June had come and again it was time for the Mission Camp at Hunky Dory. After a six-hour trip my daughter, my sister and I arrived at the camp on Sunday afternoon. It was a thrill when we turned into the old camp gate and again saw the beautiful setting of Hunky Dory.
The first person in view was Everett Panttila going to and fro, seeing that every camper was comfortable. Emily Lindahl, the camp registrar, met us with her big smile of welcome and in no time she had us assigned to our quarters.
We wondered if we were late for tea, but we went into the dining room and found a few campers still fellowshiping around the table. It was good to meet the ones that were there. We were happy to see Margaret Lindell back at her job, as faithful as ever, running the kitchen and seeing that we were well fed.
The following day Irma, the camp cook, arrived looking hale and hearty with her rosy cheeks. As I walked around the camp, I found Paul Lindell sitting on the porch of his cabin with books and papers around him, busy as usual.
Soon it was recreation time and a ball game began. Then there was time for horseshoe playing and swimming and just sitting near the water, enjoying old friends and visiting. There were many more children at camp this year than I have seen in other years. I enjoyed hearing their laughter and all the noise they made while playing. The tennis court and ping pong table were busy places!
As time for the evening meal approached, folks began to line up. Meal time at camp is a good place to see many old friends and to meet new ones; everyone chats while waiting for the call to come and dine. After each meal there were dishes to wash, floors to sweep, and other clean-up chores to do. With a full camp it seemed there was no end to all the dishes we had to dry and put away.
After breakfast, the mornings were filled with Bible studies, prayer meetings and discussions. The evening programs were set aside for missionary reports from the different fields. On Pakistan night, after Paul [Lindell] showed slides, my daughter Pat answered a few questions about the country. I also gave a few highlights of my trip to Pakistan a year and a half ago.
During this happy and blessed week, I had the pleasure of meeting many new friends as well as the old ones. All too soon Saturday came and camp was over. One by one the cars pulled away with many good-byes, and it was the end of Hunky Dory Mission Camp for another year.
Adapted from Fellow Workers, October 1972, pp.4-6.
George Lelvis was a praying member of our Mission family for many years and the father of Pat Lelvis, who served with WMPL in Pakistan (1956-1971) and the Home Office (1998-2005).