Camp Joy Memories

 
Jeff loved music, inner tubes and Camp Joy ~~ not necessarily in that order! This is a photo of Jeff listening to Joan VandeWall, Director of Camp Joy, ready to roll his tube next into the swimming pool. The week-long camp was organized in the 1980's, and Jeff and I went every year. The summer of 1988 was his last summer. Jeff's spirit continued to be high even though he wasn't well, and this excerpt from "Journey With Jeff" includes a quote from Helen Keller (1880-1968): "Although the world is very full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it."~~~"Yes, Joan! Camp Joy! Tube in Camp Joy pool!" Jeff said emphatically at a Seeds gathering when Joan Van de Wall asked him again, almost in disbelief, if he intended to be there this year. Everyone at Seeds knew that Jeff had been in the hospital repeatedly these last few months, so he was included often in their prayers. This is the way Joan remembers it: "Jeff loved Camp Joy! He had been in and out of the hospital time and again, and he doctors had begun to suspect leukemia, but he still was going to camp! And he did! Everyone was thrilled to have Jeff there that summer and great care was given to him to make him comfortable. Then, on the night of our dance, I was worried that the excitement and loud music might cause a seizure. So I asked him, 'Jeff, how are you doing?' He quickly said, with that smile on his face, 'I'm fine, Joan, how are you doing?' Again, he turned a trying situation into light." The closing prayer says, "Gracious Lord, Jeff was so full of life, even when he hurt! Thank You for all the people who loved him, and whom he loved. Thank You for his joie de vivre! Amen!"