SPEC 2008

Good Morning SPEC Fans,

It’s another rainy morning here at SPEC. The cool is really nice, but the rain really disrupts the schedule and activities here. Time will tell how we will be impacted today. We have lots to get done yet. This reporter misses the wonderful colors of the sunrise out the window as we talk on these early mornings.

Yesterday was sleep-in morning and just before it was time to start waking the troops the obnoxious sound of the fire alarm filled the dorm with noise. Maybe it’s the cynic in me, but when it started blaring I was more annoyed that worried. I figured it was a false alarm. But at the same time my concern for the safety of the campers in our care drives me to get the kids up and at least headed outside until we are sure. Of course yesterday was, according to several locals here in Lamoni, the hardest rainstorm they could remember. So being outside was not a fun prospect. We weathered the storm, as it were, and had the kids back in pretty quickly. Because the Rockies are on the third floor most of us didn’t make it out into the rain.

Breakfast has pretty much run the course, there’s not much new left except maybe biscuits and gravy, so we could choose between two different scrambled eggs, French toast, thin ham, fruit, cereal, juice and milk.

Thursday’s theme was “Someday is now……..so Love courageously.” SPEC Today class addressed that only briefly as a way of saying to answer the challenges of the themes we’ve wrestled with this week, we need to be courageous and willing to risk ridicule and scorn from our peers. Living out the challenges to walk humbly, live justly, create peace, and heal the planet, are all counterculture and will make us a target to be brushed off as “one of those.” But living that way is the only way the people of the world will ever see and fulfill their potential to become the Community of God on the earth. So in class we were directed to go to one of four areas by theme, the one each resonated with the most, and spend time discussing ways to flesh out each of those themes in our daily lives, and hopefully, encouraged by the presence of others, commit to love courageously enough to act out these themes in our communities. Time will tell.

The downpour affected the class schedule greatly. Some of the classes are in far flung corners of the campus so the close in classes were easier choices for some not really committed to their first choice. Walking or running in the rain had already made most of us look pretty silly anyway – a little more water would have little impact. None of the outside classes could be held; some were moved indoors but surely scaled down, others w ere cancelled.

Lunch was grilled cheese sandwiches. Coupled with a good salad it made an ok lunch. The “Commons” where meals are served was far more crowded than usual because of the rain.
Softball was canceled, soccer was cancelled, then rescheduled onto the turf of the football field, but not till three o’clock. So the schedule had to be compressed to pick up the scheduled games missed, and also to get in games normally played on two fields. So most of the soccer players were disappointed at the way it played out. All the indoor games were played on schedule. Most of the playoff tournaments will start today, so yesterday was the last of the positioning games and matches, If it rains all day again today it will drastically affect play. The Rockies had a fast paced and action packed game of “Buzzword” going most of the afternoon. It’s a great group word game.

Last night the Rockies delegation had their annual Pizza Party at the local pizza place called the “Pizza Shack.” We load up all the kids and head the three blocks into town for the pizza feast. It’s always fun and the kids enjoy some time away from campus.

After some more evening competition many attended the “Extravaganza”; a musical put on by the kids from SPEC who take the Extravaganza class. Your reporter missed the Extravaganza this year – the Rockies were in a volleyball match.



The last event for the night was the all camp campfire, usually held outside but the rain forced us into the MSC, a large indoor gym/multipurpose room. It was hot and loud, but it is fun and the kids really get into it. Reviews by the Rockies boys wer e all positive.

So we made it through the water logged day not too much the worse for wear. Hopefully today will be drier and more back to normal. So this reporter wishes you a glorious day and passes along the challenge to Love Courageously today in each and all the communities in which you interact. The Apostle Paul talks about love being patient and kind, not seeking its own way, not holding grudges. May we be all that today and more, because “Someday is Now.

Have a Blessed day and check in tomorrow for more news and views from SPEC,
Your reporter,
Bob