Northern Light Summer 22

Note from the Executive Director | Passage Update | Meet our Newest Horse, Macy! | Girls Camp & Retreat | Northwoods Adventure | HoneyRock Summer Pastors | International Summer Staff | In Memory: Robert "Bob" Ribbe '59 | Employment Opportunities

    We have reached the end of Summer 2022! What a blessing it has been to have every bed full, great weather, a mighty, albeit small staff team, and a present and active God working in our midst. It has been a joy to see camp brimming with campers all season. Most of our programming no longer required adaptation after two years of adjusting due to COVID-19. In reflection, it has been a privilege to see our staff putting their training to practice as they’re fully engaged in the process of disciple-making leadership.  

    A significant new endeavor coming to life is that Wheaton Passage, our historic transition into college (orientation) program for incoming students, will now serve all new Wheaton students. From August 8-19 we are serving over 500 new students with 100 student leaders and 50 plus faculty in the wilderness, at HoneyRock and in Chicago. We are also eagerly looking ahead to early fall, where we will welcome Vanguard Gap Year students in September, another cohort of graduate students in August, and host the first Girl’s Camp Reunion & Retreat, following Northwoods Adventure Week in September.  

    As I look at this summer and beyond, and the themes that come from our cultural moment, my prayer for our staff and campers is that they would return to their home communities as Daniel-like-leaders. By all accounts, Daniel was out of place in ancient Babylon because of who he worshiped. Yet Daniel was also a member of King Nebuchadnezzar's court. What was it that set Daniel’s leadership apart? How did he live faithfully for the Lord yet garner the respect of a foreign king? Daniel-like-leaders are counter cultural, remaining calm in the face of adversity and steadfast in their identity, values, and mission. They’re resilient, they listen, they live life in communion with God. This is what we're seeking to do with our campers, college students, and graduate students. Please join us through prayer and support as we pursue this mission! 

The Girl's Camp Retreat & Reunion will make time and space to share stories of God’s faithfulness and how He worked in and through your life and HoneyRock and in the intervening years. If you want to start reconnecting now, join the Facebook group! This Girls Camp Retreat & Reunion is led by Debbie Willson Bradley, Carol Eckkelman Marshall, Carol Morgan, Carol Q Harding, Jennifer Good, Jill King Alexander, Lisa Maxwell Ryken, and Kathy (Kate) Maxwell Mackey. 

The goals of the Girl's Camp Retreat & Reunion are to:

1. Reconnect the staff, counselors, and campers from Girl's Camp
2. Share stories of God’s faithfulness and of how He worked in and through HoneyRock and the years since then.
3. Pray for and partner with HoneyRock
4. Encourage one another in our walk with Christ 
5. Create an opportunity to get back to HoneyRock!

Coming Soon:

Keep an eye out for a HoneyRock Explore story, featuring stories from Girl's Camp participants (campers and staff). This Explore story will also highlight the significance of when and how Girl's Camp got started and the lasting impact it's had on HoneyRock's programming. 

Why does HoneyRock partner with international staff?  

It is a part of who we are, it’s written right into the HoneyRock mission statement, "... to build Christ’s church and benefit society worldwide". We consider this partnership to have bi-directional benefit. As we invite camp leaders from around the world to work with us for the summer, we are able to both gain and give insights and encouragement. Our international staff bring so much to the HoneyRock experience, even as we share what God has given us to steward in terms of leadership development and training. When we have international staff here at HoneyRock, it is a glimpse of Revelation 7:9 – the beautiful, diverse community we shall be in for eternity with Christ. We invite international staff for the mutual edification of all, in becoming whole and effective people.   

Summer 2022 International Staff Highlights: 

1. We are blessed with a diverse team despite the uphill task of getting visas this year. Due to COVID closures the past two years, embassies around the world have huge backups in their appointments 
2. As we learn to host international staff, we learn more about ourselves at HoneyRock, seeing what we're doing well and what needs to improve, through fresh eyes. 
3. We are excited to have folks from some countries that are new to us, such as: Mozambique, Papua, and Ukraine, in addition to Costa Rica, Mexico, Bolivia.  
4. This summer our HoneyRock church offering collection is being donated to Christian Camping efforts in Ukraine as they are running camps, serving campers, and their families in this season.

Our International Staff this summer includes: 

• Karen Valle, Costa Rica, Guest Services (VLS) 
• Jefferson Alvarez Martinez, Mexico, Kitchen (VLS) 
• Doreem Olivera Arellano, Bolivia, Kitchen (VLS) 
• Karyna Lomeyko, Ukraine, cabin leader (SLS) 
• Tetiana Levchuk, Ukraine, cabin leader (SLS) 
• Debora Luisa Armando Jó, Mozambique, cabin leader (SLS) 
• David Acarapi Churata, Bolivia, cabin leader (SLS) 
• Kenneth Jousé Campos, Costa Rica, cabin leader (SLS) 
• Kendi Tabuni, Papua, cabin leader (SALT)

VLS = Vocational Leadership School, SLS = Summer Leadership School, SALT = School of Adventure Leadership Training