Chris and I started serving together at Northern Frontier in 2004 when our oldest daughter, Rileigh, was 10 months old (she is now 23!) While Chris has been there for about 2 million summers (including his time as a camper), I myself just completed year 19! In that time, I have had the extreme privilege of serving alongside some amazing people!
While I missed being at camp during Bruce and Marcella Baker’s time, I got to spend time with them during their visits and watched their love for people in action every minute they were there. Joanne Sammons showed up every morning with a pot of coffee and a smile. I lived next door to her in the Battalion Duplex; Mama Jo was so dear to me, and I so looked forward to those visits! I loved hearing Mickey’s rich voice sing “How Great Thou Art” on Sunday mornings and hearing all his camp stories. Ralph and Liz Essery demonstrated the teamwork Chris and I needed to serve together as I watched them at camp for my first 8 summers. And Budd Smith, there’s too much to say about Budd for this small space, but he blessed Chris and me, not just through his service to camp in all he did, but through deep friendship and fellowship throughout the year! And what would I do without nurse Peggy, my dear protector and “wing woman”? I could share even more about various counselors and program directors, waterfront and trip locker guys, cooks and kitchen staff… I and my family have been blessed beyond measure to experience friendship and fellowship with these amazing people while watching them model servanthood at NF!
What a blessing it is to celebrate 80 years of Northern Frontier and its legacy, not just in ministry, but in the wonderful people who have ministered there to so many!