God’s Kindness in a Surprise Reunion

Some reunions are planned. Some are orchestrated by Someone far beyond a calendar or a coincidence. At CAMP-of-the-WOODS, those kinds of stories have a way of finding each other. 

Early in her family’s annual week at Camp, Lindsay Fauver found herself tearing up during Praise and Worship as she joined in singing "Holy." 

"One line hit me in a new way: 'a thousand generations falling down in worship to sing the song of ages to the Lamb.' I found myself simply marveling at the gift of being part of the family of God — and the family of CAMP-of-the-WOODS." 

Little did she know the whole week would remind her of the vastness and blessing of being part of not only the Camp family, but even more so, the family of God. 

The Fauver Family

A Family Legacy

Lindsay Fauver grew up coming to Camp. Her grandfather baptized her in the waters of Lake Pleasant when she was a child. Lindsay went to Tapawingo with her cousin and later served on Summer Staff in Kids' Klub and Arts and Crafts. Now, years later, her own two children count down the days to their family's week at Camp each summer. 

What Lindsay didn't know was that her family was about to reach back across generations. 

A Kindred Spirit

This year, Lindsay watched her daughter, Emma Grace, bravely walk into Klub 56 for the first time, all on her own. “She immediately met a kindred spirit,” Lindsay said. Emma Grace and Rosemary met during the morning program and were already inseparable, wanting to do everything together. 

The girls were enjoying the Carnival with Lindsay on Monday night when the pieces clicked into place. "Rosemary mentioned something about her dad, Colin," Lindsay said. "I asked, 'Colin and Jess?! Do you have an Uncle Tyler?!' She said yes, and we both laughed." 

Right there in the middle of the Carnival, twenty-five years came rushing back. Lindsay had served on Summer Staff with Rosemary's Uncle Tyler in 2002 and had gotten to know his parents and siblings when they were guests that summer. 

"At the time, they lived close to me back home, so the following summer I ended up attending youth group events at their church, having dinner at their house, and getting to know the whole family, including Colin and his then-girlfriend, Jess, who is now his wife and Rosemary's mom!" 

An Unplanned Reunion

"Seeing Colin and Jess again was such a gift. We had so many years — twenty-five, to be exact — to catch up on."

Their sons played together, while Rosemary and Emma Grace were already two peas in a pod: painting nails, rock climbing, running the 5K, and going to the TeePee on their own. One day, both families went to the zip line together. Rosemary and Emma Grace zipped side by side while Rosemary's grandmother and Lindsay talked for hours. 

"Truly, it felt like discovering long-lost family," Lindsay said.

What began as a chance recognition at the Carnival turned into a week of shared meals, decades of catching up, and two families watching their daughters build something new together in the same place their own friendship had once begun. 

The Gift of Friendship

By the end of the week, Emma Grace and Rosemary realized how much they had in common. When they got into their cars to head home, they both had books and crochet to keep them occupied on the long drive.

When reservations for the following summer opened, both families registered for the same week — this time on purpose. "What an unexpected blessing!" Lindsay said. 

Emma Grace invited Rosemary to go to Tapawingo with her next year, too. Since getting home, the girls have been sending snail mail back and forth, and the parents have been chiming in on a group text with life updates. 

"What a treasure to have reconnected with old friends and, at the same time, created something new to anticipate together in the years to come. We feel the delight of the Father to surprise us with something so sweet!" 

Lindsay could not have known, watching Emma Grace walk bravely into Klub 56 that first morning, that she was also walking toward a friendship rooted twenty-five years in the past, and toward a new generation of connection that might continue to grow long after this week was over. 

Author’s note: The other COTW family is not shown to maintain privacy