Teens use camp experience to 'pay it forward'

RAISED in a Christian household by parents who sold most of the family's possessions to do missionary work in Mex­ico, Peter Buhler is quite familiar with the teaching that it is "more blessed to give than to receive."

Yet it's because of his folks' willingness to accept a helping hand of their own from the Sunshine Fund that the Steinbach teen will be entering his final year of summer camp with a mission to "pay it forward."

"Last year I did the servant leadership training and I said if I have lots of fun, I'll be a counsellor," says Peter, 16 (he turns 17 next week), who will be carrying through on his promise this August at Roseau River Bible Camp.

"I guess it's kind of like being a camper, but it's longer term and you're setting a good example for young kids. I feel more responsible and grown up," he says.

Peter's sisters Jozie, 14, and Amanda, 13, will also be start­ing their fourth season at Roseau River, one of six Manitoba bible camps operating under Canadian Sunday School Minis­tries (CSSM).

While Roxanne and Larry Buhler have been sending their kids to summer camp since the youngsters were old enough to attend, when they returned from their year in the mission­ary field in 2005, financial constraints and her health prob­lems bumped camp fees from the family budget.

"Even though the CSSM camps are reasonably priced, even $400 (for all three kids) is too expensive for us. We're in the process right now of selling our house to downsize further," says Roxanne, who was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in Mex­ico and has been unable to work since last December.

The Sunshine Fund has been a blessing, she says of the Manitoba Camping Association program that has been help ing financially strapped parents send their children to sum­mer camps across the province since 1975.

"It's a boost to their Christian faith, encouragement for them to continue in the life that they have chosen because they see there are young people -- most of the camp counsellors are between 17 and 20 -- they can look up to who are also follow­ing this life. Now Peter will be one of those people," she says.

Jozie, who's starting her first year in the senior-teen pro­gram, says that although she has plenty of like-minded peers in her life the rest of the year, sharing her faith in the great outdoors makes the experience that much richer -- plus camp has horses. (And a pool, a BMX track and, as of last year, a new audio and visual media program.) "Just being able to hang out with other people my own age and fellowshipping with them, there's something about it that's completely different from being in a church or youth group," says the Grade 9 student, who volunteers at Steinbach's Men­nonite Heritage Village. "I'm going to be getting a job this summer, so camp is a nice break."

Amanda says she has come away with newfound skills.

"I like all my memories of camp and each year is so much fun," says the 13-year-old. "I usually take the arts-and-crafts program. They taught me how to make hemp bracelets."

If you'd like to help send a Manitoba child to summer camp, mail a donation to the Winnipeg Free Press Sunshine Fund , 302-960 Portage Ave., Winnipeg, MB, R3G 0R4. You can do­nate in person with cash or Visa credit card at that address during business hours or use any credit card by going online to www.mbcamping.ca and follow the donations links. Charit­able tax receipts will be issued.

For more information, call 784-1130 or email sunshinefund@mbcamping.ca.

Sunshine fund stats as of June 11

Sister's of the Holy Rock $500 Joyce Zolles $200 David Rannard $250 In Honour of John Inskip, Happy Birthday, Love Your Family, $300 Laura Campbell $100 Associate Design $100 Marg Wopnford $25 Daniel and Lucy Todd $200 Mrs. June Thomson $100, In loving memory of Tommy Michael Stones $25 Evelyn Milne $50, In memory of Gordon Milne Anonymous $200, In memory of Roy and Donnie Miller Aaron Lawrence $50 Fred Forsyth $100 Jack and Virginia Hopkins $50, In memory of Imre Doszpod Elizabeth R. Maxwell $400 M. and H. Haresign $50, In memory of A. Moffat Carolyn Lamb $40 Roy and Patricia Drewett $100 Alain Hogue $100 Isobel L. Hesse $200 Kenneth Hurst $100 Ty Horvey's 12th birthday party $50 Joyce L. Church $50 Janet Kollesavich $40 Marjorie Lange and Family $20, In memory of Robert Hill Kathie J. Geekie $50 Lesley Sisler and Lewis St.

George Stubbs $250 Dianne Stephenson $50, In memory of my husband, Donald G. Stephenson Mary Brook $25 Mrs. Dorothy Armstrong $35 Mr. and Mrs. John L. Stewart $50 Kay Schalme $35 Geertrui C. Oliver $100 Pat Deally $100 Hilda M. Kerkham $100 Ettie and Earl Robinson $200 Doug and Mary Cobb $50 Jake Rempel $100 Reliable Homecare Products $50 Mrs. Virginia Friesen $100 Audrey Hilderman $30.00 Nancy Cullen $100 George and Gerace Lintick $150 Andy and Lorna Moffat $100, In memory of Doreen R.W. Savory $100 Margaret Stuart $30 M.J. Pethrick $25, In memory of Danny Pethrick Mr. R.A. Sam Fabro $100 Miss Marianne Farag $65 Carolyn Vogt $100, In memory of my mother, Amy Peterson Eunice Dettman $400 Mabel S. Smith $100 Connie Buchanan $25 Sally R. Dowler $100 Manders Cherewyk Insurance Brokers $200 Mavis and Martin Minuck $100 Don Lawrence $100 Lucille Bonin $25 Margaret Morse $100, In memory of Gordon Chown (brother) George Waters $25 Joseph and Romelda Dixon $100 Murray G. Moncrieff $100, In memory of Nancy and Ernie Moncrieff Anonymous $50, In memory of John Baker Gerald Lypka $30 Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary $60 H. and M. Stinson $30 Anonymous Donations $2,235 Total this week $9,275.00 Total this year $29,709.20 Total children placed 437 Total applications received 598

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