KOZ Boys Summer Fishing Camp 2010

I often ask myself “how do you explain that” when it comes to the experience at one of the KOZ Camps or events. I have to say that, again, that is where I am as I write this summary of the summer fishing camps for both the KOZ Boys and Pinks (girls).

The boys camp was back at the Hi-Line Resort on Lake Bucanan where we cared for 13 boys. My leaders were Dylan Day, a senior in High School and one of our L.I.T.’s (Leader in Training) and Cody Ryan, my 27 year-old who is a professional angler and fresh water fishing guide. I was never worried going into this camp if I had enough leaders, it is a whole lot different fishing than hunting and this facility makes it really easy.

With the lake levels back up after historic lows last year the fish were scattered and hard to find. We tried everything from cat fishing to perch jerking and it was a tough go. Our saving grace was three-fold, a seining net, swimming and the Lord providing two striper guides on the last day.

The boys love dragging the seine net through the shallows and catching all types of fish. Lots of the fish were used for bait on the crappie dock and actually worked. The swimming was a given, they could do that for hours. They swapped between the pool and the lake everyday with the pool usually being the last stop each evening so to avoid showers on most nights; it’s a true guys thing.

Tuesday of the adventure after lunch a guide boat tied up to the crappie dock and unloaded passengers and a limit of striper. I made my way down there to investigate and it ended up he guided for Ken Milam, the most well know striper guide on the lake, and a personal friends. He committed to taking some of the boys one day that week if Ken would. A quick call to Ken secured a Thursday morning half day trip and we were set. On Thursday the boys went out and laid it on the striper in both boats. Any thoughts of a poor fishing camp experience left that morning.

The theme the Holy Spirit led us with this summer was Romans 10:9 and each night it was the topic of discussion as the boys relaxed in their sleeping bags. On the last night of fish camp all the boys participated in the “talent contest” – this is a real challenge for lots of the boys and it is cool to see them push through the macho ego stuff and have fun.

The youngest boy of the group accepted Christ that night as his Lord and Savior while we sat and talked about our favorite things at camp. I invoke the opportunity to pray Romans 10:9 at each camp, I feel called to do so. Sometimes it happens, sometimes it does not. But this night we all celebrated with our famous KOZ banana pudding. It was quite the party.

Dylan, a first time KOZ camp L.I.T. said, “it was cool to see the hard core guys start to get real as the week went on. I really liked it when “catfish” (nickname of the smallest fish camper) accepted Christ.”

KOZ Pink Summer Fishing Camp 2010

I said all along that the summer camp with the KOZ Pink girls was going to be a vacation for me. This first foray into the summer camps for the girls side of KOZ was so much more than I had ever expected.

We have two really wonderful new leaders for the KOZ Pink girls, Cindy XLXLXLXLX and Nicole Beasly.  They had both been bugging the heck out of me to go on a KOZ Pink adventure and when I asked if they would take a week from work and go, they jumped at the chance.

Bob Lusk and his wife hosted the camp at their home north of Dallas on lake Texoma. Bob is president of the Texas Outdoor Writers Association and is known as the Pond Boss after his highly successful business and magazine. Bob and I had been talking about the opportunity and he was very interested in hosting the program. The only week I had to do it began two days after the boys fish camp. It was ugg for me, wash my clothes, one night of rest and off again.
To the last minute we added a girl and passed our limit of eight to nine but turned out each seat in the two vehicles were used, so obviously we were suppose to take each girl that came.

The first morning we left to go boating, well I guess if you can call a 44’ yacht a boat. The day was spent on Lake Texoma swimming and tooling about. We anchored on a sandy island, had sandwiches and swam, a fantastic time bonding and getting to know each other.

The next three days we fished different ponds Bob had on his property, perch in one, catfish another, bass in another. If there was ever a place you dream of fishing and catching, it looked like this. Guest speakers came and taught the girls about habitat and wildlife. They zip lined, swam in the ponds and laughed from early morning to late into the night.

During the late night chats God spoke clearly in so many ways. It was an amazing time of caring, sharing and tears. Girls fought through fears and worries, they let go of things that had kept them from who they wanted to be. On the last night as we sat around the living room seven girls accepted Christ, two reaffirmed their love for Him and I can honestly say it was one of the most powerful times of my life. I was blessed to see the love of God and the Holy Spirit move mountains over that week.

To top it off we prayed on the way home for God to lead us to a small café for lunch. Why pray for that you ask, I am not sure, we just did. He took us off the highway to a small café at two-o’clock in the afternoon and we met the most wonderful couple who had been praying for customers! To just absolutely show us “When He Reins, It Pours” they told us they had been saving a portion of their earnings at the café to donate to a nonprofit Christian group and they handed us a check for $200. Wow.

As we move forward with this program He is convicting us to make sure we stay on point, that as long as it is about Him – He will pour out His blessing upon us. Right when we think we know where He is taking us, it changes. Lord we pray for your will in all our works, we pray for You to bring us the kids we are charged to love on.  Fall hunting and adventure begins soon. We leave the summer camps with one saying that He gave us that sticks with us, “when He reins, He pours.”

Lots of Rein at Summer Hunt Camp for KOZ 2010

Weeks before Kids Outdoor Zone summer hunt camp 2010 we began praying. We prayed for the boys to come who needed to come, we prayed about the ranch, the leaders and for the Holy Spirit to fill any place we forgot to name specifically. I can tell you that make sure you are prepared for what you pray for.

Eleven boys and four Harvest Team Leaders (HTL’s) and one Leader in training (LIT, Guide Level) were the motley crew that spent six days together in late June and early July hunting hogs, predators and rabbit at the ranch we leased near Fowlerton, Texas.
I wanted to write my usual eloquent wrap up letter about the camp but late last night I received the most amazing email. It is a blog written by a mom of one of our first time campers. I think it pretty much says it all.

By Ethan’s Mom:
Big Fish returned today from 6 day hunt camp and I swear he came home a wonderfully different boy. He's at least two years more mature, he's telling stories with complete sentences - lots of them, sharing with all of us his "loot", he's been nothing but delightful all evening. No potty talk, no burping at the table, he's chewing with his mouth closed and saying "yes ma'am", and using words like "glorious"! He's been relaxed and kind to his siblings, looking at all of us in the eyes and respectful. Not that he doesn't do these things normally, it's just that they tend to be a bit hidden. Maybe he just needed a week of being free to experience all the disgusting adventure that boys enjoy.

He spent the week with 10 other boys. He shot a pig and a rabbit, skinned and gutted both of them, sweated through each day, ate cricket frogs fried over the campfire ("delicious, they taste like shrimp chips"), telling dumb-blonde jokes, "mudding" with the boys (otherwise known as "red-neck slip'n slide"), firing semi-automatic rifles, pistols (straight into a rabbit) and every other sort of possible ammunition, staying up late and getting up early (5am) everyday, peeing outside all week, sticking his hand into the gut of a freshly slaughtered pig, watching John Wayne and witnessing two boys come to Christ. He brought home two massive pork leg/roasts/hams and he ate fresh rabbit off the grill.

All this added to an earlier sense that my son was the "reason" we moved to Texas and how we ended up on the land we did. I know he would not have had this experience in California. I know he was made for this. I know it's hard for me to understand. I know (hope) he'll be doing this again!

-Ethan does not come from a broken home. He has a great Christian mother and father and from all I can see is just a great kid. But he is at the awkward age where boys press the envelope, stretch the boundaries and test the waters. He now owns part of KOZ. He has something that is his, it’s all male and it fits for him, today.

The structure before, during and after this camp was Spirit filled and intentional. The KOZ leadership team and prayer team all came together and made sure God was the one we went to each day, each hour, each moment. He showered us with His love through the boys.  This leadership team provided a model for all other outings, HTLS and leaders to follow.
Yes it rained for days, the mud was everywhere and the boys ate lots of frogs. Every boy had a shot at a hog, some several, and rabbits we laid to rest on the grill Friday. The bonding and spiritual lessons were so amazing and on the last day, when the two boys accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior, it all became clear and His light covered us through the heavy clouds and rain.

Please continue to pray for us as the evil one will look for weak spots. He is already trying to confuse and distract us from the next camp and the blessing from this one. Two weeks we head out again and lots of new boys are going. Please pray for us.
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KOZ Survival Camp Spring 2010

With Kids Outdoor Zone youth adventure ministry Jesus has and still does come alongside us time and time again. He loves on us and cares for us. He carries the yoke we struggle with and talks to us in those still quiet moments encouraging g us and comforting us.
Over the last few months we have learned to “press in,” to strive for God’s love and direction in our lives and KOZ. We are learning a lot about preparing our hearts and our intentions before acting on behalf of KOZ. He showed us this weekend that He is there and that He loves that we love Him and are coming to Him for cover and direction.
This Friday we left Austin with eight boys, one guide in training and three men who have a heart for the Lord and KOZ.

Saturday was spent teaching survival skills to the boys as if they were stranded from a plane wreck. They learned about finding water and purifying it. They were taught how to start a fire and create an SOS. They build debris huts and learned how to select the right spot to build shelter. They caught fish with survival tools and ate them. They all did a great job.

We love all the guy activities. It gets hot, we get tired and hungry but we bond together during these lessons. This trip was no different than ones we have done in the past except that, the weeks leading up to this trip our leaders, prayer warriors and intercessors cried out for Jesus to be with us, to heal the boys who were coming, to love on them. To show us how to love them, care for them, lead them to Him.

Saturday evening started off tense with a lot of the boys tired and hot. That can be fuel for anger, frustration and a mean spirit. The talk about the campfire was all but loving and caring. One of the leaders called for a time of quiet reflection and for all the boys to separate for a period of time. They were not allowed to talk or be together, they spread about the pasture, valley and creek side.

When they returned we pressed in. We began to talk about where they were in their walk with the Lord. That is when He came. The Holy Spirit filled the valley, the pasture, the camp ground, the area about the camp fire and the boys. Over the next period of time they shared their hearts and heart breaks, their love for family and worries. We wept and hugged and cried more. This was one of the most powerful times with God many of us had ever experienced. The wounded began healing, the lost accepted His direction and caring. Eternal life changing moments flowed from the 10-year-old to the 17-year-old. Beautiful words and emotions. By the end of the time together we were exhausted and sleep came easy.

Sunday morning was beautiful and a cool breeze crossed the valley. We awoke to find the Lord was not finished with us. One young man with a wounded eye from months before woke in severe discomfort. His eye was red and swollen and he could not keep it open. A leader asked if he could pray healing over him and as he did the Lord told him to press in. He prayed over and over and over pressing in as the boys eye got better, and better and then, like the man on the road to Jericho, his eye healed. Healed. A physical healing. A wounded eye from a wounded boy crying for the Lord to help him, heal him, be with him. It was nothing less that miraculous.

After breakfast the boys made their way to the creek. The cool waters were a comfort in the heat the day before and on this Sunday morning they became a place of healing and commitment to live a life for the Lord. Four boys accepted the eternal gift of life with our Lord in front of their peers. The time was joyous and filled with cheering and laughter.  A true day of glory for the Lord.

The blind man took up his garments and followed Jesus after he was healed. Lord we pray these boys, mentors and leaders hunger to follow you each moment. It was not a prayer that Jesus prayed, it was the blind man’s trust that the Lord would heal him that healed him. Lord thank you for the boys who inspired faith this weekend. Thank you for their hearts of innocence and joy. Thank you for filling us with the Holy Spirit and His guidance. Lord thank you for those who cover us in prayer and stand beside us when we waver or feel down. Holy Spirit use us, tool our hearts into servant hearts that please You.

The survival skills for the boys at this camp were well received and the one boy who has done Marine Corps training summer camp said it was awesome and he learned a lot. As far as us leaders, we changed the name from Survival Camp to God Camp. He provided the boys with survival tools they can use for eternity and used the leaders along the way. We, again, found He provides us with pure fresh living water, burning fire, comforting safe shelter and food for life. The best survival tools we could ever need and no devastating crash required.

Amen!

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The final run with the boys for deer season was as
good as it gets.
(nicknames are used in place of the true boys names, however they would change them if they could)

The weekend seems much longer when we are at deer camp. So much can and does happen from mid-afternoon on Friday to Sunday at luch. This last trip was such a blessing and a powerful time , again, it is hard to put it all into words.

We had a couple new guys on this trip. T-man (11) has never been out with us. His father passed away in November and I asked him back then if he would come out with us, his mom said he was anxiously awaiting the trip. Sniper (11)came to hunt camp last summer and I had not had a chance to connect with him since then. Sniper has a smile that draws you in and just makes you feel good, I like that about him. Sarge’s (12) mom wanted to make sure he got out with us this trip. Sarge is a favorite and he is at a time in his life where he is questioning a lot of things and where they fit. Half-pint (10) was one who also had been waiting to go for months but his grades and a little bit of trouble in school kept him from going till now.  Finally Tonto (10) – a boy with the heart of a giant.
The drive up was without incident. The final stop at the feed store and the tiny country store in Cherokee, Texas were highlights as always with the purchase of their final soda for the weekend and a bag of peanut-brittle. With all boys working we unloaded the trailer and trucks in short time and were ready to hunt.

Chris Deirski was the other leader on the hunt. Chris is one of the most consistent and gentle guys I know. He has a ruff tuff exterior with excellent outdoor skills and a passion for hunting and fishing as well as a love for the mission of teaching boys. His spirit is calming and always a welcome relief in the midst of a camp with boys.

We took two teams out to hunt that evening and this was when Sniper earned his nick-name. At summer camp he was called Crazy Eye’s because he could see things way across the ranch, this time after taking an afternoon skunk at 75 yards he took a doe at 170 yards with his 30/30 rifle. If you don’t know rifles this is a very unusual shot with that type of rifle and especially that far, nothing less than amazing. So the hunt camp was off to a fantastic start and Crazy Eyes became Sniper.

The sun set slowly as the boys built a fire pit and played in the dirt. This is when God reminded me why we do this thing called KOZ. Three of the boys, Sniper, Sarge and T-man sat in the makeshift cabin with me as I prepared the kitchen area and the dinner. T-man started talking about his father. This was a conversation I thought we would have at some point during the weekend – but not this soon and I was not sure “I” was ready, but God was.

He talked openly about how he had a dream an hour before his mom came up and told him his father had died. He talked about  how his sister regretted some things that happened before they lost their dad. He talked about his sister and his mom accepting Christ. At one point he asked if you could loose your salvation.  This went on for hours, it seemed like he had all this stuff built up and he needed to get it out and this was the right time and a safe place. I was humbled and just thinking about it at this moment brings me to tears.

To slow the guys down and bring a sense of still to the cabin that night I read the first few chapters of Genesis out loud. It was cool.

The rooster crowed at 5:30 Saturday morning (we have an alarm clock that crows, the guys love and hate it both). We hunted hard that morning. Half-pint killed a big whitetail doe. Chris guided his team. Both were as proud as a peacock and their feathers were fanned out in all their glory!
At noon we had a scheduled visit from the two San Saba county game wardens. They talked with the boys about accidents and their jobs. They checked their tagged deer and talked about how they had done them correctly (whew!). They concluded with Game Warden pins for them. These guys did not have to do this, especially on the last weekend of deer season, but they did and it was fantastic.

The rest of the afternoon was spent building a rock walkway and adding to the fire pit rocks. Leader Mark Chandler joined us that afternoon as planned and his comic relief is always a highlight of any KOZ event. *see notes after this update

Three teams went out to hunt Saturday afternoon/evening. No success in the harvesting of deer but the boys did great in looking and judging doe and bucks. Tonto chose to pass on a whitetail doe, waiting for a blackbuck doe. A huge lesson in itself that we all talked about. We talked about patience and sticking to a decision you make even if you are tempted to just do what comes easiest or for ego or just to do it because everyone else is doing it.

That night at campfire we talked about salvation and what being saved means. We talked about how you accept Christ and John 3: 16. It was woven inbetween smores, scary stores, bad jokes and one of the longest and stinkiest releases of gas ever at a KOZ campfire, and it was not by Mr. Chandler ( we won’t mention Sniper by name, but if we had an award he would have received it, it was historic).

As we began to prepare for bed T-man was laid back ready for sleep. I was clearing the plywood counter and he chimed in “Mr. TJ”. “Yes,” I replied busily. “I think I would like to get baptized tomorrow.” I stopped and looked at him, his eyes youthful and innocent. He wanted to be sure, he wanted to profess his desire at hunt camp. “You bet, we can talk more tomorrow but yes we can do that.”

I always get worried about baptizing kids at camp. I don’t worry because I am not sure how to do it or if their parents will be mad. I worry that I won’t be able to keep up with them and help them grow following their decision. I have found myself on my knees distraught before a baptism. I know that I am getting into God’s business and that He has it under control, but I carry the burden none-the-less.

The rooster crowed early Sunday morning. All three teams left out with the plan to meet at 9 A.M. back at camp. It was T-man’s turn to shoot, (he was with me as was Sharpshooter). After sitting patiently in the blind for two hours we decided to make a short scout around the ranch on our way back to camp.

We came up on a group of blackbuck doe and snuck into position. I had my .270 in place and T got set up. He had never shot a deer and handled everything well. When the shot presented itself – “click” – oh my gosh, did I not load it – we cocked the gun, nothing had been in the chamber – he got ready again – “click” – and the deer ran off. The shells were not loading. I felt horrible.

It was way past meet time and I was distraught not to mention my team was bummed. We made our way back to camp slowly. Then, out of nowhere a group of whitetail walked out right in front of us. We stopped, I loaded the rifle by hand and T set his sights on the one doe in the group. Carefully, quietly he steadied himself. “Pow”, the doe dropped. We high-fived and loaded the deer, thanks Lord, why do I ever question You?

After packing up we gathered at the water tanks. The tanks are full of clear ice cold water with algae growing on the bottom and the buffalo were meandering in and out drinking from them. T-man affirmed his desire and belief in his Savior. Chandler and I lifted him up and dunked him head first into one of the tanks. It was amazing. I tear up every time I am privileged to share that moment with one of the boys. God made the day very special for T – but I think it was me who get the most out of it.

A stop at the local butcher and taxidermist proved to be a neat experience then off to Coopers Bar-B-Que for a huge lunch. Well deserved and most went into carnivorous meat shock and napped on the way home.

After unloading and while waiting for their parents the boys played tag and Mr. Chandler calf roped, hog tied and stuffed their britches with yard grass. Classic Chandler. 
 
T-man got his first deer and baptized in the same morning. He got to talk about the things on his heart. All the boys were intricate parts of the weekend and the experience. Sniper and his amazing shooting skills and gas release, amazing. Sarge and his leadership skills make him a natural leader for KOZ and the other boys. Half-Pint is a walking smile and his humor is welcome and natural, his unashamed show of affection to the leaders is powerful. Tonto is all boy and his lesson of patience on taking a deer was a lesson to all, maybe even more to the leaders.
All this being said it does not come close to capturing what happened those three days at hunt camp. Thank you Lord for each of these boys and leaders.  KOZ is yours Lord and we are but guides on the hunt for souls – thanks.

As a side note but not less important:

Earlier that Saturday Mark Chandler had held his monthly (3rd Saturday of each month) KOZ Fellowship SW Church meeting in Austin at Mary Moore Searight Park.  Mark, Dr. Buck, Wayne and Chris Tansey had the boys gather and talked about lures that Satan sets before us – then they built fishing lures….pretty smart stuff!

-Wayne left from there (the monthly meeting) to guide a father/son team at a new ranch facility in San Marcos. This was the first time the landowner had met anyone from KOZ. The father sat with his son who harvested his first deer. Wayne and the other son did not get a deer, but the time was special. The landowner and father both gave rave reviews on Wayne and how he handled himself. He is a stellar young man and is a leader for KOZ in so many areas. We can expect big things from Wayne and thanks to his professional image for KOZ the landowner is expressing an interest in other opportunities on their 1500 acre ranch.

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KOZ Father Son Hunt

The weather was hot and cold on the Quick Draw Ranch during the KOZ Father Son hunt recently. The one thing that was consistent, the look in the boys eyes as they prepared for the weekend with their fathers. Two pairs pitched tents, two slept in the small bunk house storage building and another slept in the old camper trailer. Each team was set to spend a guy’s weekend, one without showers or toilets, phones or television.

 Perfect guys stuff.

It is an amazing thing how boys, young or older, will adapt to their circumstances. I am proud to say not one boy, not one dad complained about the lack of facilities, the cold weather or the sleepless nights – everyone took it in stride as “part of the deal”.

At night there were loud train sounds coming from the shack and both tents – I personally did not see trains or tracks – but they were there! –note to self, earplugs.

A service project of picking up and organizing the camp area was time well spent and it made an improvement on the land and headquarters area.

The question for the weekend posed Saturday morning before hunting was “what trail are you leaving? – Comparing it to tracking a deer or animal in the woods – the boys and the dads were asked to think about that and come to the fire with their ideas that night.

The hunting was good, as usual on this ranch. Each boy had a chance to harvest a whitetail doe or a blackbuck antelope doe. Every team had a shot; two giant whitetail doe were taken during the hunt.

The fathers talked that day to their sons about leaving a trail that is healthy. That is was important that their trail is one with God walking alongside.  That night at campfire it was evident the fathers had done well thinking through and talking to their boys on how they could leave safe, healthy tracks. It was good.

KOZ guide leader Wayne D. shared his personal testimony at campfire, it was an important time and everyone grew closer to him through it. He is one of the original boys who came to KOZ and it was powerful to hear how KOZ had helped him and his family – especially the relationship with his father. He is now a freshman at Texas A&M.

The ride out on Sunday also proved to be awesome. Stopping at the local taxidermist and meat processor we were asked to donate the brain stem from Devon’s deer to a biologist from Texas Parks and Wildlife. They explained the process to the boys as they cracked open the head and surgically removed the stem – wow.  They boys were also given a tour of the inside of the meat locker and taxidermy shop to the awe of everyone.
The final destination was Coopers Bar-B-Que in Llano for our regular after hunt lunch - the manager approached us to say he remembered us from the earlier hunts; we were able to share the KOZ program with him. We had been joking earlier that we could put Cooper’s on the side of the boys hats as sponsors then they would buy our lunches each trip – however after what I have seen the boys and dads put away after a weekend of hunting it might cost Coopers a bit more that they think!

Author Kent Nerburn once said, “Until you have a son of your own... you will never know the joy, the love beyond feeling that resonates in the heart of a father as he looks upon his son. You will never know the sense of honor that makes a man want to be more than he is and to pass something good and hopeful into the hands of his son. And you will never know the heartbreak of the fathers who are haunted by the personal demons that keep them from being the men they want their sons to be”.

God blessed this time these boys had to spend with their fathers, and the fathers time with the boys. I saw the hearts of the boys – proud to be with their fathers. I saw fathers participating in the lives of the boys – no cell phones, no distractions – just dad. The dads put time in the bank with their boys on this outing – time well spent.
Job well done, true and faithful fathers.
Proverbs (ch. XXII, v. 6)

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

God Bless, TJ Greaney
Executive Director & Chief latrine builder - KOZ

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Daddy Daughter Hunt

Menard, Texas: Dirty clothes, messed up hair, early mornings and late nights did not seem to be the regular routine that the girls were used to, nor some of the dads. But the time spent together was priceless and all seemed hungry for it.

How do you describe a loving fathers eyes as he watches and listens to his daughter explain to the other girls in camp the time spent with him harvesting her first deer.

The KOZ first father/daughter hunt went very well. All girls harvested deer and one a nice grill size hog. To some this might seem a bit rough for girls, but even the little ones had a big time and never quit, never turned away, never passed up a chance to participate in all the lessons.

Friday afternoon was a day of plentiful harvest on the ranch. Four of the girls took their deer the very first night. That night they learned how to skin and prepare a deer for the freezer or meat market. Cleanliness and proper storage were the key points.

That night the girls made special cookies for their fathers in one cabin as the dads talked about raising Godly daughters, the ups, downs and hardships of being a dad in another. It was apparent that all the dads loved their daughter dearly and they wanted to be the best dad they could.

Saturday the teams looked for turkey and wild hogs. After the morning hunt and a big breakfast the girls spent time in the field. Tracking and trailing deer was the outdoor skills training for the girls on Saturday.

Saturday night all the teams hunted again. Wildlife was everywhere, God creation. A giant moon and beautiful surroundings were not missed.

After a big dinner (that included fresh deer heart) the girls resumed hunting, this time for something special. The two oldest, (14 years) guided the three youngest on their first ever Snipe hunt. Words cannot describe the confusion and then laughter in the girls faces as they realized that snipe hunting was not a real sport that night and that the little creatures in the capture bags were just marshmallows. Now this was funny!

Later that night the daughters made Christmas gifts for their dads and the fathers continued their talk about being a Godly father. The dads concluded by writing letters to their daughters and were to deliver them Sunday night before the girls went to bed.

Sunday morning was a day of harvest for two girls with the last girl to get her deer and a hog taken by another. Camp was packed and the whole group met in Llano at Cooper’s Bar-B-Que for a big lunch with all the fixins’.

 It is hard to explain in words how God moves at these camps. He is so mighty and powerful. The girls grew together and made new friends. They got to be with dad, just dad, and nobody to compete for him with.

Hopefully the dads will have learned that each moment with their daughter are precious and there is no business deal, no email or phone call that can make up for these fleeting moments of childhood where they provide themselves to their daughters. They teach their daughters what to expect from a man who loves them. If the dad is distracted and not fully committed, then the daughter will look for that man in her life.

I am proud of these girls and their fathers. God is working in KOZ and this weekend was His work. The girls grew in so many ways. All the men had a time of reflection, a time to rethink, a time to learn and pray and grow. I was honored to be there.

TJ Greaney -Executive Director KOZ

Certain is it that there is no kind of affection so purely angelic as of a father to a daughter.  In love to our wives there is desire; to our sons, ambition; but to our daughters there is something which there are no words to express.  ~Joseph Addison

The father of a daughter is nothing but a high-class hostage.  A father turns a stony face to his sons, berates them, shakes his antlers, paws the ground, snorts, runs them off into the underbrush, but when his daughter puts her arm over his shoulder and says, "Daddy, I need to ask you something," he is a pat of butter in a hot frying pan.  ~Garrison Keillor