Lake of the Ozarks Assemblies of God Camp Grounds, Missouri

In some ways I think my grandma Jenkins was my best friend growing up.  She seemed to get me.  I loved spending time with her at the campgrounds where she lived.  I don't know how my folk afforded it, but every summer we kids went to Bible Kids Camp, in the Ozarks.  My grandfather when he was alive had bought property on the camp grounds and when he died my grandmother move in there year round.  My cousins and I spent our holidays at the Camp with my grandma.

I remember one Thanksgiving, we all ate to much, but David my cousin seems to suffer the most. He wanted some Alka-seltzer.  He said 'I can't believe I ate the whole thing'.

Once we had some real live Indians, not the T.V. kind, but real Indians come and share the bible and song with those staying at the camp grounds.  That night as I tried to sleep I could hear the drums beat.  I was scared to death that the Indians were coming to scalp me.  I learned later it was the barrels under the swimming dock knocking together.  The girls swimming dock was just below my grandmother house.

You know I miss that old camp grounds.  They have changed it so much over the years that I don't recognize it any more.  You used to be able to look under the 'pulpit' area and see the boats going by on the lake.  When ever the service got a little boring I'm sure I was not the only one to find myself riding in one of those boats in my mind.  The whole building was enclosed with just wood and wire screens.  It was like being outdoors.  Course the down side to that was the bugs and the heat.  Kids today don't get to have that experience.  The place is now user-friendly.  Walls, no viewing the lake and AC.  All the ambiance has been drowned in comfort.

My grandma Jenkins is now passed on and her house is sold.  I don't live in Missouri any more, but if I did I think I would find it hard to visit the Camp Grounds.  So much has changed and my best friend who took me fishing isn't there any more.  I miss you grandma Jenkins.  I miss the innocents of youth and the old time ambiance of the camp grounds.  It's hard getting old.