From Flo
I am inviting members of the group to share their most cherished memories of camp and the impact these experiences had/have on their Christian walk and development. Who will break the silence????. Barry (Williams) you should have many, not to mention O'Neil and Wayne and Micheal (H) with that first boys club camp to Portland. Who remember the bun from Kong's bakery that Shanty (Leroy) bought for camp in St Mary. They were as hard as nail - even when we tried to give them away for free to the campers they would not eat! Ray (Wynter) you are one of the original leader at carmel camp - some stories PLEASE! Come on Share, share ,share,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,those stories - I know they are many of you just bursting to share. Anyway have to run.... its almost 1 a.m. and I have an early morning.
Flo
From Wayne Tomlinson
ReplyDeleteHi Guy
Some of these memories are way far beyond my time. But at least it make me feel that I am still young, because the camps you guys are referring to was as far back as maybe 1975-76, and I think 1976 was my first camp. Yes I think it was Holmwood Tech High and, that camp was "Irie too" and that was my first experience with so much crying. not to mention Danny.
Flo you mention the BOYS CLUB CAMP. That was a week I would never forget.I don't even know where to start. Not much joke in it, but let me try to recap.We took the train to Bog walk (this was the first trip to the country for most of the guys)then we had to walk another four or so miles to the school where we set up camp ( someone help me to remember the name of the school). I thinks Shanty was the Speaker for that camp, and believe me he had a hand full with some of the boys especially Hubert Robinson, who did not sleep at nights, the guys were affraid, because they though he would turn into a warewolf, because there was full moon a couple of nights(Shanty, Wally, Peter, Mikey I know you can contribute to this).Maybe about the last two days, of the camp we ran out of food and money, but the people in the community help us out a lot. At the close of camp we had a lot of food to take back to Kingston, but sad to say a lot of it go left by the wayside on our long journey back to the train station.
This was one of the many "milestone" in Carmel's (our little but talawah) church on the ROCK history.We got sponsorship for most if not all of the guys at the camp, and even though the condition was rough, THE CAMP WAS IRIE.
This is something I will never forget, and I think I may have said it already.I remember we went to one of our sunday school picinc (do WE still have them???) and as usual before we go off to play we would hear a speech from one of our elders, this one was from our late elder "Uncle George" I will never forget that man. Among the things he said was "Carmel will never die" this was said over 20 yrs ago and most of us would see this on our visits to Carmel, with all the new faces of kids who you may remember them as babies.
CARMEL WILL NEVER DIE(Uncle George R.I.P)
Well back to you "OLD FOLKS" (smile, just Joking)
One love
Wayne
From Glen Wilson
ReplyDeleteHi Folks,
as you all may figure out by now, I read more than I write, listen more than I talk but I am always here none the less.
All carmel camps nice, nice, nice. It's a long time since I've been to one so I do not know the "Carmel camp signature" is still there ie. weeping and sometimes wailing at the shearing session on the final day. Some of us were even addicted to the 4 day mountain top experience that is second to none so we would saddle up and off to Carmel camp we'd go religiously every year. Think I did about 10-12 years before my first break.
Robins Bay, St. Mary was the first camp I can recall in the year ???. That time I was a shrimp at 10 years old against people like Martin Brown, Jasper, Shanty, Ray Wynter, Dell, Brenda, Struggy etc. With laughter I can remember my very first nick name "Glen fish head" which I can still hear being called by Ray Wynter and the others. At this camp I was introduced to sleeping on a cot, a very low sleeping device about 4-6 inches off the ground, which were rented from UP Park Camp (I think). If you turn too hard, the whole thing would just capsize and spill you all over the dirty floor.
I also cherish the Caymanas camp experience (in the year ????). That one was unique. Croaking lizard in abundance in the dorms. Wasn't that the camp where a croaking lizard ran up the pants leg of .....I think Uncle George it was. Maybe Jasper or one of the God Fathers/Mothers of Carmel camps could remind me. Other special attractions were bath once per day (about 4:00 pm) at the river a few miles from campsite, bush for rest room and ticks all over the place, but hey, that is what makes camping different and exciting. I also learnt to do the "dog paddle" at this camp....my first swimming experience.
As usual the spiritual side was always solid. Boy, If we could have those camp style devotions forever. Chapel session was also the bomb! I really doubt that any one ever went to a carmel camp and remained the same afterwards. I am also sure these experiences and memories will keep the family knit as one for decades to come.
Glen Wilson.
From Kassandra Harty
ReplyDeleteHi Guys,
Just to add my little 2 cents re carmel Camp Memories.The year was 1976 the venue: Holmwood Technical High School.This was my very first camp (earned 1st prize from Sunday School class), I rerember the wonderful singing all the way on the bus to the camp site. I remember too just how astonished and at the same time annoyed that Keturah Brown, Yvonne Issac and a few others had their bath in a cheese pan (our group felt they were just too "nasty").
I remember the laughter that was created and my almost wanting to walk away filled with my embarrassment on the huge 2.5 ft x 2.5ft Suitcase my mother had packed for me to take to the Easter Camp, (I remember like it was yesterday, when Noel Ellis said "whose house is this" I nearly cried. The suitcase had in 2 sheet sets (flat, fitte and pillow cases) 2 pillows, 2 hand bags, stockings, Raincoat (new - bought specifically for camp), umbrella, Rain boots (bought specifically for camp), swim suit, 2 bath towels, 1 beach towel, Dress for Banquet, 1 WHITE DRESS (Mamma said, this was for the Good Friday Morning Service at camp, 1 dress for the Sunday Morning Resurrection Service - (Mamma was a seasoned camper so she knew what to expect), toiletries, games clothes, clothes for the duration of camp, plus spare clothes (just incase it rained and I did not have anything else to put on). It was no wonder Leon Brown AND WE ALL KNOW JUST HOW STRONG lION WAS) and another person had to carry my suitcase for me.
I remember a few years later when Dickie Soutar was the Camp speaker you just could not sleep in Chapel (I remember him calling out to young lad by the name of "Doctor" and said something to the effect "you, long lip bwoy whe mi just say?" you could see shame written all over "doctor's face and he was in a very deep sleep and by now the whole camp was looking at him).
We really had some tremendous times back in those days.I'm going back to do the peoples work.
Ta, Guys.
From Claudette Wilson
ReplyDeleteHello everyone,
I have read every email that have been sent, I have cried and I have laugh while reading them. After reading each email I realize that God had place each and everyone of us at Carmel for a reason.(even though I am not in regular contact with friends I feel I do so by reading your email) Carmel gave me a spiritual experience that even though at the time I had no idea
how much it would have impacted my life. I think going to camp was a great experience for me. I rememeber wanting to go to camp because when camp was over and I would here people like Joan, Flo, Pam, Danny, Leroy and others talk about their experience I taught I had
to go and see for myself. Camp was great. the skits were funny. I talk about my life at Carmel all the time to my church family here in Detroit I told them that there will never be another church family like the one I had in Jamaica at Carmel. Keep sharing those
memories. Bye from cold Detroit.
Blessings to all!!