The camp that I direct each summer is in Mapleton, Maine, a small farming community near the Canadian border.  It has beautiful, rolling hills which are sometimes a vivid yellow, if that summer's crop happens to be canola.  Like most years, though, the fields this year are white and green speckled, as the county's major cash crop, potatoes, are currently in bloom.  Nestled among these fields and across from the elementary school is the Mapleton Baptist Church, who have been long time supporters of both the camp and our family's juggling ministry.

Last weekend we had the privilege of being part of the MBC morning service.  It was a little unusual, as the kids were actually dismissed to a special summer program before we started our show.  The truth is, we're very comfortable doing our show for all adults, as we do many programs in jails, hospitals and other such settings.  In a church, though, this was a rare arrangement.

By working in this format, though, we were able to gear the program accordingly.  Yes, I juggled and shared some illusions, focusing on the diminishing milk glass (John the Baptist said, "He must increase and I must decrease.")  I also left time for a slide presentation about last summer's trip to Paraguay.  It was a chance to report back to and thank a congregation who had helped make the trip a possibility through their giving and prayers.

Being so close to where I work in the summer, there were several people connected with the camp there that morning, so it was almost like being with family.  There's something about these small town churches that always make us feel that way.  Thank you, Mapleton Baptist.  God willing, we'll be back soon.