We are the Fuhrmans, Steve, Lily, Joshua, Rachel and Jeremy. This Memorial Day Weekend was our first time at Green Oak Ranch Family Camp. We had been attending Lake Avenue Church now for almost a year when my wife, Lily, took me over to the advertising display in the church plaza announcing the camp. She said she wanted our family to attend, but in my usual “hemming and hawing” way I was hesitant. But I relented and said to sign up. That was one of the best things I did.
My wife in her usual way got there early to set up and that’s when she first met Jeff Leonard and the check-in team. She had trepidations about not knowing anyone. I checked in later in the afternoon and by that time, she was excited and took me over to meet someone that it turns out she knew before from our Home Schooling groups, Kathy and Ernie Vargas. They made us feel welcome and invited our family to join their tent group.
As “newbys”, we chose to settle into the cabins. I heard that was typical. By Saturday afternoon, I had met many new people including; Ron, Miguel, Jeff, Kathy, Ernie, Carlos, Mary, Elin, Matt, Victor and Christina.
As I spoke with these new friends it turns out that two of these families live within four blocks of our house - go figure! I have to drive 180 miles away to find new friends that live so close and go to the same church. God’s humor and providence is great.
Elin and Matt invited my wife and I to join their “Homebuilders” Class on Sundays and introduced us to the entire group at camp. I always find an excuse to not attend these types of groups, but I am excited to interact with God’s people since I now know faces and feel comfortable. I realized that with a church this big you can get to know people and interact with them - and guess what - they have the same issues we have.
We will now definitely make the Memorial Day Holiday a time for me to take off for vacation to attend this experience. I would love to look back and be a 34-year lifer like Jeff, his family as many others.
I thank the Lord for letting me listen to the request and wisdom of my wife for this or I would have missed out. Our kids had a great time too. Our youngest jumped right in all weekend with the other kids, but our two older teens held back until Sunday when they jumped into groups and got out of themselves and learned about others and hung out. Thanks, Lake Avenue for this opportunity.