Category: Gilgal Gazette 2003

by Elizabeth (Age 9 | Tribe of Reuben)

Riddle: There were some policemen investigating a burnt down forest near the sea.  While they were investigating, they found a dead man in a scuba diving suit.  There was a helicopter flying nearby with a bucket.  How did the man get there?

Answer: The man was scuba diving in the sea.  There was an island with a forest nearby that somehow caught on fire.  A police helicopter came with a bucket to put out the fire and scooped him up and poured him with the water on the fire.

Jokes

What did the dog say to the dog?

Answer: Bow-wow

What did the teapot say to the refrigerator?

Answer: You’re cool

What did the horse say to the horse?

Answer: Hey

Why did the boy throw the butter in the air?

Answer: He wanted to see a butterfly

by Austin (Age 8 | Tribe of Dan)

On the bus on the way to the field trip I asked Spike (my tribe leader) some questions.

Austin: What’s your favorite color?

Spike: Green

Austin: What is your favorite book?

Spike: My Name is Asher Lev

Austin: What is your favorite sport?

Spike: Football

Austin: What do you like to do when you’re alone?

Spike: Chill and read

Austin: Which would you like better: rain or mosquitos?

Spike: Rain

Austin: What is your favorite city?

Spike: New York

Thanks for talking to us, Spike!

by Daniel (Age 9 | Tribe of Dan)

M.I. is short for a game called Mission Impossible where you run around at night with flashlights and dark clothes.  You have to find impossible clues and solve them.  This year my tribe won M.I. and it was fun.  It made me want to brag about it. 

If you want to play, it’s going to be hard.  You need a lot of teamwork and you can’t argue.  The first clue is a word puzzle and it’s very hard.  The other clues are not so hard.  Sometimes when you win, your tribe is the only one to get the food.  Camp Gilgal has the best games, and this one is my favorite.  You’re going to love this game, I guarantee it!

by Sabrina (Age 10 | Tribe of Simeon)

FOB.  The worst time of the day.  I dread it.  It stands for flat on bunk.  Nobody can say a word or else you will lose points for your tribe.  And that is important if you like parties with ice cream.  Sometimes I would get so bored I would SOB (sit on bunk).

After second activity, FOB starts. and I’m all wound up.  This is what my tribe and I do.  I lay in bed and write letters to people.  My tribe just lays there and reads books or something.  We hate FOB, but the tribe leaders love it.  The reason why they love it is because they get to rest and do what they like to do–sleep.  I’ll just get to the point…I HATE FOB.

by Emily (Age 11 | Tribe of Naphtali)

Big Night.  Big Night is when everyone has to dress up big, so I put a pillow in my shirt and a towel in my pants.  I looked like I was pregnant with twins and had a big bum.  Of course, you all know that there’s another camp across from us–Camp Pinnacle.  We each have a different dining room, but that night some old people took over our dining room and we had to go into Camp Pinnacle’s dining room while they were still in there.

It was so embarrassing.  They all kept looking at us and talking about us, saying, “Oooo-oooh!” really, really loudly.  Once again, it was so embarrassing.

by Channah (Age 12 | Tribe of Naphtali)

Last Wednesday, Camp Gilgal went horseback riding.  We loaded the bus, happy and laughing.  We sang songs, slept a lot, read, and talked.  But after the long, long journey, almost every person was ready to get out.  When we got out, we had a small walk up a dusty road. 

We came upon a stable, anticipation weighing on our minds.  One by one, beautiful horses sauntered out.  Some girls (including yours truly) emitted squeals of delight.  We mounted our horses and set off.  Amazing sights of God’s creation were witnessed.  Blue sky opening up from beneath a blanket of trees and  trickling streams.  Many were sorry to leave.

by Isaac S. (Age 11 | Tribe of Benjamin)

My name is Isaac.  This year in my cabin I had a really cool kid names Michael.  Michael lived in Israel for eleven years, and then he moved to Georgia.  This was his first year at Camp Gilgal.  His dad was our Hebrew teacher and was really fun.

Michael and his family lived in Israel at a hostel called Beth El.  Michael said, “It’s a really big hostel where people come and stay for a few days (usually three) while we teach them about Jesus.”

Michael enjoyed living at Beth El a lot.  He said that, “Living in Israel was fun and we had more friends from around the world than if we lived in America.”  He also said that his school was, “more challenging than in America.”

I like Michael a lot, and talking to him made me want to go to Israel more than ever.

by Rafael (Age 11 | Tribe of Benjamin)

In the Mishkan was a flag waiting to be done by our tribe.  Here is how we got our flag done.  We were at camp the second day and we made a flag.  First, we practiced and then the best picture was mine, so everyone drew it.  Also, we added some things like teeth, which Arthur outlined but Michael colored.

Luft and I each drew half the wolf.  I drew the front half and Luft made some of the front, back, and middle.  Arthur drew some hair, like 15 or 20.

Finally, Joel and Isaac found the paint and then colored the flag.  Unfortunately, we had to leave but the next day we had time to finish our names.  Then later, after two days, we were done and our flag looked like this.

by Deborah (Age 11 | Tribe of Naphtali)

As Strings and I crossed Pinnacle Lake in a boat one Thursday afternoon, Strings saw a long neck pop out of the water and dive back in!  We both tried to find the owner of the head but had to come back to shore.  We also were not able to locate the water toys that Twister put into the water for us to find.  I personally think the Loch Ness Monster ate them.

We saw schools of fish swimming past us looking positively terrified!  Arthur, who was fishing, caught a terrified sunfish and kissed it.  The sunfish, now terrified, leaped back into the water!  I am not sure if it was dying of lack of oxygen or hated being kissed…or if it had seen the Loch Ness Monster. 

For all you next-year campers, a word of caution: Beware, you might just spot the Loch Ness Monster!

by Rachel (Age 9 | Tribe of Reuben)

We were about to have camp activities and Twister said we were going to play ‘Hadov Rotz’, ‘Captain, Sailor, Gunner’ (my favorite mill around!), and ‘Cat and Mouse’.  I always wanted to know what Cat and Mouse was!  I asked Twister what it was and she said, That’s an excellent question!”  I said, “You always say that,” and then all of sudden, the game began.  

To play, you have to link up with a Mouse.  If you go out of bounds, you are automatically a Cat.  If you are a Cat, you have to try to tag a Mouse.  I had so much fun!  I can’t wait until next year’s Cat and Mouse.

by Esther (Age 11 | Tribe of Simeon)

by Daniela (Age 11 | Tribe of Simeon)

Strings is my counselor.  Strings got her name because she plays the violin.  She’s been playing the violin since she was 9 and has been playing for 7 years.  She accepted Jesus when she was at VBS (Vacation Bible School).  She wanted to become a counselor last year when Speedy asked her, but she had other plans.  This year when Twister asked her, she said yes.

She has never been to Israel because she never had the chance.  Her favorite color is burgundy.  Her favorite animal is a Dugong, which is like a manatee except that it lives in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.  She was on the swim team from ages 8-12 but she likes to watch baseball (even though she doesn’t really like sports).

Strings went to Junior Camp twice and Teen Camp two times and Adventure Camp once.  Her favorite kind of music is classical, and she has about 10 VeggieTales movies.  The reason I like Strings is because she’s kind, encouraging, and holds our TRIBE together.

by Isaac (Age 10 | Tribe of Benjamin)

Wanted: A plumbing system that works.  Reward: A wooden nickel and a rubber chicken.

by Tribe of Naphtali

Dear Matilda,

My best friend is not a believer in God.  My parents won’t let me hang out with her until she believes.  What to do?

Debbie

Dear Debbie,

Try to teach your friend about God.  Also, tell your parents that she was not raised to be a believer.  Tell them that she is learning from you.

Love,

Matilda

P.S. God will always be there for you.

by Tribe of Naphtali

Dear Matilda,

I have some trouble with a girl.  She has a hitting problem.  What should I do?

Letty

Dear Letty,

You should talk to her about it.  I think she doesn’t realize her problem.  God loves you.  He wants you to forgive and help.  You should do that.

Love,

Matilda

by Tribe of Naphtali

Dear Matilda,

My best friend is a Christian.  She tells me all the time about a man/Spirit named God.  I want to believe, but I’m too scared.  Help!

Connie

Dear Connie,

Go to church with her one day.  I’m sure you will like it and all your doubts will disappear.  God loves you.

Love, Matilda

by Ryan (Age 11 | Tribe of Asher)

Soul is the newest baby staff member and is my sister.  Soul’s real name is Alyssa.  Also, my mom here is the nurse.  Her name is Cheryl.  My sister likes to watch Prayer Bear, Mother Goose, Dora the Explorer, Barney, and the Donut Man.

My sister likes to play with Moonlight and Victoria from the Tribe of Reuben.  Soul likes to come to me at meal time and when we go swimming she always asks me to come over to her.  My sister likes to run around and yell a lot.  I knew everyone says she is cute, but she really is a handful, especially when she does not get her way.  But, the advantage is that I won’t miss her.  I love my sister and am proud she is here.

by Esther (Age 11 | Tribe of Simeon)

Charlez has ISSUES!  We were trying to put him on a diet because he was overweight, but nooooo!  He tried to eat Dani’s socks.  “Socks are just not good for a vacuum’s digestive system,” said Strings.  He should have a steady diet of lint, dirt, and bugs.  “I gave him a little piece of carpet, but he went too far after that,” said Dani.  Charlez is stubborn and greedy and won’t save any food for the other vacuums.  Charlez, our neighborhood vacuum, has ISSUES!  Can you help?  If you can, call 1-800-123-4567.  Help!

by Noah (Age 8 | Tribe of Dan)

Before I went to camp I was sad because I didn’t want to go.  But my mom wanted me to go, so she signed me up.  When I got to camp I didn’t like it, but the next day I got a little used to it.  Every day I would get a little more used to it. 

We played a game called Mission Impossible.  It is a fun game because you have to find clues at night when it is pitch black and you can’t see anything.  We get to go to activities like archery, boating, rock wall, football, board games, and lots of other things. 

Now it is the last day and we are going to go home tomorrow morning.  Next time I might come again.  The people in my tribe are Daniel, Brett, Austin, Josiah, Zack, and me.  Zack, Austin, and Brett already left and next the rest of us will leave when camp is over.  Camp was fun!

by Mickey (Age 11 | Tribe of Simeon)

Clover was born in March 1987 in New Jersey.  Then she moved to Colorado and then to Long Island, NY, but she only remembers Long Island.

Clover is going into 11th grade.  She has 5 siblings.  In order, they are: 1st Snowflake (who is a counselor here at camp), 2nd Clover, 3rd Mercy, 4th Noah, 5th Devora, and 6th Naomi.

Clover came to believe in Jesus when she was young.  She likes to drink lemonade and ice tea.  Her favorite thing to eat is pasta.  She likes track, and she’s been in it for 11 years.  In her free time she likes to hang out with her friends.  Clover would rather be a TL than an ATL because TLs get more time off and they don’t have to clean.  Her favorite game here is M.I.  After Junior Camp she will go to Adventure Camp.

by Sarah (Age 10 | Tribe of Simeon)

There have been a lot of unnecessary injuries this year.  

As for scrapes, there were Vicky, Austin, and Elizabeth (Elizabeth also had a sprained ankle.)

During the process burning our challah plates, there were burns as well.  For example, Noah, Channah, Uzbeck, Mercy, Elizabeth, and Isaac.  Michael was playing with his camera when he got burned.  Never put hats, cameras, or people near a hot iron!

Sabrina had a fever. 

Mickey, Sarah, and Vicky had blisters. 

Adam had a strained ankle.

Michael had swimmer’s ear. 

Emily got a nosebleed. 

Deborah had a terrible fall and got cuts and bruises on her elbow, hip, and both knees.

Josiah had a cut.  There weren’t many splinters, though–just Uzbeck, Elizabeth, and Austin each had one.

There were a lot more injuries than this.  We should try to prevent injuries and keep our bodies safe!

by Mercy (Age 9 | Tribe of Reuben)

This year, unlike other years, we luckily had a sleepout without rain.  This time we slept at the lookout, about a 10-minute walk from camp.  We got our sleeping bags, our pillows, and Bibles.  Next, we went to the lookout and picked a spot to sleep there.  I slept in the middle of the floor of the lookout.  Then we waited and waited for something to do.

We looked out at the view, pretended we were cats, and talked.  Then we ate hot dogs and hamburgers.  Esther didn’t like the meat, so Speedy came with a huge plate with chicken and potatoes, carrots, and much more.  Then we played Red Rover, Red Rover and after that had s’mores.  Then we all got in bed.  All of a sudden, we heard a noise that was an instrument.  Indigo was playing. 

The next morning, Rachel and I told stories and looked at the view.  Then we went back to the cabin and some of us went back to bed.

by Adam (Age 12 | Tribe of Asher)

Well, it all started at night when I took a shower.  Levi P. was in the other shower when all of a sudden, Speedy ran in and yelled, “Mission Impossible!”

I didn’t believe it.  Levi P. was washing his hair and he swallowed a big gulp of shampoo.  I jumped out of the shower and didn’t know what was going on.  I ran into the cabin and everybody was running in circles, so I did too.  Then we got ready and went to the Mishkan to play M.I.

When we went out, we were spotted 3 times–twice by Gutch and once by Patch, our own ATL.  We were about to get our last clue, when the lights in the Mishkan went on.  The Tribe of Dan won.

by Michael (Age 11 | Tribe of Benjamin)

Hello.  This is Michael and I’m reporting here from Camp Gilgal.  Isaac is with me to do an interview.

Michael: What was interesting about the rock wall?

Isaac: The challenge and the sense of completion.

Michael: Which wall did you like the most (bouldering/medium/hard)?

Isaac: I thought that the hard wall was extremely difficult because the rocks were so far apart.  I enjoyed the medium wall because it was easy enough for me to do.  I enjoyed the bouldering wall in a different way because I liked the challenge of going sideways.

Michael: What was your favorite part about rock wall?

Isaac: Reaching the ledge and touching the top.

by Rachel (Age 9 | Tribe of Reuben)

We were all doing devotions and all of a sudden Mercy heard a car pull up.  I climbed up on Elizabeth’s bed and saw Yuk-Yuk’s car pulling up.  I was telling Llama that’s what happens when I’m in the shower and the M.I. song goes on.  Llama said we would do devotions first.  “Alright,” I said.  But out of nowhere the M.I. song went on and our tribe screamed.

A few minutes later, we were in the Mishkan.  We decoded our clue and we were off!  We got our second clue and we were running, but Shaina and I lost the others and someone left their stuff out and I tripped over it.

Speedy saw me and I almost looked like a rock, but I wasn’t that clever, and we got spotted.  We were walking back until we saw the lights on in the Mishkan and heard the Mission Impossible song!  I can’t believe it was over so fast!

by Rachel (Age 9 | Tribe of Reuben)

I interviewed with my counselor, and this is what she said:

Rachel: Where were you born?

Llama: Schenectady, NY.

Rachel: How old are you?

Llama: 22.

Rachel: Has there been anything cool at camp?

Llama: About a 15- or 17-minute M.I.  That’s crazy!

Rachel: What are you doing right now?

Llama: Spending time with my tribe.

Rachel: Do you like the food here at camp?

Llama: Yes, I think it’s wonderful.

Rachel: Do you like camp so far?

Llama: It’s a lot of fun, but exhausting.

Rachel: What is your favorite thing at camp?

Llama: Swimming and soccer.

Rachel: Do you have any brothers or sisters?

Llama: Yes, two brothers!

Thank you, Llama.  I loved interviewing with you!

by Victoria (Age 9 | Tribe of Reuben)

At Camp Gilgal, we have cabin cleanup.  Cabin cleanup is when everyone cleans up their cabin.  They clean up for cabin inspection.  The inspection is done by either Speedy or Twister.  It’s very hard to get a good grade.  We have to make sure our shoes are not askew and our garbage can is empty.  Our light has to be off and our beds must be made.

At lunch, our scores are given to us.  Usually Speedy tells our cabin, “Your cabin was good, but there were some infractions.”  Some kids leave notes for Speedy so they can get bonus points.  If a tribe gets under 60 points, that tribe has to clean the bathrooms.  My tribe scored very high every day.  One day we even got 105 points!  Naphtali got 55 points, so they spent free time cleaning the bathrooms.

Cabin cleanup was good because it helped us keep our cabin clean.

by Elizabeth (Age 9 | Tribe of Reuben)

The camp went on our field trip to Mount Kenyon (a horse place).  Our tribe was having a good time until we got on the horses.  It wasn’t bad or anything, but we had some incidents.

The first thing we did when we got there was choose which tribe went first, which was Naphtali.  Some of the other kids went with Speedy on the Naphtali hike, and I was in that group.  We saw lots of cool animals.  There were 2 little orange lizards, an inch worm, and about 50 frogs!  We then got back and ate lunch.

It was almost time for my tribe to go up.  So we waited a little longer.  Some of the girls went to the gift shop to buy some things.  Then when they got back, it was our time to go on the horses and that’s when the exciting things happened.

When I got on the horse and was waiting, the horse behind me was my horse’s boyfriend.  So my horse started moving its tail and legs.  Then we set off.  My mom was on the trail with me, but in the back of the line and I was in the front.  After awhile, the horse in front of me got a little stinky.  It farted twice in my face!!!  On the second time it farted, it stopped and pooped.  My horse stopped very quickly and the horse behind almost ran into my horse and me.  The next thing I knew, we were on the trail again.

Suddenly, my horse got a little rusty and started to trip over stones.  Then we got to the end of the trail and my leg hurt very badly.  When we were going down the hill at the end of the trail, my horse went a little too fast.  So, I got there and waited for my mom, and my mom’s horse got excited and jumped to the side.  I finally got off the horse and I fell over because my leg hurt.  It was finally over–the adventure on the saddle.

by Mercy (Age 9 | Tribe of Reuben)

It all started one night when we were all getting started with our devotions, when all of a sudden Shaina and I had this weird feeling that we were going to play Mission Impossible.  So, we got into our dark clothes and waited for the Mission Impossible song to go on.  We were in the middle of devotions and all of a sudden we heard the M.I. song.  Our cabin was the first to scream, then everybody else started to scream.

Then, as I was walking across to the Tribe of Simeon’s room, I saw this BIG, HUMUNGOUS SPIDER.  It was so big and hairy that we thought it was a baby tarantula.  Indigo killed it and all of its babies came out.  Yucky!  We all headed to the Mishkan, when all of a sudden Speedy came in and said that we were starting in our cabins.  We all got scared, so I told Twister and she said that we were actually starting in the Mishkan.

We got our first clue and then the game began.  Our first clue led us to the lookout.  On the way to the lookout we never got caught.  We were just about to go to the van when our tribe split up.  Speedy came out and spotted Rachel and we all had to go back to our cabin.  When we were almost there we saw the lights on in the Mishkan, so we went there instead and the Tribe of Dan had won, not us!  But that’s okay.  That game was one of the shortest games we ever played at camp.  That’s how my Mission Impossible experience was.

by Emily (Age 11 | Tribe of Naphtali)

by Spike and Shades

On the first day of Gilgal my counselor gave to me:

A pigeon with leprosy

On the second day of Gilgal my counselor gave to me:

2 time-outs and a pigeon with leprosy

And so on:

3 juice packs

4 Bible verses

5 cold showers

6 Ritalin

7 

8 lessed frecks

9 life vests

10 vitamins

11 bug bites

12 laundry bosses

by Matthew (Age 12 | Tribe of Asher) 

During Camp Gilgal, the Tribe of Asher climbed “The Wall”.  It wasn’t the rock wall; it was a wall about 12 feet high and about 6 feet wide.  There was a rope hanging from the top and a ladder on the side.

“Your mission,” said Yuk-Yuk, “is to get to the top of the wall.  And you can’t use the ladder.”

“So?” I said.

“And you can’t use the rope.”

“What?!”

Yes, that was indeed our mission.  So, after many hopeful-looking plans, and many saddening failures, we were about to quit.

Meanwhile, since it was dark, Yuk-Yuk and Patch were trying to catch a firefly to illuminate a watch to see the time.  They said they would help us, and so we got Levi up.  But tribe time was almost over and we had to go back to our cabin.

About a week later, it was decided that Levi should receive a free pass to the top via the ladder.  Using the same method as before, we got Leo and then Adam up.  Ryan couldn’t go with us.  Finally, it was my turn.  I placed one food in Patch’s hand and another in Yuk-Yuk’s.  So they pushed me up.

Leo would get my left hand and Levi would get my right hand.  Adam would be the general lifter.  The only problem was, they were pushing me forward instead of up!!!  I told them that and I got up.  We did it!!!  Yuk-Yuk and Patch only helped, so they didn’t have to get up.

So, we walked away towards our cabin feeling proud of our accomplishments.  We had climbed “The Wall”.

by Christine (Age 12 | Tribe of Naphtali)

Apparently, not all the people in the “Speedy” family are so speedy.  For instance, Speedy’s wife is “Sloth”.  The lovely couple will have been together for 10 years on August 21st.  They met each other at Times Square in 1992.  They only knew each other for 8 months before they got married.  You would think that is was love at first sight, but they both agreed it was not love at first sight.  Weirdos.

They have two wonderful daughters together.  Their first child is their daughter Curly, who is 4 and a half.  Their second child is named Moonlight.  She is 2 and a half.  Together, they live in an apartment in Manhattan provided by Jews for Jesus.  And they live happily ever after.