Chi-KO's Journal

Camp Lake Chi-KO’s has been going on for 50+ years post a comment…  Let us know how Camp Lake Chi-KO has made an impact on you.

Comments

[elijah]

Happy 50th Anniversary Camp Lake Chi-KO. See you in 7 years...

[sterling a. miller]

Chi-KO. It was a place of first for many of us. It was a place where I learned my first QT. Where I lost my voice by Monday afternoon (and had accupuncture needles put in my throat) it was where I really came to know who God was, and why He loved me. Chi-KO taught me that I can love the Lord with ALL my heart and not be afraid.

Chi-KO was where i learned that 'totheLAKE' is actually one word. I was the recipient of many, many, many, many, many, baptisms by force (thanks D.Nakai, J. Matsuda et al) I also came to profess and submit to mybaptism in that same lake. And that although scripture says: "man cannot live by bread alone" I got pretty close to it by avoiding camp food. As a camper, I remember Mrs. Omi used to hook me up with a little extra gohan around thursday, That sweet white rice from Mrs. Omi is how I learned what GRACE is.

I still pray for Chi-KO every summer, as it will continue to hold a special place in my family, in my faith, and in my life, I am greatful for the faithful stewardship of all the churches,families, and counselors and to all the lives changed by knowing who Jesus is Deep Down in my heart.

camper, counselor, co-director-

sterling a. miller

(and boyz, one word of advice: be nice to the girls, you never know how God may bless you later in life with a Chi-KO woman.)

[aiko oyama yamada]

Wow! 50 years of Camp Lake Chi-ko!It seems like yesterday that I remember going to Camp Lakeside in Michigan with Kei Ogasawara as Camp Director, with some of my older brothers and sisters there too, my older sister Miyako, even my parents! Lois got a Best Camper award,much to my amazement! David got in trouble swimming at night with Dexter Gondo. I think my sister Josephine also got a Best Camper award, as did Dwight Omi.I did not,nor did my cabin, but I remember the campfires,the clean lake and the boy and girl campers raiding each others' cabins,(also at Conference Point in Williams Bay).

It was just great to be part of this big, Christian family, even bigger than my own; to study God's word,to have fun & compete at Sword Drills, do crafts, and especially, to pray quietly to God by myself, and also with my counselor and cabinmates. I met girls like Edie Nakamura, Sharon Deguchi, Elaine and Carolyn Naka, Diane Tamura(whose father was a judo master), Ramie Nakamura (older), Willie Saito, James Ouchi and my brother and sister's older crowd. I remember Frank and Ruth Saito and her robust laughter, Fred and Mrs. Omi and the gohan, the Kittakas, Pastor Stan & June Johnson and their great kids (all blond), Tooru Kajiwara and his playfulness,Kay & Harry Kuwahara (and their boys, Marty and Michael),Leo & Kazu Edwards, and so many more smiling, loving, gracious faces of Christ. It was and still is so special--culminating in lives given to Christ, publicly testifying to their faith, baptized in total submission to Him,immersed in the cold lake, refreshed by the Holy Spirit.

Camp Lake Chi-ko is where my kids, Reiko and Doug encountered and gave their lives to Christ.I watched whole other generations of my own family, and others, realize who they really are, why they were born, and what their real purpose in life is--to pass on to others the gospel of Jesus Christ. After 50 years, the message is still the same, and still desperately needed for the world to hear, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

Congratulations and may God Bless Chi-ko for another 50!

Aiko Oyama Yamada

[Karen Hiyama]

Who remembers this?

Camp Lake Chi-KO camp for me
And it's here I long to be
Lakes and trees and skies so blue
When I'm gone I'll dream of you

When the sun goes down on the old camp ground
Happy voices laughing and gay
Camp Lake Chi-KO camp for me
And it's here I long to be

Apparently you have to be pretty old to know that song.

Karen Hiyama

[Jim Kamikawa]

Camp Lake Chi-KO

Family Camp: I remember going as a pre-schooler and just running up and down a grassy hill with my stuffed Snoopy dog. Having my dad or other “big” kids put me on their shoulders as we went up the hill for meal time. As a preschooler not fully understanding why Mom and Dad were going into the “big building” to hear some other adult talking but knowing that it must be something very important for both of them to go. I was more interested in finding acorns, throwing pine cones, searching for that four leaf clover, or spotting a squirrel.

Early grade school: I remember going on elusive “snipe” hunts late at night and then having someone wake me up at a very early morning hour asking me to go fishing! I remember one year being caught in a heavy storm and seeing a tornado hit the other side of the lake! For some it was exciting for others it was very scary! Cleaning the cabin, learning to make my own bed!, being challenged by other cabins knowing very well we will lose to the girls if it was jump rope or even arm wrestling. Capture the flag, Tug o war, and some type of pull apart the “worm” competition was always fun but someone always got hurt. Arts and crafts, tie-dying t-shirts 70’s style. Walking the trail along the lake. Singing, ‘it only takes a spark to get a fire going…” Victory Circle always very emotional and inspiring.

Jr High. The eldest boys cabin at Camp Lake Chi-KO. Troublemakers we were. My sincere apologies to the camp director (I guess that would have been Craig Kiitaka and to whomever the little girl is described next. Raiding all the cabins during lunch time and blaming it on the second oldest boys cabin (which we didn’t raid) as we claimed our cabin was raided too – truth be told we just never cleaned our cabin so it naturally looked like it was raided. “Cabin raiding” came to a quick halt when we saw a little girl from the youngest girl cabin crying because she thought she lost her stuffed animal. Lesson learned. “Now Let Us Sing” being sung during meal times. I still sing it today with my kids. “Shout Out Your Joy” singing in rounds was great worship. Having our counselor Joey Uyeda share one night about Jesus Christ and how He suffered and died on the cross for our sins – it was like the Passion of the Christ in impact – all of us tough guys/troublemakers were broken down and crying like babies reflecting on what great love that God must have for each of us by allowing His Son to be persecuted, tortured, and crucified on the cross for each one of us sinners. I knew for certain that the time has come for me to make my public commitment of my faith and my allegiance to strive to be like Christ for the rest of my days. I got baptized later that week by Pastor Ken Murakami. Saying good bye to new friends and having pen pals to write to.

Teen Camp. Even though my family moved out of the Midwest, I made it back to the Midwest a couple times to go to Teen Camp. One of those years was my Senior year. Joey counseled us again (brave soul). I forgot to mention his “I love Sushi” song. For those who don’t know the song, it starts out with a prelude something very sentimental about a visit to a lonely and elderly relative that is in need, dire need, and when he leaned over to hear what it was he starts singing, “Sushi, oh how I love Sushi. You start with vinegar rice and everything else that is nice…” I can think of a whole bunch of great times I had during Teen Camp. Feeling like we were living life to its fullest. For a moment, I caught a glimpse of what it must be like in heaven worshiping, fellowshipping, and praising God with other brothers and sisters in Christ. As a young person we talked about the spiritual high and how we never wanted to lose that feeling when we leave Camp to go back to the “real world”. While the reality is we are not of this world if we belong to Christ so it is natural not to want to leave a place of such worship and fellowship with other believers. The atmosphere we experience at Conference Point is one in which is natural for a Christian living in the body of Christ it’s not a high. We need to wear the full armor of God daily and know there is nothing that separates us from the love of God whether you see that reflected in others around you or not. Know this and put it into practice to experience a life in abundance regardless of where you are.

For those of you who can still attend and serve at Camp Lake Chi-KO may God bless you as you are impacting more than you probably realize or will ever see for God’s glory of His kingdom. And for those who helped serve and even attended Conference Point while I was there in the mid/late 70’s and early 80’s. I thank God for you. Your impact on setting a solid spiritual foundation for me when I was young has helped me grow and serve in many ways to this very day. Thank you! And happy 50th!

For His Glory,

-Jim Kamikawa