SHEHAQUA FAMILY NEWS

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Shehaqua Family Camp 2012

by Kester Wilkening

Love was alive this year at 2012's Shehaqua Family Camp in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. Over 340 people from 17 different states attended one of the three full weeks and a weekend, occurring between July 22^nd and Aug. 11^th. Each week included nature hikes, archery, education sessions about living the Divine Principle, swimming, candlelight prayer, dodgeball, s'mores, talent nights, and more.

"All of the love between everyone here makes me really enjoy coming to Camp Shehaqua, so I always store that love in my heart." — Hannah Bush (10), New Jersey

The annual dodge ball tournament in each week again drew enthusiasm from both youth and adults alike. Manny Lykes, a 16-year-old from Maryland, said, "I really experienced God's love through my dodge ball team like I never had before. I'd always thought dodge ball was fun, but this time was an especially amazing experience."

During Week 3, health food educators Gregg and Elke Noll led a Health Retreat emphasizing the spiritual and physical aspects of people’s relationship with food. G. Noll said, "Over 30 people shared their health journeys as we engaged in spiritual yoga (Qigong), nutrition presentations, exercise, emotional healing, forest foraging for mushrooms, and of course wonderful health-food demonstrations. The overarching theme was to take control of your health destiny by making well-informed decisions day after day and have fun doing it!"

"My best experience that I had this year was the Family Fun Night because we all had fun working it out, and it really felt like a family reunion." -- Soonmee Iwasaki (14), Pennsylvania

Teo Wilkening, 19 years old from Maryland, organized a family fun night during Week 2 where families and individuals were able to go outside of their comfort zones together. "During family night, it doesn't really matter whether you're off to the Dizzy Race or are acting out weird and unique animals. The point is that you spend this evening with your family, and it definitely brings families closer together by creating a fun environment," said Teo.

"The camp was like a re-birth experience. It was so beautiful and refreshing to see the ideals of our True Parents manifested in this camp and encouraging to know that when we are gone, God's work will continue." -- Sandra Lowen, parent, New York

John and Sandra Lowen, professional counselors from Albany NY, led marriage-focused sessions for the couples at camp. J. Lowen said, "The power of the 'Marriage Enrichment Seminar' came from the fact that it was interactive and transparent. It was beautiful discovering together that our challenges, victories and struggles all have cosmic implications and that when we suspend our judgments and opinions about ourselves and others, God manifests powerfully in our couples and in the world."

"My best experience at camp this year was the candle light prayer. My prayer lead to a breakthrough for me because it helped me to connect to God on a much deeper level and even tear down a lot of the barriers that I put up between me and God." - Amy Vogenthaler (17), Colorado

The peaceful setting of the Pocono Mountains is a beautiful location to enjoy God's creation, and experience a little piece of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. Camp Shehaqua is set in the middle of Hickory Run State Park, and is a wonderful place to slow down and appreciate the beauty all around. Overall, 2012 was a great success, and we hope you can join us for future programs! The Fall Festival is on Sep. 21-23^rd, so please visit our website for more information about upcoming events and activities: www.live4joy.org

Please look for links to videos and slideshows in the upper right of this email.

Fall Festival Flyer

Shehaqua Vision Quest

by Victor Servito

The inaugural Shehaqua Vision Quest service project and leadership retreat for high school leaders was an incredible success! The Vision Quest team was able to raise funds during the week of July 4th to go on a two-week road trip spanning across the northeast, all the way up to Maine. Staying at and cleaning up Morning Garden—True Family's Massachusetts oceanside home—was an honor for our team. We felt privileged to serve True Family at such a beautifully stunning and culturally deep place!

During the Penobscot Indian Nation service module, we stayed with Stan, a tribal elder. It was moving to see how a man of aged tradition and our youth with lively energy showed each other love and care. The team ate moose-meat for an entire week!

Climbing Mount Katahdin was a total mind-over-body experience. The team raced up the mountain at a grueling pace to beat a thunderstorm and experienced God's majestic creation at the top with a powerful unison prayer. The Vision Quest concluded with sharing and reflection on a remote island off the coast of Maine. One participant felt moved to write: "Thank you from the bottom of my heart, leaders, for being the most inspirational role models we could ask for. You've changed my life."

The Shehaqua Vision Quest touched the lives of each and every participant, host, and community along the way. We made deep and lasting friendships as everyone learned to love and serve each other. Thank you God and True Parents for a safe, amazing, and deep experience for our young leaders!