LUCF Camp

Another LUCF camp has passed. LUCF is a special group of students, with a community and culture uniquely theirs. I'm privileged to work with them. And their camps are always a highlight. This year, we returned to Mt Hutt with great views across the
Canterbury Plains.

Things that were great about LUCF camp:

• Bible teaching 'postcards from the end'. Thanks Mark (Manawatu colleague) for teaching us about end times in a simple, clear way, that you'd clearly contextualised for the Lincoln setting. 'Real good' was the feedback from many - very high praise indeed from LUCF. And several can recall, a few weeks on, your word picture stack. Nice one! Just superb to be forced back to Scripture.
• Resource centre - for the first time I took along resources for sale, not really expecting to sell any. But, to my surprise and delight, we did. I pray that books will be read and CDs listened too as a way of keeping Bible truths learnt at camp in mind.
• Food - once again, Kelly-Jean Kerr you're a legend. I've no idea how you do such good food on such a small budget, but I thank God you do. You're a huge asset to LUCF - thank you for serving and encouraging in this way. Liz - thank you too, of course, as chef's assistant!
• Tyres - last year one of my colleagues at LUCF was amazed there was some boxing going on, this year, my colleague Mark was amazed that LUCF found an old tractor tyre on site and proceeded to roll each other down the hill in it. Mark even had a go himself - just like Zorbing but free!
• Jigsaws - I still don't understand the attraction, but plenty did, especially the wasjig ones.
• Seminars - another first, inserting three concurrently run seminars for choice:
• Telling your story as a Christian
• Overseas mission - experiences and potential careers paths (thanks Debbie!)
• Biblical and personal reflections on moving from studentville to the commercial world as a Christian (thanks Rachal and Erin!)

• Work! Great to see students on similar courses helping one another out. It's well known that a Lincoln degree is twice as hard and worth twice as much as other universities!

Thing for the leadership to think about for next time:

• The opt-in nature of LUCF camp. Far too many see camp as an extra, as 'what's in it for me', rather than a way for community to be formed for mission on campus, and to be well taught the Bible to be trained for mission on campus. I long for all to be involved, for the benefit not just of LUCF but the whole university. How can this opt-in culture be changed?
• Promotion of camp - came across as too opt-in; 'if you'd like to come to camp'. How can we be clearer in promotion of camp as a key part of the LUCF year?

It's good to blog on this, as it helps me see the sheer number of positives, when i have a tendency to focus on what needs to be done. Lizzy's great in this (and many other!) regards - she reminded me what our first LUCF camp was like: I was asked to speak at camp just two weeks before; no cooks for the first night; few turned up on the Friday and most came just for a day on the Saturday; only c25% had Bibles with them; camp site wasn't very good; nothing organised in terms of games......etc etc. All of these have improved.

So, 2007 is the best camp yet, and for that I thank God.