Thank you for the years of loving me, supporting me, and challenging me to grow. Thank you for welcoming me with open arms when I first began my journey here. Thank you for making this “see you later” so hard, as that means I’ve had something so, so good.

As I move forward into this new season in life, I am eager to be involved and support this ministry in a new capacity. Lakeshore will always hold a special place in my heart. As SandyFeet’s #1 fan, it only seems fitting to end with their lyrics. “No matter how far I
drift from that harbor, I’ll always have that place in my heart. So when the winds rise, I’ll set my sails and bring my boat to shore. Where there are handfuls of joy. Handfuls of sorrow. Handfuls of laughter and tears. Handfuls of people that I love the most.
Handfuls that last through the years.”

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