Camp is over!

Yesterday was the last part-day of camp. After breakfast we watched a video of camp moments, which made leaving camp all the sadder.

Thankfully, our time with the Edwards family was not completely over. They drove with us, and with the Carr family (Mrs E's sister and her kids) north along the east coast of the Mississippi (fourth state: Wisconsin) to Grandad Bluff by La Crosse, where we had a view of three states: Iowa, which we had just left, Wisoconsin, and Minnesota (drag out the O), which we were about to enter, our fifth state. La Crosse is situated on the confluence of three rivers, the Mississippi, the Black River, and the La Crosse River, which all meet at one place right on the edge of the downtown area, where Mr Jackson and I had dinner a few nights ago. The city is named for the Native American sport, now called lacrosse, which was played by the native peoples here long before the French, and later, American (English descent) settlers arrived. Originally, it wasn't played on a field, but free range in the hills and dales nearby.

After lunch we crossed the Mississippi once more and drove on the western, Minnesota, side north east to the Twin Cities, St. Paul and Minneapolis. We attended Saturday evening church probably around the same time our church family in Cranbrook were worshipping at home. We went to Bethlehem Baptist Church, where John Piper was pastor for 30 years. The preacher spoke from Colossians 1:28, a marvellous sermon, expounding on the basis of Christian ministry: "He (Jesus Christ) is the one we proclaim, admonishing (warning) and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ." This was an excellent message for a pastor and his family to hear and be encouraged by!

The rest of the service was equally encouraging, with thoughtful and biblical songs that were written for congregational singing rather than performance, making it easy for even Mr Jackson to sing well. One thing we appreciated was the way the band members were separated and spread out at the edges of the stage area, with all musicians seated, so attention was drawn to the words on the overhead screen that we were singing, rather than to the musicians.

We spent last night in three penthouse suites, one for each of our families. After breakfast together, everyone is now packing their cars. I am not looking forward to saying goodbye to my dear friend.