LegendaryLodge.com

TEAM BLOG

7.11.08

Greetings from Legendary Lodge!
Hi, my name is Travis Grotbo. This is my fifth summer at Legendary. I was the caretaker/groundskeeper for the first two, and this is now my third summer as a full-time counselor.

We are truly blessed to have an amazing team for the summer of 2008. The team is diverse, but we are united in the vision of helping the campers encounter Christ through their Catholic faith. Legendary Lodge holds a special place in my heart. It is a place where people can experience the love of God in an unique way. Legendary Lodge is special because of the people who serve the youth and each other each summer. Without the team we have, it would be a fairly ordinary summer camp. It is the presence of God and His servants that makes the camp so special.

When I see campers on a Sunday afternoon, I see kids from all walks of faith. Legendary Lodge is a place where they can put aside worries about problems and challenges in their daily lives and focus on what is most important; their relationship with God. Many campers come to the Lodge as a high point for the summer. I hope that every camper who comes to the Lodge will not only have a fun experience, but that they will also see firsthand the fullness of life that Christ calls us to through His Church.

We have fun and do many normal summer camp activities, but the experience of living the Catholic faith is what I hope campers take away. Campers have time for prayer in the chapel, question and answer sessions with Father Marc, small group discussions with their counselors, mass, reconciliation, and many other opportunities in which we try to help them grow closer to Christ.

Ultimately, my hope is that the living examples of the team that will help strengthen each camper in his or her own faith journey. The people who serve at Legendary are not just putting on a Catholic show, but are trying to live the Catholic faith in all they do. We are witnesses of hope by the nature of our baptism. The campers aren't the only ones who grow in faith, though. I know that I have grown in many ways through my experiences at the Lodge. Through the examples of both counselors and campers I have come closer to Christ, and grown in my desire to love and serve Him.

It is another beautiful summer at the Lodge, and I am blessed to be a witness of hope. The team is doing an amazing job, and I am surrounded by strong witnesses of Christ. Thank you for your prayers and support of youth ministry.

5.11.2008

Eric Connolly Ahh, the sweet sights and sounds of Montana springtime.

For many, it brings on a feeling of exhilaration; a rush of anticipation of the impending arrival of summer.

As I sit here with the sun shining through my window, I feel something great coming on.

It is summer. It is beautiful.

Summer is an inspiration. It's a season which for many brings memories of time spent with friends and family. Memories of adventures right in our backyards. Perhaps a reminder of family barbecues, fishing trips, dusty baseball diamonds and freedom from all things educational.

For me, summer simply means it's about time to get back to my second home. A place of love, laughter, fun and most importantly, a place of God.

This place is Legendary Lodge.

As the summer edges closer, not only do my last two summers at Legendary come into focus, but the upcoming summer begins to become clear as well.

This summer's theme is "Witness of Hope." As with all themes, they can have a hundred different meanings to a hundred different people, so I have been asking myself what it means to me.

I think that first of all, Witness of Hope is a commissioning. It is not only something we may want to do, but also something we are called to do.

We are called to bear witness to the hope that Christ has given us through his life, death and resurrection. Jesus said in John's gospel, "I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly " (John 10:10)

It is in this promise that we can have this hope. Hope not only for the world we live in today, but for where we are going after this life.

It is through this hope that we are called to live our lives in a way to spread the glory of God throughout the world.

We are called to act on our deepest feelings, inspired by the Holy Spirit moving within us; encouraging us to change the wrong and injustice we see in our world.

This summer at Legendary Lodge, I will try to not only be a Witness of Hope, but to also spread the message of Jesus in a way that others may also bear witness in a whole new way.

But as we know, life is not lived at Legendary Lodge.

For the youth of our Diocese, there are 56 weeks in a year, one of which is spent at Legendary Lodge. This fact alone makes it so important to understand that what campers learn at the Lodge cannot stay there. God willing, the spiritual growth, close friendships and learning that happens at the Lodge will spread into the camper's own parishes.
It is through this, that we truly are Witnesses of Hope. Jesus said, "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." (Matthew 28: 18-20)

Like the Apostles, we are called to go out and make disciples of all nations. We are called to take what we know and learn of Christ's love and share it. We are called to be Witnesses of Hope.

I hope you all have a blessed end of the school year. I hope to see you all this summer for another amazing adventure at Legendary Lodge.

Peace and God Bless,
-Eric Connolly
--Legendary Lodge Counselor--